Topic: A Life In Balance – Daily Devotional by Proverbs 31 Ministries 31 May 2021
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A Life In Balance
“Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6 (NIV)
Editor’s Note: Something exciting is ahead! Beginning June 7, our devotions will have a fresh, updated look! Plus, we’ve reorganized the content below the devotion into new categories: Our Favorite Things, Engage and For Deeper Study. We hope you enjoy this beautiful new look as you continue to study God’s Word with us!
I’m guessing you can relate because most of us push ourselves well beyond our limits these days. Our margins — the space between ourselves and our limits — have grown smaller and smaller. Often our bodies send us signals to slow down, rest and recover in order to restore healthy balance to our lives. But we tend to keep ignoring those signals and pushing through until a health crisis, panic attack or severe depression forces us to slow down.
Which explains why God’s Word says, “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6). Because we have two hands, we feel pressured to keep both filled at all times. We assume if we can do something, then we have to do it — but that’s not true! Not everything doable is sustainable. Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
More and more health experts agree it’s better to know your limits, uphold your boundaries and create margin in your life. Recent studies reveal that our stress, anxiety and depression often result directly from our life imbalance, echoing the truth in Scripture. Dr. Stephen Ilardi, a clinical psychologist and depression researcher, sums up this lifestyle problem in his book, The Depression Cure: “We were never designed for the sedentary, indoor, socially isolated, fast-food laden, sleep-deprived, frenzied pace of modern life.”
Now please understand I’m not trying to negate or minimize people suffering from depression for reasons beyond their control. Our genes and biology can contribute to our depression, though they still shouldn’t control the outcome of our lives. And there are real neuro-chemical changes that can happen when you become depressed that can make it even harder to get out of the dark cave of distress and despair.
But our imbalanced lives may hurt us more than we realize.
If we want to restore balance in our lives and improve our physical, emotional and spiritual health, then we need to make some changes in our choices, habits and routines. Most recent research on depression concludes that if our schedules overwhelm us and rarely include rest, then we’re more likely to experience depression. Similarly, if we never put down our phone or get away from the computer and experience the beauty of God’s creation outdoors, then we’re more likely to feel depressed. Without a social life and daily human connection to others, people are more likely to be depressed (though it’s true that most people have been deprived of socialization because of the pandemic).
Restoring balance and overcoming the depression caused by my imbalanced lifestyle has often been challenging. But I’ve learned to stop trying to do everything and instead consider what God has called me to do. I’ve stopped saying yes to everything and looked for ways to strengthen boundaries around my priorities. If it’s not a clear yes, then it’s likely a clear no. I’ve created margins of time between appointments and eliminated commitments that drain too much out of me for what they involve. I’ve focused on making my greatest contribution to the people and priorities I cherish most.
You can make the same kinds of choices. They’re hard at first, but they’re more than worth it. Knowing that your life is short and that you have a finite amount of time and resources, focus on God and His priorities for your life. Consider what you can let go and what you can hold loosely. Let yourself enjoy the tranquility of one handful.
Dear Lord, I want to focus on You and find balance in my life. Help me to stop chasing the wind and to start spending more time in Your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY
Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV)
