So Much Work, So Little Time - Repost

I recently heard it said, "If Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy."  Wow!  That hit home.  Overall, I consider myself a good girl, though I certainly haven't arrived.  Still, I try to live my life in a way that's pleasing to the Lord, and I strive to honor Him in all that I do.  But Satan doesn't like that, so instead of attacking me with his obvious weapons intended to turn me away from God, he takes a much more subtle approach.  He attacks me with busyness.

I have a friend that often tells me I'm the busiest person she knows.  I'm inclined to agree with her.  It just seems like there's always more to do.  There's writing to be done, manuscripts to edit, documents to format, books to read, lessons to prepare, exercises to perform, laundry to wash, dishes to clean, meals to prepare, errands to be run, dogs to walk, dates with my husband to squeeze in, and the list goes on and on.  Half the time I wonder if I'm coming or going.

Just this morning in my prayer time, I poured my heart out to the Lord concerning my busyness.  "I'm tired," I said, "and yet I still feel like I'm not getting anything accomplished.  You've called me to write, but I feel like I'm letting you down because all my other obligations steal time from my true calling.  I have absolutely no social life because I feel like I don't have the time to stop and call my friends or have lunch with a family member.  At times, I even skimp through my time with you, Lord.  I need balance, but I have no idea how to find it.  Please help me, Lord.  I'm driving myself crazy!"

Unfortunately, I wasn't exaggerating.  In fact, I typically feel that way each morning as I peruse my "to do" list which tends to read like War and Peace.  One thing I was right about, however, is that it all comes down to balance.  God wants us to be productive.  He wants us to work hard and to use our time wisely.  What He doesn't want, however, is for us to become so focused on productivity that we become completely self-focused.  We no longer take the time to build and maintain relationships, whether marital or friend and family.  Our prayer lives become focused on our feelings, our wants, and our needs.  Our complete happiness becomes dependent on how many things we can cross off our "to do" list, and if we can't cross much off, beware!

Leave it to Satan to take something good and turn it into something bad.  It's time for us, as Christians, to find some balance.  Yes, let's keep fighting the good fight.  Yes, let's be productive and hard-working.  But let's not allow our productivity goals to rob us of the other important things in this life.  We must be careful not to become so busy that we neglect our families, our friends, our health and most importantly, our relationship with Christ.  I know it won't be easy, but I'm willing to give it a try.  How about you?


To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: - Ecclesiastes 3:1