Love Each Other in the Midst of Chaos

2/8/2026

John 13:34–35

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I keep coming back to this verse. It is the message I need to hear; the message that Spirit whispers to me. In a world of chaos —political division, fear, violence, misinformation, and cultural fracture — God’s command to “love one another” is not just some soft sentiment but a divine strategy: it is the seed of His life planted in us, growing even beneath the bitter cold and snows of uncertainty, sustained by His perfect love and His timing.

Times of deep political and social instability require our attention on how we are responding. News cycles amplify fear, outrage, and division. Their intent is to polarize us so that we no longer listen to each other, only attack. In this kind of environment, love is often weaponized. It is reduced to loyalty to a side or affirmation of a tribe, the direct opposite of what Christ commands.

The Bible recognizes that the world is sometimes broken. Proverbs 14:10 tells us that “The heart knows its own bitterness.” “The world is passing away with its desires,” says 1 John 2:17. We have seen these times before. But Scripture refuses to let the culture define love. Love remains constant, unchanged, just as God remains unchanged, because love is the very nature of God. 1 John 4:16 teaches us that, “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” Romans 5:5 reminds us, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” During national and global upheaval, the first command Jesus gives to His people is not “take sides,” or “defend your tribe,” but “love one another.”

Some of us are more involved in the chaos than others. We are all affected at some level, but some of us shower in the turmoil. And if we are not aware, we allow the fear of insecurity and confusion to control us. The greatest enemy of love in our time is fear: fear of being publicly rejected, shamed, or excluded on social media, in our community, or at work for saying something unpopular, taking a stand, or being seen as “on the wrong side.”  We fear that if we speak truth, kindness, or biblical love in an unruly climate, people will judge us, quote us out of context, or label us so harshly that we lose relationships, jobs, or influence.

We have not only personal fear, but cultural. We fear technology – artificial intelligence, automation, and data tracking, although we are told in 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.” We fear immigrants, yet we are told in Leviticus 19:33–34, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native‑born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

Far greater than our fear of AI or strangers is our fear of difference, loss of control, the unknown, and challenges to our tribe, identity, or comfort. Fear leads us to ‘us against them’ thinking.  All these fears are common, normal, and eons old. We are not bad people if we fear. Fear can serve as a powerful teacher, if we will allow it. It is a pointer, an indicator that we are missing something spiritually. We are more than fear; it is not part of who we are. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us plainly, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self‑control.”

Fear is paralyzing Christian love today. It keeps us from “dancing” with God. It makes us timid, defensive, and reactive rather than bold, gentle, and patient. When we are afraid, we stop loving the person who disagrees with us, stop speaking the truth in the right way, and stop modeling the kind of love Jesus commands.

But how do we allow the love within us to blossom, to become more visible, more intentional, and more Christ‑like? First, always first, turn to God and move into prayer. Our connection to Spirit must be more powerful and clear than our connection to the world. To love each other amid chaos is not something we do to earn God’s approval; it is the natural outflow of having first received God’s love. 1 John 4:19 tells us, “We love because he first loved us.” Matthew 10:8 then says, “Freely you have received; freely give.”  When we drink from God’s love, our own love becomes less dependent on how others treat us. If we are not allowing God’s love to flow in and through us, it is difficult to pass it on to others.

Another way to let our little light shine is to choose love even when we do not feel like it. Biblical love is not just emotion; it is a decision to bless, forgive, and serve. Luke 6:27 tells us to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Hard times often come through painful relationships, unfair situations, or betrayal. In those moments we forgive instead of ruminating over the wound. Colossians 3:13 requires that we, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” We are instructed to speak kind words, even when we are tempted to lash out. Serve in small, faithful ways – helping, listening, praying, even when we feel unseen. Love grows most when it is costly.

Third, we allow our challenges to cultivate humility and compassion. God uses hardship to soften our hearts toward others.

“Humble yourselves… under the mighty hand of God, that he may lift you up in due time,” says 1 Peter 5:6. 2 Corinthians 1:4 teaches,

“God comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.” We live it, then teach others. When we experience our own weakness, we are less likely to look down on others who are struggling. We become quicker to listen, slower to judge, and more willing to carry someone else’s burden. Humility plus compassion is the exact climate where love flourishes.

Fourth, we can pray for our own heart and for others. Prayer is the primary way we invite God to grow our love. We ask God to soften our heart toward the people who hurt us or disappoint us. We are told in Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you. Do not curse them; pray that God will bless them.”  Jesus taught that praying for the one who hurts us begins to re‑order our heart; hostility loosens its grip, and love begins to grow.

Fifth, we can embrace love as a process of endurance. Trials do not instantly refine us; they reveal and shape us over time. James 1:3-4

says, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”  The longer we stay faithful in love during a season of pain, the more our love begins to look like Christ’s love –persistent, merciful, and patient.

And a sixth way to allow our love to blossom is to let our love include joy, peace, and gratitude. Even in hard times, God allows peace, joy, and thanksgiving to coexist with sorrow. Philippians 4:4. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice,” even amid chaos.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 teaches the powerful lesson: “In everything give thanks.” Deliberately thanking God in the trial, not just that He finally ended it, trains our heart to see His presence and provision, which fuels a deeper, more resilient love for Him and for others.

Loving each other means not letting politics, ideology, or social media tribalism become our primary identity. So, it is my prayer that we choose to stay connected to Spirit and each other, even when it is costly and uncomfortable. I pray that we will practice patience, forgiveness, and humility with one another. In the chaos of our world, God is not asking us to be the first to speak, the loudest, or the cleverest. He is asking us to be the first to hope, and the first to love.