Peace Amongst Chaos

There are so many types of chaos.  Chaos caused by our busy schedule.  Chaos caused by our own choices.  Chaos caused by natural disasters.  Chaos caused by illness.

Our chaos is not any of those.  We are thankful to the Lord for this time in our lives where everyone has their own schedules and friends but it is manageable and there is still plenty of family and rest time.  The Lord has been gracious to keep us from natural disasters in our region of the world and no one is suffering from chronic illness.

But there sometimes is chaos that the Lord allows.  In our case, broken technology, overwhelming workloads, house problems.   Each one in itself is manageable but each one added to another and then to another and then to another over months is draining.  You all know.  You have been there too.  The car breaks down and then goes the furnace and, oh no!, your computer dies.

I am not writing to complain about life challenges, although we would cover your prayers over "our" things.  We understand the Lord provides everything for us and they are His and it's His money as well.  But there is a lot of hassle that goes into replacing/fixing/figuring things out, especially overseas :).

I am writing about His amazing goodness in the time of chaos.  I see the Lord's hand at work in my family.  Sometimes the circumstances are too overwhelming and you are just surviving.  But, currently, He has been good enough to lift our heads to look at him in the storm and not at the waves. I see Curt's amazing grace with co-workers, friends and job pressure even though every day can hit him with new problems to be solved.  I see a softening gentleness in our oldest, who is very strong willed and passionate.  I see a resolve in our 15 year old, who sometimes can give into apathy.  I see a maturing with our 11 year old that is going a long way to healing rifts.  I see apologies, mercy, laughter, inclusions, joy, strivings and grace in each of the people who live in this house.

The Holy Spirit's work is obvious in our household right now.  There are so many times we can't see that and are caught up in the mundane.  But currently, we are thankful for the chaos because we get to see His character being built in each one of us.  And really, there is nothing more exciting.