It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Psalm 127:2 NLT
“Margin is breathing room. Margin is a little reserve that you’re not using up. You’re not stretched to the limit. Margin is the space between my load and my limit. But the truth is that most of us are far more overloaded than we can handle, and there is no margin.” Pastor Rick Warrren said that, and the chances are good that he might be describing you. If he IS describing you, it doesn’t make you a bad person or leader. In fact, often the people with the least margin in their time are the best people. They are the ones who see the needs, are aware of the opportunities, and are willing to invest themselves, make sacrifices, hustle, and make it happen.
However, developing margin with your time is an act of wisdom and trust. When you do as Pastor Rick said and create space between your load and your limit, you are enabling yourself to live and serve as effectively and long as God intended. How can you get there?
Start with stillness. Check in with your Father instead of your screen or your schedule. These moments will recalibrate your perspective on who and what is really important.
Embrace your limitations. This is a decision that must be made regularly. In different seasons of life our loads and limits vary. But God made us to always need mental and physical rest and renewal. Embracing what you can do wisely and what you cannot is an act of humility and faith.
Trade your hustle for trust. God can do more with less time than you can do by over-extending yourself with hustle. It is a surrender of your schedule to Him, admitting that your worth is not tied to your busyness and production.
Realize productivity is more about availability than constant action. Without margin you are unavailable to God for His priorities and for others in their time of need. Having margin enables the satisfaction of working with God, not just working, or even working for Him.
Actually, make a schedule with margin. Time is just like money. If you don’t decide ahead of time where it’s going to go, other people and less important priorities will spend it. Write it down.
Evaluate and prune your activities regularly. You’re going to have to say “no” to good things to say “yes” to the best.
Expect interruption and receive it graciously. When you build margin into your schedule, you give room for God to do something unexpected. Your margin may lead to a miracle as God edits your plans.
- Lord, I know I have one life to live. I want to spend each day in the way that honors You and brings us both great satisfaction. Help me work with You to fulfill my responsibilities well and build margin into my life so You can do the unexpected.