Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8

Creation Overcomes Chaos

Disaster struck Berks County in July 2023 as 9 inches of rain fell in a few hours turning gentle streams into torrents of destruction. A high school was destroyed. Over 60 properties suffered damage. Survivors faced the challenge of rebuilding and the ongoing challenges posed by poverty.

There was chaos and something more. The Spirit was brooding over the flood waters just as she brooded over formless void at Creation. Immediate relief appeared overnight as the Lower Alsace Fire Department was transformed into a relief center dispensing food, clothing, clean up kits, and other necessary supplies. 

Volunteers collected donations and coordinated their distribution. They walked flood-soaked streets and neighborhoods letting people know they were not alone; pointing them to where help could be found; and organizing a relief effort that would birth the Antietam Valley Long Term Recovery Group, whose work would assess needs, assist in applying for state disaster recovery funds, and recruit and deploy the volunteers who would rebuild and restore the damaged properties.

Creation overcame chaos, and it did so quietly. No fanfare. No TV cameras or news articles. No social media campaign going viral. Just good people doing good work “in the name of the Lord.”

In this season of Advent, in the darkest time of the year, we confess our faith that the darkness is not absolute. Light will shine. Light will overcome. The Maker of Heaven and Earth is our Helper. The Lord overcomes chaos with creation through the humble faithfulness of ordinary people who do what they can and keep doing it until the good work is done.

What if we saw darkness as an opportunity to be confident that light will shine? What if we changed our mental model from, “ain’t it awful?” to deep trust that Creation will overcome the Chaos, because Psalm 124:8 “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” 

Maker of Heaven and Earth, open my eyes to see what can be done. Deliver me from the despair that denies the possibility of making a difference. Inspire me to help in your name confident that you are the Maker of Heaven and Earth, able and active in the world you created, making all things new through the good work of people like me. Amen.

Rev. David Duquette is pastor of Pennside Presbyterian Church and Chair of Antietam Valley Long Term Recovery Group.