Living a Balanced Life in a Troubled World

Over the past several weeks I have thought a lot about the balance of life principle. Maybe a better way to frame that is so say life is full of uncertainty, both in us and others. So what do we do when things turn upside down and inside out? Do we throw up our hands and retreat to the alcohol cabinet? Or maybe it is the little pill that will soothe our troubled minds? It can be the weight room, shooting range, ATV trails, or the river. But even those things do not really seem to satisfy the deep longings of the wandering soul.

What we are looking for is spiritual and emotional stability. For the one reading this who does not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, there is only this world to soothe your troubled mind. For born-again Christians this life is our journey to glory as we are not citizens of this world but just passing through (1 Peter 2:11 and Philippians 3: 20). To maintain a healthy balance in thought and emotions, one must know and understand where history is going. The Christian who takes their Bible study seriously knows God is in control of every moment and circumstance of life. He certainly does not approve of all that mankind does or stands for, but He allows us to make our choices, good or bad.

Maybe we have lost our focus as a people. It is easy to get side-tracked on issues that don’t truly matter in the long run. It isn’t that they are not important, but they are not the priority of a God focused life. Some of this may focus on political things; new bills, elections, scandals, personalities, etc. Those things matter, but for those reading this who know Jesus as Lord and Savior I wonder how good are you at being “salt and light” when you are ranting and raving about things? Do you know that if your salvation/faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ then you are safe and secure no matter what is going on around you? A proper perspective on God allows one to be joyful even in the midst of trials and tribulations (1 Peter 1: 3-9).

To live this life of balance one must have their eyes fixed on Jesus. Another key is that we are to be people of hope! If your eternal fate is secure in the arms of Jesus then you my friend have the hope of heaven, and that is a secure hope, a certain hope, a guaranteed hope! The trend in society on moral and familial issues is not good, but we can have hope. Kids need hope when the home life is not a safe haven. Single Moms need hope when the car is broken, the bills outlast the money and the order of protection is ignored (as is usually the case). Single men need hope that their lives do in fact matter, and they have meaning purpose in society.

To be a balanced person another critical element is to be a person of love. Without love in your life you will wither. I mean true self-sacrificing love, not the erotic love or lust that society focuses on. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 the Apostle Paul wrote “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. To find true balance in life one must have this Biblical love flowing in to and out of them on a regular basis. This love is patient, kind, not jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, is not self-seeking, is not easily provoked, does keep a record of wrongs, does not rejoice in sin and rejoices with the truth.

Even a non-Christian can have true balance in life if they apply God’s principles. Better yet to be a Christian and apply God’s principles, that will really give you the joy, balance and hope you need! Until next time!

(Dave & Lisa Carroll are area missionaries with InFaith, America’s oldest Christian home mission agency. You can contact Dave at 406.459.8935 or [email protected].)