#8 Certainty in the Chaos

Stewart Bogle
Apr 15, 2024
7 min read

Updated: Apr 17

Choosing to See God at Work—even When He’s Not Working the Way You Hoped

I know that God is real and at work in this world. I also know that’s a big statement, but I believe it with my whole heart.

That doesn’t mean I haven’t wished He was more at work at times—or at least, at work earlier in the journey I was on, or in the specific ways I’d asked Him to be. But even with all that, I can still point to moments in my life where I know—undeniably—that He stepped in. That He did something amazing. Something only He could do.

One of those moments happened many years ago, when Heather (my first wife) and I were travelling home from Europe through Africa. I’ll never forget it.

Chaos on the Tracks: Trusting God When Everything Goes Wrong

We were heading by train from Livingstone (on the border with Zimbabwe) to Lusaka in Zambia to meet up with some missionaries from our home church. The plan was simple—but the journey was anything but.

As the train edged closer to Lusaka, things began to unravel. It kept stopping for long periods without explanation. At one stop, a group of heavily armed soldiers climbed aboard and shouted at everyone to get down below the window line. People ducked quickly, terrified. We had no idea what was happening.

We passed through a packed township on the outskirts of Lusaka, only to discover the train was being targeted. Crowds were gathering—angry, armed with rocks, ready to attack the train and set it alight. Suddenly, machine gun fire blasted from the roof of our carriage, dispersing the crowd just enough for us to keep moving.

When we finally arrived at the central train station in Lusaka, the city was a mess. Smoke filled the air. We could hear gunfire. Helicopter gunships hovered above. It was clear that something major was unfolding, but no one was telling us anything.

Everyone in the station seemed to be hunkering down, waiting it out. But I felt desperate to get us to safety. I remembered an English-speaking hotel I’d seen in my Lonely Planet guide, just a few blocks from the station. Heather and I grabbed our packs and made a run for it.

Walking Into Danger: A Moment That Changed Everything

At first, the street outside was eerily quiet. Then, out of nowhere, a ute came flying around the corner. The men in the back were yelling and waving at us, frantically motioning for us to turn back. We hesitated, but kept going. I had no idea what else to do.

When we rounded the next corner, we saw a barricade of soldiers ahead, weapons raised, facing down the road. To our right was an angry mob surging forward toward them. We found ourselves standing there—wide-eyed, backpacks on—in the middle of this terrifying scene, frozen with fear.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed another vehicle slowing down. Two people were in the front. The driver rolled down his window and called out, “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “We’re just trying to get to somewhere safe.”

He looked at his wife. She nodded. And then he said, “Get in the back and keep your heads down.”

We didn’t hesitate.

An Unexpected Rescue: How God Met Us in Chaos

As we raced through the city, I lifted my head a few times to see what was going on. It was carnage. Fires. Crowds. Noise. Burnt-out cars. Sporadic gunfire. Total chaos.

Eventually, we pulled into a large walled compound with a huge iron gate. The gate slammed shut behind us, and we were rushed into the house.

We were safe.

As we caught our breath, we learned that the couple were missionaries returning from a few days away. They had no idea what had happened in the city while they were gone, so they were heading to the main office to find out more. Once they realised how serious it was, they turned around to head home—and that’s when they spotted us—two stunned backpackers frozen in the middle of an uprising—so they decided to stop.

Just as we’d been needing help. Just as we were about to get caught up in a conflict. Just as we had no idea what to do next.

They saw us.

They stopped.

They rescued us.

Coincidence? Or God?

That depends on how you see the world. Me? I’m convinced it was God.

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." Corrie Ten Boom

When God Shows Up... and When He Doesn't

I know God is real and I know he’s good. But I still wonder sometimes—why did he let us get into that situation in the first place, only to rescue us later? Why didn’t he just re-route our plans or delay our journey?

I’ve asked those kinds of questions before. I rarely get an answer.

These days, when something works out unexpectedly or a blessing shows up in the middle of the mess, I try to thank Him—without getting too tangled in the why or how. To be honest, some days that’s easier than others.

"God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart." Charles Spurgeon

That moment in Zambia was one of several where I’ve seen God do something only He could do. But that’s also what makes it harder. Because there have been plenty of other moments—just as desperate—where He didn’t. Not when Heather was in a hospital bed years later, hours from dying. Not when other parts of my life were quietly falling apart. Not when I was crying out for answers that never came.

Sometimes I wish I could bottle moments like that one in Africa—carry them with me and take a sip whenever I need reminding that God can step in and rescue us. But the truth is, He doesn’t always step in the way we want. Or when we want. Or at all.

And yet, despite the confusion and frustration I sometimes feel, I’m choosing not to walk away from the God who can step in—but doesn’t always. I can’t. I’ve seen too much. I’ve lived through too much. I’ve encountered Him—really encountered Him.

What About You?

When life falls apart and you’re desperate for God to step in, are you more likely to turn toward Him—or walk away? And when things do work out, do you chalk it up to luck, or dare to believe it might be His hand at work behind the scenes?

Faced with that choice—again and again—I want to encourage you to take the road less travelled. Turn to Him, whether or not He steps in the way you hoped. Choose to believe He’s still present, still good, still at work in the chaos.

I can only speak from my experience, but this much I know: choosing to believe that God is in it with you—even when it doesn’t make sense—will change how you walk through the storm.

Questions to Reflect on.

In what ways have you seen glimpses of God’s presence in the middle of a situation that felt chaotic or unsafe?
How do you tend to respond when God’s actions—or silence—don’t align with your hopes or prayers?

From Reflection to Action: (These are just suggestions – maybe choose 1 or 2 to try)

Write it down, don’t just think it. Set aside 10 minutes this week to jot down a time in your life when you felt completely stuck—but something or someone showed up just in time. Be specific. What happened? What did you feel? Where do you now see God in that moment?
Tell someone one story. Pick one trusted friend, family member, or small group to share a ‘God showed up’ story from your life. Keep it short and honest. You never know who might need to hear it.
Make a ‘when I forget’ note. Create a reminder in your phone or journal that says something like: “He’s come through before. He can do it again.” Place it somewhere you’ll see it on hard days.
Shift your next prayer. Next time you pray about a difficult situation, try saying: “Even if nothing changes, help me see you in it.” It’s a small but powerful shift that can reframe your whole mindset.
Start a 'God at Work' list. Dedicate a page in your journal or notes app to track small moments where you notice God at work—answers to prayer, a timely word from someone, an unexpected provision. Review it regularly when your faith feels shaky.
Revisit a moment you’ve avoided. Think back to a time that felt messy or unresolved. Ask yourself: Is it possible God was doing something in that moment I didn’t notice at the time? What might I see differently now?
Tune into Encouraging Podcasts: Boost your resilience with stories from the Resilient Souls podcast. I’d like to encourage you to a listen to Amy as she shares how she kept choosing to see God at work even in the chaos of death, loss and confusion. Amy's story

Bible verses about trust, presence, and faith in the midst of uncertainty:

Psalm 46:1 (NIV): God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Habakkuk 3:17–18 (NIV): Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (NIV): We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Isaiah 43:2 (NLT): When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV): Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.