God Is Not the Author of Confusion - 1 Corinthians 14:33

In ancient times, the vast majority of people were illiterate. The news was spread by word of mouth. Today, ironically, we are flooded with nonstop information, but life is more confusing than ever.

How do we cut through all these voices? How can we drown out the noise and confusion? Where do we go for the truth? Only one source is completely, consistently reliable: God.

God never contradicts himself. He never has to go back and apologize because he "misspoke." His agenda is the truth, pure and simple. He loves his people and provides wise advice through his written word, the Bible.

What's more, since God knows the future, his instructions always lead to the outcome he desires. He can be trusted because he knows how everyone's story ends.

When we follow our own urges, we are influenced by the world. The world has no use for the Ten Commandments. Our culture sees them as constraints, old-fashioned rules designed to spoil everybody's fun. Society urges us to live as if there are no consequences to our actions. But there are.

There is no confusion about the consequences of sin: prison, addiction, STDs, shattered lives. Even if we avoid those consequences, sin leaves us estranged from God, a bad place to be.

God Is on Our Side

The good news is it doesn't have to be that way. God is always calling us to himself, reaching out to establish an intimate relationship with us. God is on our side. The cost seems high, but the rewards are tremendous. God wants us to depend on him. The more fully we surrender, the more help he gives.

Jesus Christ called God "Father," and he is our Father as well, but like no father on earth. God is perfect, loving us with no limits. He always forgives. He always does the right thing. Depending on him is not a burden but a relief.

Relief is found in the Bible, our map for right living. From cover to cover, it points to Jesus Christ. Jesus did everything we need to get to heaven. When we believe that, our confusion about performance is gone. The pressure is off because our salvation is secure.

Pray Away Confusion

Relief is also found in prayer. When we are confused, it's natural to become anxious. But anxiety and worry accomplish nothing. Prayer, on the other hand, places our trust and focus on God:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6–7, ESV)

When we seek God’s presence and ask for his provision, our prayers pierce through the darkness and confusion of this world, creating an opening for an outpouring of God’s peace. His peace reflects his nature, which abides in complete serenity, totally separate from all chaos and confusion.

Envision God’s peace like a squadron of soldiers surrounding you, standing guard to protect you from confusion, worry, and fear. The human mind cannot comprehend this kind of tranquility, order, wholeness, well-being, and quiet confidence. Even though we may not understand it, God’s peace protects our hearts and minds.

Those who do not trust in God and commit their lives to Jesus Christ have no hope for peace. But those who are reconciled to God, welcome the Savior into their storms. Only they can hear him say "Peace, be still!" When we are in a relationship with Jesus, we know the one who is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).   

The best choice we'll ever make is to put our life in the hands of God and depend on him. He is the perfect protective Father. He always has our best interests at heart. When we follow his ways, we can never go wrong.

The world's way leads only to further confusion, but we can know peace—real, lasting peace—by depending on a trustworthy God.