Balancing Life -- While Still in Process

When certain words or thoughts find repetition in my daily walk, when dissimilar facets of my life seem to collide in a single strangely harmonious way regarding a particular topic or challenge, I have come to realize that God is trying to gain my attention, perhaps “Oh My” - He is even trying to teach me something. What a concept right? Currently, the central theme that I am hearing from a variety of contacts within my life is BALANCE. Finding or achieving the balance that can be so critically important to finding peace in life.

        Rachelle Gardener is a literary Agent in Colorado, whose blog posts come each day to me in the form of an e-mail. In a recent post entitled “How to find Balance”, she provides the following useful equation:

Balance = strength + focus

She then breaks this down for us:

Strength – The fitness experts are always telling us we need to strengthen our core. When you’re trying to balance, you need to use the core muscles – literally, tighten them and keep them strong. They can’t be loose and flabby or you won’t have the strength to balance yourself.

Focus – When you’re trying to gain balance, you can’t be looking all over the place. You need to find something upon which to focus your eyes, while inwardly you focus on placing your body where you want it. If your eyes start darting around, or if you quickly lift your head in search of a mirror to see how you are doing, you’ll fall over. You’ve got to maintain that focus.

            Rachelle’s post closes with the all-important question: How do we apply this to life? Easy question – but difficult to answer for both the physical and spiritual worlds. Where do we find strength and what should we focus upon?

        In today’s sermon, given by Jason Andrews, Pastor of Families at CVCC, Jason reminded each of us in attendence of some basic truth’s that often remain hidden away from our much needed attention. Those truth’s are listed in priority as:

1.         My role as a Believer is to make Christ paramount in my life.
2.         MY role as a Husband is to follow the example Christ modeled.
3.         My role as a Parent/Mentor is to raise up the next generation of        believers to follow Christ.

        These truths brought back to my mind the Question of Balance we looked at earlier. Where do we find our strength and on what should we focus as we attempt to fullfill these roles? All three of the roles expressed above (believer, husband and parent/mentor) as stated, require me to focus on but one thing, Christ Jesus, the King of Kings. So, it all falls apart because we lack the strength then? That must be why it seems so hard? But wait, Gods Word has somethings to say about strength too!

Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

-Isaiah 26:4

The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

-Psalm 118:14

It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

–Psalm 18:32

For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me – Psalm 18:39

God is my strength and power: And he maketh my way perfect.

–2 Samuel 22:23

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me

-Philippians 4:13

        So…in conclusion if we FOCUS on Him, He will provide the STRENGTH we need to overcome the challenges we face and the glory will belong to Him. Could it be that we are getting in our own way in this process? And is that perhaps because we desire the glory for ourselves? Something to consider next time you’re losing traction under that big rock you’ve been pushing up the hill.