A glance at the headlines reveals a world in turmoil; seemingly spinning out of control. Whether political, financial or human interest, we find little in the news that fails to inflict grief or further anxiety upon our bedraggled hearts. Now more than ever, learning how to trust God in a chaotic world becomes indispensible.
Welcome to Mindfulness Monday! Where we learn some easy ways to be more present “in the moment” at our jobs, in our homes, with our families and friends.
Learning to recognize God and what He has for us in each divine moment He offers. We acknowledge the belief that God is with us always.
We confess His presence is available to us, lifting our spirit and helping us with power and grace. Learning the art of “stillness” so we can hear His voice and view ourselves, others and our surroundings through His eyes.
How to Live With Confidence in a Chaotic World
If you follow my Mindfulness Monday posts, you know we spent time focusing on an attitude of rest and trusting from a place of rest. As a way of helping you cultivate an attitude of rest, I compiled a FREE Guide available HERE.
God then led us into a deeper intimacy with Him, learning new levels of trust throughout the month of August. From a place of deep trust, we fully grasp the immutability of God leading to living confidently in a chaotic world.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Psalm 46:1-3
Our confidence in the midst of global unrest, natural disasters, pestilence and personal trial fully rests in the God who never changes. Though all around us crumble, we remain safe in the refuge of Almighty God.
trusting god requires pause
Learning how to trust God in a chaotic world invites us “press pause” in various ways and areas of our lives. This last Monday in August I wrap up our mindfulness journey into deeper trust and intimacy with God.
Revisiting each stop of our journey, I recap important lessons and tips for mindfully promoting an attiude of trust, calm and rest.
trusting god from a place of rest
After spending time cultivating an attitude of rest, we moved to our first stop to trusting God in times of chaos. From a place of spiritual rest we find courage for exercising our faith when God asks us to step out in obedience. Whether that obedience involves stepping out into a new ministry opportunity, placing a complicated situation into His hands, or walking a dim path with no end in sight; while resting in His loving Presence, we trust.
God graciously taught me how to find the true spiritual rest my soul needed, from the safety of intimacy with Him. We mindfully walked through four practical steps of praise, vulnerability, remembrance and acceptance for trusting from a place of rest. Read the full details HERE.
when “be Still” means move forward
When we shift our posture from one of anxious reactivity to one of surrendered rest, we move to a place of heart stillness. From pausing in the revelation of God’s power and security, our turmoil of heart now silenced, moves us towards a posture of trust.
In my post, When “Be Still” Means Move Forward, we visited moments when uncertainty dulls the remembrance of God’s goodness and past faithfulness while pain stifles hope. At those times we must pause and pursue heart stillness that we may then move forward trusting God. Through five mindful steps we learned how to trust God in a chaotic world.
trusting, resting, and praising
As the Lord gently guided me through a better understanding of intentional rest, my comprehension of trust richly increased. Uniquely, trust flows from a place of rest, but rest also flows from a place of trust.
My post, Trusting, Resting, and Praising explored those three areas in detail, enriching our knowledge of trusting, resting and praising creating an interwoven garment inter-dependent upon one another.
Actively practicing mindful attitudes of trusting, resting and praising releases us from busyness, distractions and the cruel taskmaster of time. Ultimately offering us opportunity for more intimate time with God.
in quietness and trust we find strength
While pursuing how to trust God in a chaotic world, an intentional pause positions us for hearing instruction from God, strengthening our trust in Him for the unpredictable road ahead. Embracing rhythms of rest in times of unpredictabilty brings clarity within the chaos.
Embracing quietness of heart and mind, we cease operating from a place of fear, trusting in our own understanding. Seeking a quiet, calm posture before God overflows our hearts with peace as He provides certainty in each step of trust we take with Him. For He is our strength, confidence and power in the face of every uncertain step.
We discovered four specific areas which aid us in moving through seasons of uncertainty: repentance, rest, quietness and trust. Review the mindfulness exercises for these areas HERE.
how to trust god in a chaotic world
Trusting God in a chaotic world invites us into a secure place of refuge in the Presence of Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Our trust in an unchangeable God in the midst of instability in global events, financial situations or life’s trials fortifies our hearts with confidence and hope.
Choosing intentional rest, quietness of mind and heart through reflection on God’s past faithfulness and future promises, and release of expectations and control to God’s sovereignty, ultimately strengthens us to trust God in a chaotic world.
You’re packing a lot of wisdom here, Donna! –> “Choosing intentional rest, quietness of mind and heart through reflection on God’s past faithfulness and future promises, and release of expectations and control to God’s sovereignty, ultimately strengthens us to trust God in a chaotic world.” I am leaning in to your advice here, friend. I’m struggling through a particularly hard situation the past couple months, so I appreciate the light you’re shining on my path.
My Dear Friend, I rejoice that God’s counsel through this post has given you a glimmer of help (& hope maybe?) in the hard place He is leading you through right now. Easy words to type, not easy to live, but God. I am learning in my hard places the true rest of TRUST, which always involves surrendering my will and expectations. I do know only then do I find rest, but not only that, I move into deeper intimacy with the Lover of my soul, which is so much more valuable than any outcome I am clinging to. Please know I have been praying for you, and will continue to pray God speaks peace over this storm raging in your heart, as He draws you into the rest and intimacy of His loving Presence.
You write, ” we shift our posture from one of anxious reactivity to one of surrendered rest” – and it is a surrender, a giving up, a pledge of allegiance to Him – and lean in to that, resting in the belonging to Him. This season where it feels like everything is falling into the sea – it takes intentional practice, soul training to keep surrendered! Thank you, Donna, for such a timely message! Shalom, friend! ~ Maryleigh
Maryleigh! I rejoice you found my post uplifting and encouraging in these difficult times. Indeed it requires intentionality to remain surrendered to Christ and not taken in and discouraged by the headlines and world events. Ultimately He calls us to rest in Him even in the midst of the storm! Shalom my dear friend!
Since trust is my word for the year I was drawn to this post like a moth to …well, you know. Thank you so much for this.
Lauren, thanks for stopping by! I hope you found some blessings to add to your one word journey with trust this year!!
Great points here. We won’t find serenity and rest if we are looking to ourselves or the news. Trusting God and hearing his voice are so critical to our spiritual health.
Theresa, stepping away from all the turmoil around us is hard, but once we get into the peaceful presence of God, only He is really able to calm the storms within us!
This is the only way to “live” in our loud and clamoring world right now, “Learning to ‘be still’, so we can hear His voice and view ourselves, others and our surroundings through His eyes.”
Donna, I appreciate your review and reminder of how the Lord has led you (and through your writing, He has led us) in deeper joy, rest, and trust.
Lisa, learning to be still in the midst of a chaotic world is hard! But yes, that is the only way we can hear His voice, His truth and His peace. Oh how we need that deeper rest, joy, and trust right now!
Psalm 46 always reminds me that no matter what chaos is in the world, God remains seated on His throne. He remains steady and faithful and sovereign over it all. He is a present help – now, in this moment, and in every moment. This has been a wonderful series, Donna.
Joanne, thank you for your kind words, and I rejoice in the knowledge this series blessed you. Indeed, where would we be without God seated on His throne? The comfort of knowing everything is under His sovereign hand enables me to face the hard paths of life.
Donna, thank you so much for this recap from Mindfulness Monday’s. I always enjoy reading your writings, for they cause me to — Selah. Indeed I feel lead to pause and reflect. Thank you for this blessed writing. Blessings.
~Selah ~
Paula! How exciting to know God is blessing you through my writing AND helping you Selah!!
Donna, you bring up so many pertinent truths. Pressing pause on things in our lives is the best thing we can do when life feels overwhelming.
“Learning how to trust God in a chaotic world invites us “press pause” in various ways and areas of our lives.”
This statement spoke to me. We can only press pause when we’re choosing to trust God with everything.
I read a book last year called, Sacred Rest. It really expanded my understanding of rest in real life, so to speak.
Great post, Donna.
Jeanne, you are so right, we will not push pause unless we are willing to trust God with our circumstances. I have been on the other side of that equation, continuing to push my agenda and solutions, but there is no REST on that path! I have the book Sacred Rest in my reading queue, looking forward to getting to that soon!
When I feel the turmoil rising, I have to pull away and fill my mind with God’s truth. He is our resting place.
Debbie, you are so right; running into my Father’s arms at the first sign of turmoil brings me rest and peace!
Love this whole series! For me, pausing and remembering Gods faithfulness in the past helps tremendously. If He has helped before, since He never changes, He will help again.
Jerralea, I praise God you found this series a helpful blessing! I agree with you: when I pause to remember God’s past faithfulness I find encouragement for my current trial.