While teaching a series of lessons from The Storms Have Only Just Begun, I stumbled across a podcast in which Jordan Peterson spoke about chaos and willful blindness. I think the podcast was episode 268, his conversation with Rod Dreher regarding Live Not by Lies. The following is an amalgamation of Peterson’s thoughts and a few of my own.
- “Willful blindness brings destruction down upon us.” (J. Peterson)
- When you are in chaos, you must force open your eyes in order to find both the cause and the solution. These are not always related (which is very important to know).
- If you are the cause in any way, then at least part of the solution is your acknowledgement, confession, repentance, AND movement in the corrective direction (e.g., restitution). If you insist on keeping your eyes closed, you are only continuing the willful blindness that brought the chaos – ensuring some measure of destruction to yourself or others in your vicinity.
- If you are in no way the cause of the chaos, facing what you fear is still the best option. It may only be a smoke screen (a common tactic of our enemies), or you may open your eyes to see a fleeing giant whose only weapon is your fear-induced blindness.
- Furthermore, you are not qualified, nor capable, to participate with God in His purpose for the chaos if you choose willful blindness. God will trust a man who is blind before He will trust a willfully blind man.
- Perhaps the best reason for opening your eyes is to see what God is doing in and around you to create something new from the chaos.
The notion that God uses chaos to create something new has been a delightful epiphany to me. Beth and I experienced it during our house fire storm, but I had not considered its application to all things chaotic. Of course, this makes sense considering the process of transformation we are all called to endure.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Corinthians 3:18
God creates and allows chaos to produce an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to transform us from one level of glory to another. Willful blindness inhibits this good work in our lives. With this in mind, here are a number of suggestions:
- Take an inventory of the chaos that has found its way into your life. Make a list. Ask God to help you. Start with those closest to your personal life (e.g., a health issue) and work your way out from there. For example, you may have a bit of chaos in your family life, and we are all affected by societies downward spiral – economically, morally, etc.
- Ask God to prioritize your list. Some storms, and the chaos they produce, are for others and a potential distraction to you. God never burdens us with more than we can handle. On the other hand, He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). Consequently, we need Him to order our list.
- Call out the storm or chaos. Recognize and sift through the response of your heart, mind, soul, and spirit to the storm’s presence (e.g., fear, anxiety, anger, aggravation).
- Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Anticipate His commands regarding your response.
- DO NOT TRUST YOUR CARNAL MIND. If you are born again, your heart contains the faith and desire to join God in His purposes for storms and chaos. The carnal mind ALWAYS goes into self-protect mode.
- Anticipate transformation and the discomfort that comes with it. Commit to the adventure. Embrace the excitement and deal with the fear. Behind every ungodly fear is a lie, deal with the lie and the fear will fly.
- Find deeper fellowship. There are no lone rangers in the kingdom of God. He uses storms and chaos to bring us together.
We hope and pray you will find this useful in your navigation through the storms and chaos of this decade.
One final word of encouragement: You are the solution to the chaos God has created or allowed in someone else’s life. If your house is standing, they will come knocking at your door for refuge, encouragement, and wisdom. Now is the time to get your house in order, that you might:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
God bless you with courage, wisdom, and grace to face the storms and chaos with your eyes and heart wide open.
Have a strong day in the Lord,
Rob
#iamjustthepen