Beloved, if you scroll through social media or browse the self-help section in any bookstore today, you’ll see this repeated message:
“Find balance.”
“Work-life harmony.”
“Don’t let one thing take over the other.”
We are told that a balanced life is the key to peace and happiness.
And yet, have you ever noticed — the more we chase balance, the more stressed we become?
Because just when you think you’ve balanced your work, your family suddenly needs more of you. When your family is doing well, your health takes a hit. When your health improves, your spiritual life starts running dry.
Life never stays still.
Illustration:
Imagine a man trying to balance on a seesaw that keeps moving. One moment he’s up, the next he’s down, always adjusting, never stable. That’s what chasing “balance” feels like. We keep moving but never find peace.
So maybe the question we should ask is not “How do I balance my life?” But “What is Jesus calling me to do right now?”
I. The Myth of a Balanced Life
The world tells us: “You can have it all — just balance it well.”
But Jesus never said that. He didn’t preach balance.
He preached devotion.
He preached priority.
He said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” — Luke 9:23
Balance says: “Make room for everything equally.”
Jesus says: “Make Me your everything.”
To follow Christ is not to juggle all our responsibilities equally; it is to surrender all our responsibilities to Him and allow Him to direct our steps.
II. The Life Jesus Modeled
If anyone lived under pressure, it was Jesus. Crowds followed Him everywhere. The sick begged for healing. The disciples asked endless questions. The Pharisees plotted against Him. Through it all, however, Jesus lived in peace.
How?
Because His life was not balanced — it was aligned with the Father’s will.
“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing.” — John 5:19
Jesus’ rhythm was not “balance,” but “obedience.” He worked tirelessly when there was work to do.
He rested and withdrew to pray when it was time to rest. He surrendered completely to the Father’s plan, even unto death.
He lived in rhythm, not in balance — because His center was the Father.
Illustration:
Think of a wheel. The spokes connect to the rim, but everything depends on the hub. If the hub is centered, the wheel moves smoothly. If the hub is off-center, the ride is rough and unstable.
Christ is the hub of our lives. When everything — family, career, rest, service — is connected through Him, life rolls with grace, even when it spins fast. But if something else becomes the center — money, ambition, or even family — the wheel begins to wobble.
III. The Call to Seek First
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Notice the word: first. Not “balance the kingdom among other priorities,” but “seek it first.”
To seek first the Kingdom means:
God is not one compartment of your life — He is the core.
Work becomes worship.
Family becomes ministry.
Rest becomes trust.
Even ambition becomes stewardship.
When God is first, everything else finds its rightful place.
Example:
If you keep God at the center of your marriage, you will love your spouse selflessly.
If you keep God at the center of your work, your career becomes a calling.
If you keep God at the center of your rest, you find peace, not guilt, in stillness.
But if we chase balance without Christ, we end up exhausted and empty.
IV. The Trap of Control
Let’s be honest — when people say they want “balance,” what they often want is control.
We want to control time, outcomes, people, and even God. But following Christ means letting go of control.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5
We don’t need balance; we need trust.
Illustration:
A missionary once said, “I used to pray for balance — until I realized that balance is my way of keeping Jesus at a safe distance. So I started praying for faith instead.”
When you surrender your sense of control, you gain something far greater — peace that surpasses understanding.
V. Living an Integrated Life in Christ
God does not want a balanced life. He wants an integrated life — where every part of who we are is unified under His Lordship.
That means:
You don’t stop being a parent to serve God — you parent as a servant of God.
You don’t stop working to worship — you worship while working.
You don’t stop resting because there’s ministry to do — you rest because God also rested.
When Christ is the center, every part of life becomes sacred.
VI. Seasons of Life: God’s Appointed Times
Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us: “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
You can’t balance all seasons — but you can be faithful in each one.
There will be seasons of building — when work is demanding.
There will be seasons of nurturing — when family needs you most.
There will be seasons of waiting — when God is doing work inside you.
Don’t seek balance; seek faithfulness in your season.
Illustration:
A farmer doesn’t try to plant, water, and harvest at the same time. He knows which season he’s in. Balance would be foolish — timing is wisdom.
So ask God, “Lord, what season am I in right now? And how can I honor You in it?”
VII. Christ, Our True Rest
Finally, brothers and sisters, remember: Jesus doesn’t call us to exhaustion — He calls us to rest in Him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
Balance tries to give rest through management. Jesus gives rest through relationship.
When you live for Him and through Him, peace comes not because life is balanced, but because He holds it together.
Apostle Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, understood this. He wrote in Colossians 1:17: “In Him all things hold together.”
Conclusion
So today, my friends, the invitation of Jesus is clear: Lay down the myth of balance. Take up the call of Christ.
Because balance is about control — but the call of Christ is about surrender.
Balance seeks comfort — but Christ calls us to purpose.
Balance divides life into compartments — but Christ unites it all under His Lordship.
When Christ is the center:
You may not have balance — but you’ll have peace.
You may not have control — but you’ll have clarity.
You may not have everything — but you’ll have the One who is everything.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” — Isaiah 26:3
Closing Illustration: The Compass
A compass doesn’t point in all directions. It only points north.
If you follow it, you can navigate any storm, any forest, any desert.
Jesus is our True North. If we keep our eyes on Him, even when life feels unbalanced, we will never lose our way.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Forgive us for the times we have chased balance instead of Your will.
Forgive us for trying to control what only You can hold together.
Teach us to seek first Your Kingdom, to live by Your rhythms, and to trust in Your timing.
Center our lives in You — our compass, our peace, and our purpose.
In Your holy name we pray,
Amen.
