Surrendering to God’s ‘holy chaos’

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Besides the Bible, I cannot think of a more timely book for Christians to read than “Holy Chaos” by Mark Edge, a graduate of Abilene Christian University and preacher for the Holly Lake Church of Christ in Hawkins, Texas.

The title of the book seems an oxymoron, and it immediately grabbed my attention. I thought, “Now how could chaos possibly be holy? Doesn’t the Bible teach that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace?”

We know as Christians that God is never confused about anything, nor has he ever made one single mistake. But Edge asks the reader to rethink and reframe the chaos in our own lives through the lens of our Heavenly Father.

Edge’s style of writing is personable and authentic. He is scholarly and thorough in his use of scriptural references and beautifully weaves together the guidance of the subtitle, “How to Walk with God in a Frenzied World,” along with Scripture.

Although “Holy Chaos” has various layers, the tone of the book is as a relaxed one-on-one conversation over a cup of coffee — not a judgmental, wagging finger at the reader, who may not be acquainted with the concept of God’s holy chaos.

At first glance, I considered the book cover, which resembles a galaxy in an array of stunning colors, abstract and disorienting.

However, when I really began to focus on the image, I saw beauty. I was reassured that God Almighty is sovereign and in total control.

The biblical stories used throughout the book illustrate God’s holy chaos in the stories of Hannah, Samuel, David and Saul. But the author also uses personal examples to demonstrate how holy chaos changed his perspective and his relationship with God.

The major theme throughout the book is the need for Christians to surrender to the perfect will of God — though we may not understand or accept it.

We face ongoing trials and battles on a constant basis: financial difficulty, job loss, physical and mental health issues, grief, marital conflicts, raising children and so much more.

No one goes through this life unscathed. The natural, human response to the ruckus and chaos that comes our way is to panic and worry.

We stress out when life seems unfair and doesn’t appear to be going our way. We ask, “God, why me? What did I do to deserve this? Is this some type of punishment?”

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Related: ‘All in your head’

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Edge challenges the reader to flip the script: Instead of attempting to escape the drama in our lives or seek answers on our own, we should embrace God’s holy chaos.

Yes, there are situations we find ourselves in that are of our own making (King Saul is referenced throughout the book due to his bad choices), but God knows our beginning and our ending.

He already has the solution to our problem. We have to seek him. We must trust him.

So the next time you encounter disappointment and difficulty in your life, remember to pause, redirect your mind toward God and trust in his holy chaos.

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TRINDI G. MITCHELL is a member of The Christian Chronicle’s Editorial Board. She attends the Henry Street Church of Christ in Gadsden, Ala., and is a writer and mother of two children. Contact [email protected].

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Filed under: book review Chaos Disappointment Features grief Mental Health Reviews suffering Top Stories Will of God