He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39
Do you sometimes feel like there’s a cyclone spinning within you? How often do you lose your peace? Inner turmoil rises when our priorities get unbalanced and the things that matter most get the least amount of time.
When I feel frustration building, and I catch myself taking shallow breaths, it’s time to Stop. Breathe. Pray. Listen. I stop what I’m doing; take a few slow, deep breaths from my abdomen; pray for God to calm my heart and settle my mind; and listen to what the Spirit needs to tell me. Sometimes He brings to mind scriptures I’ve memorized.
I’ve learned to employ this four-step process when I feel unhinged. Then, I do what the Spirit leads me to do, or I finish the task at hand. It doesn’t matter where I am, who I’m with, or what I’m doing. It’s between me and God. And it’s a valuable exercise for maintaining peace and stability.
If I find that my frustration is based on poor priority management and an unrealistic schedule, then it’s time to sit down and get a reality check. What am I doing that I don’t really need to be doing? Which task is an assignment from the Lord and which isn’t? What am I doing that I want to do but don’t need to do now? What must be done now and what can wait until a later time? What needs to be a firm commitment and what can be flexible or optional? What matters to me the most?
Once I’ve answered those questions, then I do an honest assessment of my energy level. What are my limits? Am I working with them or against them? Am I allowing enough recuperation from my physical workout? From my mental work and my emotional expenditures? If not, my body will reveal the need to make changes, to cut out commitments, and to make room in my day for recovery.
I need time to rest my body and mind. I need time to process or journal what God is teaching me. I need to make room in my schedule to honor the needs of my God-given temple. Whether I’m engaged in physical, mental, or emotional activity, I need to give myself time and space to rejuvenate.
Each of us needs to discover what works. Sometimes it takes years of trial and error to acquire consistent balance; but what we learn from our self assessments along the way will reveal what’s realistic.
No matter what we include in our priority list, our Lord needs to remain number one. The first step toward establishing healthy priorities is to be still before God with an open heart and mind, ingesting His Word like food for our souls. This top priority lays a foundation of inner stability on which we build our lives.
You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them (Psalm 89:9).
