"J" Is For Juggling

We juggle the news,

We juggle our fears.

We juggle our friends,

We juggle our tears.

We juggle our problems,

We juggle our kids.

We juggle our mates,

We juggle and skid.

Life gets in a hurry –

We don’t stop to say,

“What am I doing

Juggling that “J”?

Ain’t it the truth?  I once heard an expression that says “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!”

We creatures like to handle things ourselves.  Figure things out on our own, do as much as possible, cram life full of all the “gusto” we can get, and pretend we can survive the flurry of it all. 

There’s nothing wrong with being motivated, inventive, and productive.  In fact, God made us in His image and intends for us to be that way. 

But maybe it’s the fact that I live in Northern Virginia and see two-income families struggle to pay a high mortgage or rent, with parents and children submerged in behavioral problems and addictions that makes me think of the word “juggle.” 

Or maybe it’s the fact that even as a stay-at-home mom, life can get so busy with people's needs and “to-do” lists pulling on you from all directions that prompts that word.  

My concern with all this juggling is that we leave no room for fellowship with God in our juggling act.  The tyranny of the urgent is always present; or the lure of procrastination and something fun that crowd out “God time.”  Even doing good deeds, being busy in church work, and working for God can crowd out “God time.”

And if we’re really honest, we may even find ourselves thinking sometimes that God is boring, or that time with him will be a drudgery—just one more thing to check off our “to-do” list.  But nothing could be further from the truth.  Those thoughts are a lie from satan to keep us separated from our Power Source for daily living. 

We wonder why things don’t go right, why we’re always so stressed out, why our tempers are short, and why our relationships suffer.  The Word says in Philippians 4:6-7 NIV, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I maintain we need to make fellowship with Jesus a daily priority.  We need to read His book, the Holy Bible, to get to know God and hear Him speak to us.  We seriously need to make Him the final Authority for our lives instead of what current culture dictates.  We need to pray and learn to throw all our cares on Him, because He cares for us.  Instead of trying to figure things out ourselves, hurry to get a lot done, and cram life full of stuff, we need to be like Mary, Martha’s sister in the Bible, who sat at Jesus’ feet to hear Him speak.

I also maintain that we may need to cut some activities out of our lives, and even learn to say “no” sometimes to church activities.  I read somewhere that in the church, twenty percent of the people carry the work load.  And sometimes I think our churches are much too busy with man-made programs and man-made schedules.

We also may need to nurture a few friendships instead of having a lot of them and never get truly close to anybody.  Jesus chose twelve disciples; of those twelve, three were in His inner circle: Peter, James, and John. 

We need to spend time in prayer, and pour our hearts out to God with all the financial concerns we have, the fears we carry, the needs of our family, friends, our country, etc.  My friends, we need to make prayer a priority along with reading the Word.  There are no shortcuts to a healthy, calm, and stable life.  It doesn’t come overnight, but God’s Holy Spirit works in us as we give attention to His Word and pray.  We must highly value and prize what He says, for “the fear of (respect for) the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10, NIV)

I love Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV), “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I think of the wonderful old hymn by Joseph Schriven, 1855, and put to music by Charles C. Converse, 1868, a hymn that we used to sing in church years ago:

“What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear;

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

“Have we trials and temptations, is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!

“Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?  Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.”

Grace and peace to you, dear reader!

Copyright © 2013 Elaine Beachy