Finding Balance

“Don’t trade your peace for progress.”  

(Breathing Room, Sandra Stanley. p.9)

Balance….

            What is balance? We all talk about it.  We all strive for it.  But what is it? And most importantly how do we achieve it?

            I recently delved into this topic in a 28-Day devotional by Sandra Stanley called Breathing Room.  This daily study really helped me put perspective on this topic.  I am by no means an expert, but with intentional choices and discipline I’ve been able to implement some basic principles into my life and I am seeing more balance daily.

            I picture balance as walking across a beam - eyes closed, arms stretched out from my side, calm peaceful music playing and breathing deeply - complete focus on crossing the beam.  Is it hard? At first, YES!  But just like doing anything well, it takes discipline, determination, and practice.  The more I intentionally do it, the easier it gets. 

            Now, picture this… You’re standing in the middle of your house - loud music streaming from somewhere, your kitchen piled high with mess, your living room in chaos, you don’t even want to look in your kids’ rooms, your bathrooms long overdue for a thorough cleaning.  You’re trying to decide what to tackle first when the buzzer goes off on the oven timer signaling you did accomplish something today.  On your way in to pull supper out of the oven you hear an alarm going off on your phone reminding you of some upcoming appointment, then your phone starts pinging from incoming texts.  You stop to answer them knowing if you don’t do it now you will forget and it won’t happen.  A quick reply turns into ten minutes and a jolt when you realize smoke is pouring out of the oven - supper ruined.  You sink to the floor sobbing.  You feel overwhelmed like nothing you do is done well and everything is out of control.  How can you possibly juggle all life throws at you?

            Juggling or Balancing? How do we change juggling into balancing? How do we go from Chaos to balance? Is it even possible?

            God created us to need balance and rest.  He thought about it and planned rest into creation week.  He created night so we could rest and rejuvenate for the next day.  Not only did He create rest (night) at the end of each day, He also created a whole Rest Day at the end of each week with the intention of us having down time and specifically time to spend in God’s word refreshing our outlook on life and renewing ourselves.  

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.  On that day no one in your household may do any work…  For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day He rested.  That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”  (Exodus 20:8-11, NLT)

God created us to need balance.  He built it into the very essence and rhythm of life - daily and weekly.  “In this need for rest, we find a regular reminder that we need Him.  We need Him to provide for us, without us working exhausting overtime hours.  We need Him to maintain friendships through seasons when we must prioritize family.  We need Him to validate our worth apart from how our lives compare to our friends’ lives.  When we follow God’s Sabbath rule we allow Him to meet our needs while we experience the peace of a Pace with breathing room and balance.”  (Breathing Room, Sandra Stanley, p. 19)

            Balance comes with prioritizing, and that looks different for each of us.  It also looks different to us during different seasons of our lives.  What your balance looks like with small children in your home is vastly different than when you have teenages in your home.  Be kind to yourself, don’t get caught in the comparison trap.  Don’t look at your friends and neighbors and wish you were in their shoes.  They are not you and their needs are not your needs.

            When prioritizing, write it down.  Draw three circles, your circles should look like a target with the inner circle being the bullseye.

• Inner Circle:  Roles that only you can fill.
• Examples:  wife, daughter, mother, sister, aunt
• Next Circle:  Roles that you do uniquely, but could be replaced with some effort
• Examples: Employee, Bible study leader
• Outer Circle:  Roles which you are easily replaced
• Examples: committee member, class participant

(Breathing Room, Sandra Stanley, p.122)

Remember… it is okay to say “No” to whatever is pulling you from your inner circle.  The no will not always be no.  just no for this season of life.  An opportunity will rise again.  Maybe then you can say Yes. Keep your focus on your inner circle first and foremost.  Some people/things in the outer circles may be forced out of your life for a season, but remember this:

You CAN’T afford everything but you CAN afford anything.  

           

Your time is limited so you can’t pour time and energy into everything you would like to BUT you can choose what you want and pour your time into anything.  Choose wisely, your balance depends on it., and remember no for now does not mean no for always.

            Trust God, He created you to need balance.  Prioritize and trust Him to do more with less.  You might be surprised hour your life will turn from a circus of juggling to the tranquility of Breathing Room and Balance.  As you see God meet your needs despite your fears of missing out or falling behind, we grow more confident that He can be trusted.  

            Balance takes discipline.  It’s hard work.  But persistently and intentionally pursue breathing room in all areas of your life and you will find the balance you crave.

- Honali Marin