Contentment in Chaos
Alexandria Ackerman • December 15, 2020
As the year comes to an end we find ourselves in one of the busiest seasons: Christmas season! Though it usually comes with joy, excitement and lots of memories made, it also brings chaos. The Christmas shopping, preparing to have family in town, and making the best Christmas meal to share with your loved ones can bring a lot of stress into the mix when this is supposed to be a time of celebration.
But what about this year… a year where we haven’t been able to see our families, jobs have been lost and money cut tight; this brings a whole new kind of chaos! This year, though different and difficult for the majority of us, is a year to learn to be content, not only within this holiday season, but also with God AND ourselves.
Personally, I’d say this year has been one of the most chaotic years I’ve experienced! I moved three times during quarantine, my job position changed, and I had my closest family members move over 700 miles away. I’ve been in a constant state of insecurity, as most of the stable things in my life are changing.
But as the year progressed, I found this scripture coming to mind time and time again,
Isaiah 30:21: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
God had many changes planned for my life in 2020, and I was not ready for them! As each situation occurred I found myself floundering; reacting impulsively to each situation rather than going to God and allowing him to guide me through it. If only I was listening, “This is the way; walk in it.”
The lack of contentment I had in each of those situations led me into more chaos. I wasn’t allowing God to work in these new situations. Rather I was looking back at the old ones, wishing God would have let me keep them instead. I was discontent with where I was; where I currently still am.
So what is it for you this holiday season?
Are you discontent with the fact that your Christmas day celebration will be smaller; without all your family and friends?
Or are you discontent with your own self? Are you realizing that the goals you set on New Year's Day 2020 aren't going to happen due to COVID or other circumstances?
Whether it has to do with the holiday season or not, God calls us to be content in all situations.
Philippians 4:12-13 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
Paul is a great example for us in times of chaos. He lived in wealth AND poverty; he was hungry AND well fed. Paul’s secret was God. He didn’t need anything other than God in both his chaotic and peaceful times.
As I close out this year, my goal is to be content with where God has placed me; to find contentment IN the chaos.
Through all the instability, He has placed me where I am for a reason. Choosing to be content with where I am allows me to learn what God wants me to learn and to grow in areas He wants me to grow in. There’s no promise that the chaos will stop; 2021 doesn’t automatically guarantee a fresh start or a new beginning, but I can choose to slow down and listen as God says, “this is the way; walk in it.”