When Everything Falls Apart: Finding Hope in the Midst of Mayhem
Have you ever felt like your world was crumbling around you? Like mayhem was everywhere, and you couldn't catch a break? As a dad of three boys under 11, owner of a seven-month-old puppy, and husband to a wife who also works full-time in ministry, I recently came across a quote that perfectly summed up my life: "Mayhem is everywhere."
It's easy to laugh at mayhem when it's happening to someone else. We find it entertaining in commercials, movies, and TV shows. But when chaos strikes our own lives, it's a different story. Suddenly, we're faced with doubt, fear, and questions about our faith.
When the Church Fails You
Let me be honest with you about my own story. My wife and I married young, and early in our marriage, we found ourselves at odds with our church. In a moment when we desperately needed love, community, and support, we found closed doors instead. The church we had called home for our whole lives said, "Please don't return." No one reached out, no one cared. We were alone.
In that season, the church failed me. The idea of being a pastor was ruined. The concept of community and a place to call home was shattered. For a time, I wanted nothing to do with the church. If you had asked me 11 years ago if I'd be standing on a stage as a pastor today, I would have laughed in your face.
But here's what I want you to know: When everything falls apart, believing restores our hope.
Jesus Weeps with Us
To understand this truth better, let's look at a profound moment in the Gospels. In John chapter 11, we find the story of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus who had fallen ill. Despite being called to help, Jesus arrived four days after Lazarus had died.
When Martha, Lazarus' sister, met Jesus on the road, she was angry and hurt. "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21). It's a raw, honest reaction that many of us can relate to in our own moments of pain and loss.
But Jesus' response is remarkable. John writes:
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled... Jesus wept" (John 11:33, 35).
This moment reveals a crucial truth about God: When bad things happen, Jesus is with us. He doesn't just fix our problems or brush aside our sadness. He enters into our pain, grieves with us, and shares our sorrow.
God Sustains Us Through Every Season
Even in our darkest moments, God promises to be there. In Isaiah 46:4, He says:
"Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you, I will carry you, I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
God doesn't abandon us in hard times. He feels what we feel and promises to be by our side forever. This truth can transform how we approach doubt and pain in our lives.
Changing Our Mindset on Doubt
If we expect a pain-free life as believers, we'll always be disappointed. Jesus himself said, "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33). But he doesn't stop there. He continues, "But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Faith is bigger than our circumstances. God can turn what's broken into something beautiful if we allow Him to work in our lives.
Choosing to Believe Again
When life falls apart, instead of running away or blaming God, we can choose to believe again. It's an active choice we all must make. Just as Jesus was present with Mary and Martha in their grief, He is present with you in whatever you're facing today.
In my own story, after a season of healing, my wife and I chose to fully engage our faith again. We began working in ministry, and eventually, we came to The Summit Church. Even though I was still carrying pain from my past church experience, God used this community to heal and restore my family.
The church that once failed me became the church that saved me.
Putting It Into Practice
If you're struggling with doubt or pain today, I encourage you to:
1. Acknowledge your pain: Don't try to brush it aside or pretend everything is fine.
2. Invite Jesus into your pain: Remember, He weeps with you and is present in your suffering.
3. Choose to believe: Even when it's hard, make the active choice to trust God.
4. Seek community: Find a church or group of believers who can support and encourage you.
5. Look for God's work: Even in difficult times, God can use your experiences to grow your faith and help others.
Remember, when everything falls apart, believing restores our hope. God is with you, He loves you, and He will sustain you through every season of life.