There is a lot of chaos in the world around us. There is a level of uncertainty that can create commotion not just around us but internally as well. How can anyone find peace of mind in a time like this?
I often used to brag that I thrive in chaos. What I should have said was I can survive in chaos. For as long as I can remember I have had the ability to be laser-focused on a solution when it might seem like everything is burning around me. This has come in handy as a crisis counselor and confidant to many a friend or colleague. I can find the pocket of peace in any type of chaos around me. It has been a skill that has saved me many times.
The challenge is when that outward commotion seeps into your mind and soul. How do you clear your mind and heart of the commotion and chaos that might sometimes silence the whispers of hope and peace God is placing there for you? I struggle with silencing it and laser focusing on my own self.
One way that I have sought to find inner peace is to go for walks. The casual movement without any other distractions allows my mind to wander. As my mind wanders it often lands at a whisper of hope, clarity, or an answer to a desire within my heart. Sometimes I find myself having a casual conversation with God. I’m sure onlookers might find it a bit odd if they ever noticed, but I have had wonderful conversations with God on those walks.
Another practice that brings me peace is listening to a repeated meditative noise like rain or ocean waves. THat repetition helps hush away the commotion in my mind and slowly closes the opened tabs that distract me from God. Sometimes I even play a calming song and sing it over and over. With each repetition, my body tension is released and my mind is opened to be receptive of what I need to hear. Sometimes God is truly just calling me to rest, not overthink but rest.
Ultimately it’s usually never in my busyness that I find God but in the moments of calm I carve out whether alone or even in open and honest conversation with others that the Holy Spirit works wonders in my soul. Whether you have a faith or not I wish you peace and pray that you find a way to carve out those moments even within the chaos.