“Lord, help me!  Please help me!” Tommy cried out.  “Everything seems crazy and out of control!”

He was sitting on the edge of his bed following another frantic and frenetic day.  Tommy was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted; weary to the bone from the non-stop turmoil in his life. 

Tears flowed down his cheeks as he bared his soul to the Lord.  His heart was heavy; his mind burdened; his body drained.  He didn’t know how much longer he could continue to chase after orderliness in the disorder of his world.

“Everything is chaos, Lord!  Are you unaware, or are you too busy?”  Tommy wasn’t angry or accusing.  Just confused.  More tears dropped to the floor between his feet.  “I know you are supposed to know and control all things, but I’m really struggling here, Lord.  I’m feeling overwhelmed and all alone.”

A sob racked his body.  He clenched his eyelids closed, pushing more water out, and shook his head in sorrow.  He dropped his head to his hands, his elbows resting on his knees, utterly dejected.

Lost in his thoughts, he gradually became aware of a subtle shift in the room.  He sensed movement and felt a slight breeze.  The air seemed to bristle with subdued energy.  Startled, he lifted his head and opened his eyes.

His bedroom was gone, replaced by a sphere that surrounded him … the rounded walls barely discernable in the darkness.  That was strange enough.

But even stranger were the balls whirling through the air and circling around the interior of the sphere.  There was no uniformity to their paths; each ball’s direction of travel and speed unique.  Collisions were common, causing wild ricochets and changes of course.

Each ball was a different color: some red, some green, some blue, and so on, with many a hue represented. 

Tommy gasped.  “What is this?” he wondered, as he stared wide-eyed at this unexpected display.

There was a tiny flash of light, and the face of Jesus materialized on the wall across from him.  Jesus spoke.  “This, Tommy, is a view of all of the varied aspects of your life.  Each colored ball represents a unique feature.  Some colored balls stand for possessions; others for talents; others for activities; others for responsibilities; others for relationships; and still others for other things altogether.  I’ll spare you the specifics, and simply say … this sphere is your life, and the balls inside it are the details.”

Tommy didn’t know where to look.  He alternated between gawking at the circling balls and Jesus’ face, his mouth hanging open.  Jesus smiled warmly at Tommy’s consternation.

“There are so many, Lord!  So many balls!  So many colors!  So many different directions!  So many collisions!”

“Yes, I know,” Jesus replied.

Tommy exclaimed in exasperation, “I knew it!  I’ve felt it!  Everything in my life is clearly spinning out of control!”

“It does appear that way, doesn’t it?” Jesus stated.  He paused, then continued, “Tommy, I’d like you to take a moment to get these many things under control.”  Startled, Tommy looked at the Lord.  He raised his hands, palms upward, questioningly.  “Go ahead, Tommy,” Jesus instructed.

Tommy hesitantly began attempting to snatch some of the balls swirling around him.  He actually managed to catch a few of the slower ones, but when he set a seized ball down, it would roll away, pick up speed and return to orbit.  Exasperated after just a few moments, he exclaimed, “I can’t!  There are too many!  And they won’t stand still!”

Jesus smiled again.  “You’re absolutely right.  There are too many, and you can’t control them.”

“That’s what I said before, Lord.  Everything in my life is chaos!”

“And as I said before,” Jesus stated, “it does appear that way, doesn’t it?”  The Lord looked intently into Tommy’s eyes.  “But here’s what you need to understand.  What you see in this sphere right now – that’s your view of things.  What you see is chaos.  Now I will show you my view of things.”

There was a ripple that swept across the interior of Tommy’s sphere, a single wave of muted silver.  As it reached the swirling balls, they dove into position, forming a seemingly solid panel of balls to the right of Tommy.  The many colors were all aligned, forming lovely concentric borders around a maroon center panel.  And in that panel, white balls spelled this message from the Lord: “I’ve got ALL THIS under control.”

Tommy was overwhelmed with awe.  Joy, peace, and thankfulness flooded through him, filling his entire being.  Tears flowed anew.  This time, not of sorrow, but of profound gratitude.  “Thank you, Jesus, for showing me this.  Thank you for controlling the chaos in my life.”

“You’re welcome, Tommy.  But I have one more thing to show you yet.”

At Jesus’ words, Tommy felt himself expanding; his eyes slowly lifting beyond the boundaries of his life sphere. As they cleared, he took in an astounding view.  All around him were swirling spheres – unenumerable multi-colored spheres, traveling every which way and bouncing wildly off one another. 

“This, Tommy, is a representation of the cosmos … again, every different colored sphere a different aspect.  Some living; some non-living.  And again, this is your view.”

Jesus paused.  “Now let me show you my view.”

In similar fashion the ripple of silver swept over all the spheres, and they dropped into a gigantic, magnificent pattern.  And there, displayed in the center was another message from God – a humongous one!  “I’ve got ALL THIS under control TOO!”

Another ripple of silver swung over Tommy, the view dissipated and he was back in his room, sitting on his bed.  He felt refreshed; invigorated.  He felt hope.  What an incredible insight he had been given by his Savior.  He bowed his head and prayed fervently, “Thank you, Lord, for keeping everything under control.  I will trust in you.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Proverbs 20:24
A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Colossians 1:15-17
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Isaiah 45:11-12
“This is what the LORD says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.

Psalm 46:1-3, 7, 10-11
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. … The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. … He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.