Out of Order
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. I Corinthians 14:33
A few years ago, if someone had asked me for a word that meant the opposite of disorder, I doubt peace would have come to mind. I definitely had a grasp on the meaning of disorder. I was living in the midst of it.
While studying I Corinthians 14 one morning, I used my dictionary to clarify the meaning of verse 33. To my surprise, disorder is actually defined as “a breach of peace.” Next, I looked up the meaning of peace and found that it is defined as “a state of calm and quiet.”
In those few words, the Bible taught me that bringing order to my home would also bring the peace I craved. I’ve found that the efficient organization of my home removes much of the stress that used to plague me and my family on a daily basis.
As a society, I don’t think we realize how much stress we’re living under until it’s gone. For example, when I worked outside of the home, the daily commute through morning rush hour was an annoyance, but not a big deal. I was used to it. After a few months of working from home, where my daily commute was from the coffeepot to the computer, the occasional times I needed to venture out during morning or afternoon traffic were extremely stressful. Even though my husband teased me, if a certain activity couldn’t be done between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., I avoided it like the plague!
I think the same principle applies to our home lives. For many years, I was used to sifting through a huge stack of paper to find a registration form, or digging through the pile of laundry to find the basketball uniform my son needed in fifteen minutes. Chaos was a given.
As God helped me create order in my home, room by room, it was as if a huge weight was gradually being lifted from my shoulders. Just like I avoid rush hour, I depend on God each day to keep me from slipping back into a life of disorder.
So how about you – are there areas in your life that could use a little order? If so, put them at God’s feet and ask Him to teach you His ways.
