WHEN LIFE IS UNBALANCED

Believe it or not, even the pastor’s life can sometimes seem “out of balance.” At times I’m pressured by the urgent to lose sight of what matters most. Priorities get out of line, boundaries get out of place, and my life gets out of sync. It’s subtle, but can have serious consequences if I let it go.

SYMPTOMS

Here are some of the symptoms that tell me there’s a problem.

• I feel fatigued physically, mentally, and spiritually.
• I’m more easily discouraged.
• I get frustrated and aggravated by small things.
• I lose sight of the blessings and focus on the burdens.

The answer to getting back in balance is found in a variety of places in Scripture.

• Matthew 6.33 reminds me to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
• John 15 reminds me that He is the vine, and I am the branch. I need to remain in Him.

DELIGHT, COMMIT, and TRUST

Psalm 37.4-5 offers me three quick keys to regaining balance when I find I’m spiritually unsteady.

⁴ Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.
⁵ Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act,

• Delight – Find joy and pleasure abiding in the presence of God
• Commit – Turn it all, everything, over to Him, because He has the best plan.
• Trust – Patiently wait and watch as God works things out His way in His time.

REST AND REMAIN

Resting and remaining appear to be critical components in the spiritually balanced life. Frequently I’m tempted to rush about trying to fix things, worried about what people might think if they see my flaws and realize I am less than perfect. God invites me, then and always, to focus on His priorities, maintain healthy boundaries, and connect (or reconnect) to the Vine, the source of His purpose, presence, and productivity.

John 15.4: Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.

Potholes on the road can damage a car’s tires, causing the vehicle to vibrate as the auto is driven.  This happens because the damaged tire is out of balance and needs to have a skilled mechanic repair it and rebalance it. When life’s potholes get us out of balance, we need to pull up to the only one who can get us back in balance, and let Him have us for a while.