Balance

I wish there was a way to use a GPS system to find balance in life. I feel like I get lost or take unnecessary detours trying to juggle so many different things. No matter what we do in or outside of our homes, there are countless responsibilities. I’m forever thinking about my next writing project. I don’t think my laundry is ever done for longer than 15 minutes and it’s just me and my husband now! As soon as I get groceries, there’s always something I forgot. There’s always a closet or drawer that needs reorganizing, an appointment to schedule, an email to send, a bill to pay and an errand to run. Always! Not to mention we have our family, other relationships, our personal health and multiple other things we’re trying to manage. Our days can feel like they’re a nonstop wash, rinse, repeat cycle!

With so many priorities, it’s no wonder it feels like there’s not enough time for everything. Beyond that, the cultural pressure that society creates adds unrealistic standards that are constantly changing and pushing us to achieve more. We supposed to look a certain way, have a certain type of lifestyle and all with a sparkling smile each day. It can feel like an impossible balancing act that can lead to stress, burnout and an overall sense of being overwhelmed. Sometimes I feel like life is like a performance from a Cirque du Soleil show, except I’m spinning in circles trying to avoid catastrophe and not nearly as graceful and impressive as the artists in the show.

We also face challenges in our faith. It’s difficult to maintain a spiritual discipline of spending quality time with Jesus, and loving, forgiving and giving grace like Him. It can feel like another thing to balance. And when we don’t, we feel an even deeper weight of failure. Sadly, this is the opposite of what the role of our faith should play in finding true balance.

If you and I were together right now, I would want to tell you how much I can relate if you feel this too. I would tell you that I know what God says about being still, trusting Him, and not being anxious about anything. I would tell you I know these truths should bring comfort and encouragement. I would also tell you that applying these truths can be a struggle because sometimes knowing God’s Truth and feeling God’s Truth can be two very different things.

When we feel the everyday pressures of our responsibilities, our bandwidth, on a good day, can be stretched thin. Add the pressures and worries about the ones we love and challenging situations, and it can feel like that very thin bandwidth is almost see-through with cracks forming right before our eyes. All of this can make balancing life and faith seem like we’re chasing down that pretty pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Balance is not a one-time thing. It’s a daily practice of surrendering to God. True balance comes when we stop trying to control everything and start trusting God. I’m sharing this as a life long, work in progress girl when it comes to control. So here are few tips from me to you.

First, and this is so important to know. We need to incorporate small moments of faith during our day. We don’t have to spend long, uninterrupted hours praying or studying Scripture. If you have littles, a demanding career, a long list of responsibilities, or a short attention span, that’s just not realistic. Instead, take the pressure off and start with small, intentional moments throughout the day. This always makes me feel a little more connected to Jesus, too. It’s like we spend the day together. We also need to remember that faith doesn’t eliminate chaos, it gives you the strength to stand strong in it.

Second, we need to set our priorities. We need to align our daily decisions with our eternal purpose. That sounds big and complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. We just need to stop and think about if saying, “Yes,” to something could potentially take away from something that’s more important. This is a guarantee to bring imbalance.

Last, and this is one of my biggest hurdles. We need to surrender control. Our daily responsibilities aren’t always going to go as planned. We’re going to experience challenging, hurtful, hard moments in our relationships that make us feel unstable. But remember, balance is not a one and done achievement. It’s ok not to have everything perfectly balanced at all times. Because through Jesus, we can navigate the challenges we face in our lives and in our faith with a sense of hope and with purpose.

Isaiah 40:31 is an assurance we can count on when it comes to reviving our strength by relying on God. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (HCSB)

If you’re in a season where life feels out of control, you feel wearied from never-ending obligations, things that weigh heavily on your heart, and if you’re like me and need a GPS system to help find balance, I hope you can remember this. Balancing life and faith isn’t about perfection, it’s about finding peace in the process.

Being aligned with Jesus will foster that kind of peace. I want this for you. I want it for me. Thankfully, it’s already ours.