Hannah McConnell is an author, stay at home wife and mom, and fantastic gardener plus homesteader, and steadfast friend who loves Jesus. Her new book: Artist and The Wren recently just published.
Hello Friends, and Happy New Year!
When Christina first approached me of writing a post for her new website my first reaction was to try to do the math and see if it was a commitment I would be able to keep. As I went to weigh, I knew instantly in my spirit that this was something I was supposed to do. So here I am. Thank you for the invitation Christina.
In keeping with the destination you’ve traveled to, “Beauty in the Midst of Chaos” I feel led to share with you some of what the Lord has revealed to me over the past several years of my life. Firstly, that God is not the orchestrator of chaos, ever.
1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
The Strongs translates “confusion” in this passage as:
ἀκαταστασία akatastasía, instability, i.e. disorder:—commotion, confusion, tumult.
Maintaining scripture in its rightful context, disorder and chaos were rising within the church. The congregation was captivated and excited by the gifts of the Spirit in action, but they were also losing control. What initially appeared to be positive developments became dissonant and fragmented; thus, a call for order was necessary. Paul intervened with fatherly guidance, restoring harmony amid the turmoil. He highlighted the truth that our Father God does not cause confusion, disorder, or instability—traits that belong solely to humanity. Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is present, there exists “peace, love, and a sound mind,” among other virtues.
I know all of this is abstract and overarching in tone, but please hang with me, I promise I will bring this home.
I’m not here to scrutinize the church and its operations—far from it, as that’s beyond my expertise. I cherish His church, despite its imperfections. Instead, I aim to use Paul’s guidance and “call to order” as a personal benchmark for my life.
I felt it was important to highlight this because, in today’s high-octane society I believe we adopt too easily some (if we truly boil it down) anti-Christ ideas about what is good, and considered worthy in this life.
Let me make something clear: difficulty is not inherently negative. Life presents us with challenging tasks, seasons, and lessons that God intends for our benefit. However, chaos and confusion should not be accepted, mischaracterized as good, or, worse yet, perpetuated by His followers who spiritualize their turmoil by claiming it to be His will or His way.
With all that said, I’d like to ask ourselves the question:
What am I engaging in, or allowing that possibly needs to be “called to order?”
Over the past year my life has taken one dramatic turn after another as God has invaded and called several things to order. My agenda has had to bend its knee to His wisdom and way, and I’ve watched chaos and confusion melt away as I’ve bowed low to His will.
James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”
Understanding that His path fosters order has been a valuable measure for me to identify His intentions for my life. This insight helps me recognize when I meet individuals relying solely on their own strength, attempting to pull me into their chaos, versus those who approach me with the power and clarity of the Spirit, inviting me to engage. The contrast is quite pronounced.
Here are some areas in my life (some habits) the Lord has “called to order” and graciously walked me through re-training over the past year. I hope they encourage you, and maybe you’ll see some areas that jump out to you as possibly being parallel to your own that the Lord wishes to walk you through to new pastures as well.
Resist false urgency.
If you’re a motivated individual or tend to lean towards pleasing others, you probably understand this feeling all too well. I found myself caught in a relentless sense of urgency, which made me dread mornings, knowing I’d never accomplish enough to quiet it. The Lord has shown me several habits to help train my nervous system to resist this feeling:
1. Rise early and take your time in the morning. Avoid diving straight into your to-do list or rushing into the day. Instead, enjoy a cup of coffee, watch the sunrise, listen to soft music, and spend time in the Word and prayer. Savor the morning and take your time. Wake up at a time that allows you to do this without the stress of feeling behind on tasks with genuine deadlines.
2. Prioritize your to-do list and assign deadlines only to truly important tasks. Anything that isn’t crucial can be disregarded. For those tasks that are pivotal, setting a deadline can help alleviate the false urgency, as you’ll know exactly how much time you have to complete them. Write it down and schedule it on a calendar. Do whatever it takes to stop your subconscious from obsessing over it.
3. Get a calendar and place it in a common area of your home, and make a habit of recording everything on it! Include every task with a set deadline, every event, and doctor’s appointment. This way, you can easily glance at it each day to find the information you need without having to search for it.
4. Establish a stopping time. Decide on a point in the day to wrap up all side tasks and to-dos, allowing yourself to be present with your family. Shut everything else down!
5. Don’t let someone else’s false sense of urgency become your own. Recognize what’s yours and what isn’t, and shut it down before it seeps into your soul! You’d be amazed at how many people are driven by their own false urgency and easily pull you into it. This doesn’t mean we have to be harsh or judgmental (remember, we’re all working through our own issues), but it does mean we must set clear boundaries to protect ourselves from these situations.
Minimize the time you spend with individuals who introduce chaos into your life.
We must acknowledge that we live in an imperfect world often influenced by misguided thoughts that breed confusion and instability. However, we are called to be “IN the world” but “not OF it,” which empowers us to bring order to the disorder. Yet, there are times when chaos seems resistant to change; that’s when we need to set boundaries. Firmly establish and uphold your limits. Safeguard the tranquility of your home and reject the notion that chaos deserves unrestricted access to your life or the lives of your loved ones. We can care for those who embody chaos without allowing that chaos to become ours or accepting it as our reality. Set time limits on interactions with those environments that refuse to align with His peace.
You run your social media.. it does not run you.
Enough said. If you need to… take a break and often.
Know your lane.
We don’t need to be a jack of all trades; it’s perfectly fine to understand your strengths and focus on them. Much of the chaos in our lives arise from not knowing where we fit in, what we’re meant to do, or who we should share our journey with. From my observations, struggling businesses often fail because they can’t pinpoint their niche. They feel the need to market themselves as capable of “doing everything,” driven by the misconception that this is what people want.
This is a warning sign for those who are overly eager to please; if you aspire to be a successful business owner, let go of those extremes and focus on excelling at one thing. The same principle applies to life. It’s okay to have multiple passions, but be clear about what they are and recognize what you are called to do. Stay committed to that path and don’t let external pressures divert you from what you know is right for you.
In conclusion, I could say so much more but this feels like good place to stop.
I hope this encourages you to cultivate the kind of beauty in your life that shuts chaos down in it’s tracks and embraces the call of God in a whole new way.
Much love my friends! May His peace rule and reign,
Hannah