Balancing Faith and Daily Life

One would think it shouldn’t be that difficult to have a relationship with Jesus. You love Him, He loves you, yet when daily life is added in the mix, all the love we feel for Jesus is overshadowed by work, school, parenthood, or to-do lists—all those things that are visibly vying for our attention.

My Own Experience with Balancing

Recently, I shared an experience with a couple of Christian friends—one that reminded me how off course or out of kilter we can get without God. Let me explain.

It was the night before a crucial work meeting; I made sure everything was ready: my briefcase was packed, my clothes were laid out, and my car had a full tank of gas. I even planned to arrive 30 minutes early to secure a good seat and prepare my mind to engage. But when morning came, I had overslept. In a frenzy, I threw on my clothes, grabbed some toast and my work bag, and rushed out the door. As I drove off, a still, small voice asked me, “Do you know where you are going?” In my haste, I ignored it. I didn’t even feel I had time to get on my knees and pray. Instead, I fixated on my watch, weaving through traffic while trying to maintain my Christian composure. 

When I finally arrived at my destination, I hopped out of my car and rushed into the conference room where I thought the session was being held. No one was there.  I stood there, reasoning with myself: “This is where we met last time. Where is everyone?” Again, that small voice nudged me to check my work email—but again, I dismissed it. Instead, I asked around, allowing myself to be misdirected to several other conference rooms in the building before coming to my senses.

Since I was in the same building where I worked, I went to my desk, pulled my laptop out of my bag, and checked my work calendar—only to confirm what I had started to suspect. I was in the wrong place. Not only was I in the wrong place, but the place I needed to be was on the other side of town.

At that point, my stubbornness hit me like a punch in the gut, and my spirit was humbled. I packed up my belongings, returned to my car, and prayed. Something I, a seasoned Christian, didn’t think I had time to do earlier. In my frenzy, all rationality left me. Simple things that I knew to do, I didn’t do.

God grants us free will. Even when He speaks to us in His still, small voice, He never forces us to stop and listen. Yet, when we do, blessings follow—and often, more than not, listening saves us time.

As I drove to the correct location, I talked with God the entire way. I no longer felt rushed. Just the opposite, the frantic rush I had felt earlier faded; a deep sense of peace replaced it.  The things I had deemed so urgent no longer seemed as important as simply spending time with Jesus.

When I finally arrived, the meeting room was full, but there were a few empty seats available in the front. Neither did I have to suffer the embarrassment of being late alone. The only thing I seemed to have missed was the introduction of the team members. As far as I knew, I was right on time for what God wanted me to receive.

Time With God Saves Us Time

I’ve said this many times: Time with God saves us time. It’s the essence of Balancing Blessings—recognizing that our careers, loved ones, and material possessions are gifts from God. While these things are valuable and important, they should never take precedence over the “Giver,” One who blessed us with them.

Balancing faith and daily life means making time for spiritual practices and making that a part of our daily lives. Just as we wake up and go to work day after day, to earn a paycheck to provide for our needs, time with God is not optional for a Christian—it is essential. It sustains us, strengthens our spirit, and provides stability. Stability is another form of balance that keeps you; it holds you steady, and it levels your mind so that you are not anxious or frantic.

Yes, we will have our moments of slip ups, because we are imperfect human beings, but understand that faith is the foundation of stability. It anchors us when storms arise. When life feels overwhelming, faith restores balance, offering Godly perspective and peace. It’s easy to get caught up in work, family responsibilities, and the pursuit of success, but true balance comes when we keep our focus on God, the Blessor. When we do that we can enjoy our blessings without letting them distract us from our faith, purpose, and relationship with God. That is the essence of Balancing Blessings.

Your Call To Order:

Anytime you feel frantic or anxious, remember to stop for a minute and just breathe; and send up a simple request to Jesus: “Help me, Lord.” And let the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, …guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

If you found this helpful, you might also enjoy: The Fifth Quality of a Blessed Woman

Power Verse

I will end with Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.