Finding Peace: A Journey from Busyness to Balance with God

• By candidasullivan
• December 28, 2024
• No Comments

I used to be a yes-girl.

If someone asked me to do something, I said yes. I didn’t think about the strain it might cause on my body or whether or not it would fit into my life. I said yes and decided I would figure it out later. As my schedule filled, so did my stress level.

It’s no surprise that this is where I got sick. Only my illness was chronic. It didn’t go away. I woke up every morning with pain and a sense of dread for my packed schedule. I thought that was what it took to be successful. As it turns out, that was what it took to be burned out and sick. It wasn’t the recipe for success at all.

Success is following the Lord and making time for Him.

If my life is too busy to spend time with my Lord each day, then my priorities are off. If I run to and from with stress, and it causes me to be hateful, it is not good or pleasing to God.

I remember starting my days at 5 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m. I remember taking a few bites as I drove to my next event. I remember wrapping my food up when I was still hungry because I had an event to attend. I remember returning to my vehicle hours later, eating my cold food, crying as I chewed, and praying for the strength to make it home. I remember missing my family so much and feeling so alone. I remember waking up exhausted and doing it all again.

I continued at a ridiculous pace until it put me in bed, barely able to walk. My brain was so jumbled that I struggled to talk or even think. And I knew as I lay there in severe pain it was all my fault.

I ignored every signal from my body and doctor to rest. I laughed about it, and it caused so much unnecessary pain.

Then, it took me years to even want to write another book because my mind associated promoting a book with pain, sickness, and burnout. God never intended for me to live that way, but I got so busy that I stopped spending time with Him and seeking His guidance.

God doesn’t give us a dream, a home, a business, children, etc. for us to get so busy that we allow it to come between us. Anything that comes in between God and us becomes our God.

I never meant to allow anything to come in between me and God, but it did. I let the enemy use busyness to distract me. I got so busy with other people and things that I never sat in the stillness and gave God time to talk to me.

I spoke rushed prayers, and usually, they were selfish. I made it all about me and what I wanted. I thought I knew what I needed to do. But I didn’t.

I had to return to God and give everything to Him to find the peace, healing, and joy only God can provide. When we allow God to lead and guide us, He can multiply our efforts. Spending time with God can save us hours, days, and years. He can do more in one moment than we can in a lifetime.

So, I stopped saying yes to everyone else and started saying yes to God. My life is much more peaceful and enjoyable now. I love to write with Him and do events that He arranges for me. Before I say yes to anyone else, I pray and ensure God is in the arrangement. Usually, He lets me know ahead of time, so when asked, I already know the answer.

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