Margin

Living in a fallen world has immediate and progressive challenges. Sinfulness and selfishness dominate our culture. We live with an immense amount of pressure to perform at home, at school, at work, and at play. Our lives are bombarded with information and endless opportunities to expend our energy.

Do you have margin in your life? Margin is the space between your load and your limit. God has given you all the time you need to accomplish His plan. He has given you the freedom to establish boundaries that will benefit your health and elevate your productivity. Yet, you can choose to do life your way instead of God’s way and the consequences will cascade upon your capacity.

Moses reached a breaking point due to being overextended and overwhelmed. The masses of people each wanted a piece of him. They wanted his time, his attention, and his decision-making prowess. Though serving as judge over Israel, Moses failed to exercise proper judgment over his own life.

God came to the rescue by bringing Jethro into Moses’ life. “Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone’” (Exodus 18:17-18 ESV). Moses couldn’t see the unhealthy path that he was on. Jethro saw it clearly and succinctly. Jethro was willing to help Moses order his life.

What is overwhelming you right now? Has your load exceeded your limit? You may want to ask someone you know and love and trust to help you examine your life. Allow that person to give you feedback on what they see going on in your world. Their perspective could help you see what you are not seeing.

Create space to assess your current reality and to address the lack of margin. Invite someone into your journey. Give them total access and full permission to say, “What you are doing is not good!”

That takes courage. That requires a dose of vulnerability and transparency. You will be better because of your time together.

Here are three steps you can take right now to help create margin in your life:

Develop a STOP doing list.

Develop a CONTINUE doing list.

Develop a START doing list.

You will become what you are becoming right now. What adjustments do you need to make to order your life for eternity’s sake? Pause. Reflect. Evaluate. Re-allocate. Create margin!

Following Jesus Every Day,

Stephen Trammell