Bubbling Over

A friend of mine (I can call you my friend now, right Jami?) wrote a great post about balance last week. The premise of the post was actually that balance is a false precept. It's not possible. In fact, it's not even desirable. I recommend reading her post, but the premise is this: Could it be that, 'how do I find balance' is the wrong question? Instead, we should be asking, 'how can I be obedient to Christ today and in this season of my life?'

I'm tempted to listen to the world: strive after a balance! Put your hope there!

But as Jami says, "this thought process will take your eyes off God and will disappoint you terribly.
instead, come to the Lord and submit your plans of what you thought your day/life/situation would look like in this moment and ask God how you can be obedient. Better yet, admit that you don't know what you're doing and you need direction."

AMEN, sister! This echos what I've been journaling about lately. I'm so anxious about what the future holds, and I find peace when I earnestly ask God every morning, "What does trusting you look like today?" Some days I have answers. Some days I don't. Some days I'm frustrated because I'm still waiting for answers to very specific questions! I'm slowly learning that the question isn't, "how can I find happiness in this life and what do I want to do when I grow up?" Rather, "God, what do you want me to be doing in your Kingdom today? How can my life line up with your will?"

Ross has been frustrated with his priorities lately. He used a great analogy the other day, and I'm going to steal it. He said he has been feeling like a cup of water. He pours some water into my cup, he pours some water into a friend's cup, he pours some water into his parent's cups, he pours some water into God's cup, pours some into his grad school cup, etc. But then he realizes, oh, wait, my cup is getting empty! And he grabs some water back from all of those cups. Then he realizes he needs to give some water back to his wife, so he pours water into my cup. Then he realizes that he needs to go to God first, so he pours that water from my cup into God's cup. It's a constant juggling act! Sounds exhausting, no? Run here, run there. Sprint! Back and forth. I'm guessing it also feels really familiar.

But I was relieved when I heard him say that. It explained why I have been feeling tossed around lately. And it was very humbling to hear him say that he needs to go to God first. As his wife, of course I want him to turn to God first and foremost (1 Corintians 11:3). But on a day-to-day basis, it's very easy to be selfish and say, "fill my cup first! I'm your wife for crying out loud." When really, I need to be filling my own cup with... you guessed it... living water from Christ as well. Not relying on my husband to do it for me.

When Ross told him about the cup analogy, our pastor took it one step further. I love this. He basically said, if you keep your cup under the running tap of God's mercy, you will have more than enough to fill your cup and to overflow into the others as well, without robbing from your own.

Ah-mazing. Sometimes we make things so much harder than they need to be!

So if I haven't confused you with too many mixed metaphors here, I'll close with Jami's statement:

Perfect balance is an illusion that takes our eyes away from the one who supernaturally provides for our needs perfectly in each moment-- when we look to him. Only in obedience will you find what you're looking for. Christ is sufficient.

Find your Hope in Him. and then receive peace and joy wherever you are.

Damn, that's good news.