How Can You Be Calm in the Chaos

Happy Sunday. There are so many reasons people find to be uptight or anxious or panicked or freaked out, you, you choose the word that you're familiar with. People are worried. They're worried about politics and Global issues, and as always people are stressed about things going on in their own lives, personal issues. One of my greatest thanks givings about the Christian Life is that I can be at ease in this crazy world no matter what's going on around me.

Today we're going to talk about being calm in the chaos. Just this morning someone I love was in a meeting where they were informed that their business may be closing in the next 12 months or so. What will my friend do next? They just don't know the answer to that question, but they are not panicked. They are calm.

Their faith has overcome any fear that might rear its ugly head. Now, not everyone at the meeting was calm. Some freaked out. Faith makes such a huge difference.

Let's look at a great story of a man that was calm in the face of a huge problem. Somewhere between 3 and 4,000 years ago, Moses was leading the children of Israel out of bondage and on to the promised land. After the 10 plagues were sent to the land of Egypt, Pharaoh agreed to let the Jewish people go. Not long after their departure, Pharaoh had a change of heart. We're going to pick up the story in Exodus 14, beginning with verse 6.

"So Pharaoh harnessed his chariots and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt's best chariots, along with the rest of the Chariots of Egypt, each with its Commander. The Lord hardened the heart of pharaoh, the king of Egypts, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fist raised in Defiance. The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh's Army, all his horses, all his chariots, and his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near pieroth, across from bapon.

"As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, why did you bring us out here to die in this Wilderness? Weren't there enough Graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?

"Didn't we tell you this what happened while we were still in Egypt? We said, leave us alone, let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It's better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness."

Let's pause there for a moment. Granted, this was a tough situation: unarmed slaved, slaves against the mightiest Army on the planet at the time. They could hear the Chariots coming. They could feel the ground Rumble. They were scared to death.

And the people were angry with Moses. They were also angry at God. They were ready to return to a life of slavery. They had no hope. They had no hope because they had no faith, they had no faith at all.

I love what Moses told them in verses 13 and 14. "Moses told the people, don't, Don't Be Afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."

How many times have you needed to hear those words? "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."

As I look back over my lifetime, I see time after time that God has fult for me. Situations that seemed hopeless are just faint memories now. God has proved himself over and over to me. He has a track record in my life that amazes me and encourages me.

Charles Stanley once said, when Trouble Comes, focus on God's ability to care for you. Focus on God's ability to care for you. Our faith should always help us Focus. As Jesus was head, headed to the, the cross, he had several teaching moments for his disciples.

Their world was about to be turned upside down. Their faith would be challenged. They would watch Jesus die on a cross. Talk about a chaotic time, this was it.

But I love what Jesus told them as John chapter 14 began. He said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe in me." We all have a choice, don't we, when the troubles come: calm or chaos? Back to what Moses told Israel that day long ago: "Don't Be Afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Lord himself will fight for you. You just stay calm."

As you know, the Lord parted the Waters of the Red Sea that day long ago, and the Egyptian Army was drowned and gone when all was said and done, after the Israelites crossed in safety. People know that The God Who parted those Waters, we need to know that God is your god. Be calm. Have faith. The God Who created and sustains this world will watch over his people.

Let me close with these words from the beginning of Psalm 46: "God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear." I don't know what you're going through right now. I hope everything is well, but if not, be calm. Let God fight for you.

Pray with me. Father, thank you for the way you care for us. If we look back and reflect, we would be amazed and astounded at all the things we worried about that never came to pass, because you were leading us and guiding us and sustaining us and watching over us. Help our faith to grow so we can stay calm in the chaos around us. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

God bless. Thanks for joining me today.