How to Pace Yourself in a Busy World
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This past year I got married, moved to a new city, worked a full-time teaching job, did ministry on nights and weekends, made friends, went to church, cooked, cleaned, and exercised the best I could. It was a beautiful year, but a busy one. A few times, I noticed my pace was too fast. There were too many plates spinning and I needed to pass one or two off or everything would come crashing down. I delegated some things that I needed to ask for help in, and I figured out my best balance.
Have you had too much going on? Maybe you are a busy career woman? Perhaps you have young children and are barely getting any sleep? Maybe you are an on-the-go grandparent who serves the community? Are you over-involved in ministries at the church and need to home in on your specific callings? If the Lord has blessed you with many people to love and many opportunities to serve, that is wonderful. However, it is vital that we keep a priorities list. First, Jesus has to be number one in our hearts. Our relationship with Him is the top priority. Second, if you are married, your spouse. Third, if you have children they come next. Then, you might have extended family, friends, church, work, etc.
I once heard a woman who I respect in the ministry share that due to her roles as a woman of Christ, wife, and mom that she was not able to focus as heavily on friendships in a season because of her speaking and writing ministry among her other roles. But the friends who she did keep understood and they would catch up and meet when they were able to during that period of her life.
What season are you in? What needs to be your “yes” and what needs to be your “no?” Other people might look like they are thriving in every area, but it is just not possible to be all things to all people. We have to refuse to compare ourselves to what we see of others, and focus on what we know of ourselves. We are not failures.
The Lord Jesus Himself even took intentional time to get away from the crowds and rest. Even though He was doing great things, He still had balance to create a sustainable pace. Luke 5:15-16 says, “But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.”
As we reflect on the second half of our verses from Hebrew 12, let’s think about how Jesus ran. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
If we attempt to live life on high speed, we are likely to get into a crash. Endurance like Jesus requires focus and faith.
John S. Raglin, a sports psychologist from Indiana University studied college runners and discovered that less accomplished athletes tended to dissociate, to think of something other than their running to distract themselves. When our minds and hearts drift from the focus of Jesus Christ, our lives will be less than they could be. We get the joy of focusing our minds on our Victor.
Take some time to ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you need to be running with Him and what areas you need to pass on to another. This is a yearly, monthly, even daily decision we make as we look to our Savior and run the race that He has for us in the best way possible.
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