Balancing Act

 Do you ever feel that your life is spiritual balancing act?  Today that is how I feel.  You know you want to overcome something in your life, but  the more you try, the more you feel you fall in the sin you so desperately want to avoid?  I am struggling with performance anxiety.  I know as a Christian I should overcome those noisy voices that say,"You aren't good enough"  or "You will make a fool of yourself here."  "You aren't talented, who do you think you are?"



Do you remember this:    Sometimes that's me.  I have the voices on one side whispering, you can't do this, Marsha.  While on the other side is the word of God saying, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth  me."  This happens I think far too much, so I end up feeling like a failure.  Do you struggle?

Well, we all struggle in some area or other, don't 'you think?

Paul wrote in Romans 7 about our struggle with sin. He understood he did that which he did not want to do, (my case be anxious) and he failed to do that which he knew he should do,. ( My case, trust Jesus)  The hope comes in the first verse of Chapter 8 of Romans, because Paul shows that that there is now "No condemnation to those which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Keep striving toward the goal, in whatever area we struggle.  Press toward the mark. Remember when Peter saw Jesus walking on water?  Peter called to him, and Jesus told him to come.  So out of the boat Peter goes, and he walks on water toward Jesus, but then for a moment he takes his eyes off Jesus and Peter sees nothing but the waves and water, and he  begins to sink.  That's me. Take my eyes off Jesus for a second and I fall into the old trap.

Sometimes life is a balancing act, but Jesus knows this, and as he calmed the storming seas, so can he calm the disquieting voices in our ears that tell us we have missed the mark.  We can shout, "Hey, Alleluia, I'm forgiven!  It is Jesus who keeps us balanced.