Read John 7:1-52

Life is full of chaos.

It seems that no matter what season you are in, there is just so much going on and it seems hard to keep up.

Currently, Kelly and I have a 4.5-year-old boy and 5-month-old girl. With Kelly having to be at work earlier than me, I am responsible for drop off of the kids to babysitters/school respectively. This involves getting them dressed and out the door, strapped into their seats and to the sitter/school in one piece.

Because I have been doing this for so long, I have a system: carrying my backpack, Emma in her carrier, Emma’s bag, and my morning coffee – all the while guiding our hyperactive 4-year-old through the house and to the garage.

Most mornings, all goes smoothly. Others involve getting everything into the car and me sitting down in the driver’s seat and taking a deep breath while trying to re-center myself.

Mattie, Emma and I have our morning routine and it is tried and true.

You could say there’s a method to the madness.

As you read John 7, you see several instances where people don’t understand why Jesus is saying and doing what He is but, either we know greater context, or John shares with us the “why”.

For example, Jesus is talking about the Spirit being living water which would have definitely been confusing to people of that day. However, today, 2000 years later, we know a lot about the Holy Spirit and have greater context than the people of Jesus’ day. They had to take Jesus’ words by faith.

After the “living water” comment, verse 39 says:

“By this He meant the Spirit, whom whose who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

Jesus didn’t say or do anything that didn’t have a reason for it. Whether it was apparent to those who were listening to Him or not, Jesus had a plan and it absolutely was going to be fulfilled.

He had a plan.

While these brief context clues and foreshadowing help us to greater understanding of Scripture, I can’t help but think about the “method to the madness” perspective.

How often, in our lives, do we get kind of sucked into the chaos and lose our perspective? A lot of Kelly and I’s evenings involve making sure the kids are fed, bathed and put to bed, all in one piece. We know that we are in the midst of this season for a reason and that is to build a foundation of care and discipline with our kids.

What season are you in? Are you finding yourself in the midst of a storm that you can’t see the end of?

Rest in the truth that God knows what you’re going through and has His hand of provision and guidance over you. He never says or does anything without a reason.

There’s a purpose for your season.

Will you find it?

Jake Lawson