Balanced over Beaten

Balanced over Beaten

Balanced over Beaten

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
- Matthew 6:25-34 


How often do we find ourselves feeling pulled in too many directions, leaving little of us to truly honor the people and things we choose to devote our time and energy to? When I try to imagine what this strive for “worldly balance” looks like, I imagine a juggler or plate-spinner trying to keep things in perfect rhythm without dropping the ball (or plate, if you will). If you don’t know what I am referencing with plate-spinning, pause your reading and go look it up. Prepare to experience your balancing act rhythm exposed in a humorous light if you’re guilty of this like me. 

This balancing act or rhythm involves giving each area of our life just enough attention to keep things balanced and moving, but not in the true purposeful direction God intends for them to. We bounce from task to task or commitment to commitment without nurturing each separate entity the way we are called to. There are only so many moves we can make before we feel beaten down by exhaustion and overextension from relying on our own strength and direction. 

Matthew 6:25-34 speaks a direct line of truth into these rhythms of life. Why perform the daily balancing act trying to appease worldly rhythms and gains when we could trust that God knows the very make-up of our current and future needs and will provide beyond our wildest dreams? We should reset our minds to seek His kingdom before worldly things and give attention to the things He deems worthy and fruitful. The best way to prioritize these things is to surrender it all to Him. Only then will we feel balanced rather than beaten. Our heart realigns with His will and purpose for us, resulting in equipped hearts filled with His hope and peace, ready to tackle anything He sets before us.

@jess_barr #wheatfulwednesday

 
Jessie Barr is a pediatric speech-language pathologist in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. She is a firm believer in the power words can hold when spoken over someone with the light and love of the gospel and aims to help people see the value they bring to the world. She loves connecting to other women of Christ through their unique stories and loves this W&HC. community!

@jess_barr
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