time management

Where is God when we’re busy? Where is God when we cannot focus? Is He our focus? Well, personally I’ve lost focus in every sense of the term, but just received the sweetest reminder. I hope all who read this and need to hear it can learn to rest in it.

Scatterbrained

Oh. My. Goodness. I seem to be all over the place. I have zero focus because there’s SO MUCH GOING ON AND I HAVE HORRIBLE TIME MANAGEMENT. So, scatterbrained.

Also, my priorities are playing hopscotch. I’d rather take a nap or eat than study for my finals or get in God’s Word. Y’all, I am so overwhelmed. Right now, I need to learn how to pull God into the midst of my lack of focus. I need to discover what it’s like to be busy, but still make time for the One which all things should be done for and through.

So Busy, Oh My Goodness

We all have busy seasons. This is by far my busiest. I’m finding myself being overwhelmed and scatterbrained instead of resting. During this season all I can focus on is what has to be done. I just applied for my very first job. This school year will be over soon, making me a senior in high school. I have GOT to get a license. And, eventually, I’m going to need to figure out what I’m doing with the rest of my life.

There are several other things making it hard to stop and take a breath. It has forced me to ask why God isn’t a part of this season. Have I pushed Him to the side because I’m simply “too busy”?

This morning, I met with a close brother of mine. He has helped me more than he knows the last couple of years of my life. He brought something so insightful to my attention. Here’s a little story time involving me, myself, and my day…

Storytime

So, yesterday I had school. I went to photography and finished a project. Then I went to my geosystems class to work on another project. As my third class of the day came around, I started to feel bad.

Over the next half hour, the feeling in my stomach escalated until I was feeling so bad it hurt to function. I asked to go to the clinic and asked my mom if she’d be able to pick me up. I wasn’t sure what was up, but I was on the verge of throwing up and there was NO way I was going back to class.

Long story short, I ended up having one of the worst panic attacks I’ve had in months. Honestly, I was quite frustrated. I just celebrated a year since I was hospitalized and a year of no self-harm, but I’m still having unexplainable panic attacks?

Well, that’s no doubt God’s reminder that there’s going to be more than just a singular valley in our lives. But what my good friend Edward pointed out, in that debilitating state, God was giving my mind rest from the chaos I’ve been experiencing.

God Makes The Right Choice

Like myself, Edward struggles with some physiological ailments that prohibit him from doing things. However, as we talked this morning, he was explaining to me how if we were at a crossroads between spending time with God or getting something done, we’d be faced with a question as to which route to take.

These debilitating moments are God taking that choice away and forcing us to run to Him. It’s so amazing to see the ways God reveals Himself, even in moments like severe panic attacks. It never fails to baffle me how God truly can take anything and make it good. We accuse God of being behind the good, but absent in the bad and that is simply not true. God is making good from that bad. I love being able to experience God like that. It’s amazing that we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to know Him and not just know of Him.

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.’
Jeremiah 29:11-13, NLT

Rest In Peace; His Peace

I apologize for my thoughts being all over the place. My main point is to look for God in everything because He is there. I was so scatterbrained, but God stopped me and revealed Himself. That is so amazing!

If you find yourself in a busy season, I implore you to rest in God’s hands. But don’t just say that to say it; believe it! God has you and nothing can change that, no matter how busy you are.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33, NLT

If you find yourself in a busy season, rest in God's hands. But don't just say that to say it; believe it! God has you and nothing can change that, no matter how busy you are. Click To Tweet

Tim Mossholder

There is so much to do during our day as busy moms. We need to take care of our family, the house, and hopefully ourselves as well.

What does your daily to-do list look like? Are you able to get it all done? Are you stressed when you are not able to fit it all in? Here are some thoughts to manage life as a busy momma.

My View

My hubby and I are both list makers. He has lists for his lists. Literally. The difference between him and I is that if I have things left on my to do list, it is a weight on my shoulders. A burden that I will carry until I either get it done, or decide that it should never have been put on the list in the first place.

For the first time in my life (ok, that’s an exaggeration, maybe just the first time in a while) I have not been able to do all that I want to do. My hubby tells me it is alright, he is impressed that I get as much done as I do. But this doesn’t help. I WANT to do it all!!

I want to homeschool, go to the gym, craft, make great dinners, bake my own bread, spend quality time with each of my children, snuggle on the couch with my hubby, write compelling blog posts, the list goes on and on and….

As I have been coming to terms with the reality that I just can’t do it all, I remembered hearing an analogy of how to prioritize your life. Maybe you have heard this before. It starts with a big jar or bowl. If you fill it with little pebbles first, and then put big rocks in last, it won’t all fit. But, if you put the big rocks in first, and then fill it with the little pebbles, it will actually all fit in the jar!

What To Do About It

Mountains.

These are the things that are non-negotiable. The true needs. The things that are required for existence. People over use the word “need.” I need to do this… I need to do that… No, no you don’t.

Feed and clothe my family (That is it, that’s all I really “need” to do. And maybe wipe them down every now and then.)

Boulders.

These are the really important things, but not a need. If it came down to it, I could stop or pause if I needed to.

Homeschool
Laundry (As in wash and dry. Putting them away is not as important. Life will not end with wrinkled clothes.)
Children’s extracurricular activities (Sports, arts, clubs, etc.)

Cobbles.

These are the things I know will help my attitude or my children’s attitude and in turn help me to be a better wife and mother. These are really the same level of importance as Boulders, but more self-focused.

Spend time in silence before the kids are up
Snuggle with my kiddos
Snuggle with my hubby
Exercise

Stones.

These are the things I want to do. More than likely, I will only have time for one of these.

Blog
Craft
Rest

Pebbles.

These are things I should do, but don’t necessarily want or have to do.

Clean (Nobody cares if my bookshelf is dusty or there are spots on the floor, but I personally would like to have it done.)
Laundry (As in fold them and put them away.)

Sand.

These are things I need to let go of and accept that this is not necessary in my current season of life.

Baking bread (But it’s sooo yummy!!)
Working in the yard (Trimming bushes and pulling weeds will have to wait.)

I know myself well enough to know that if I am overwhelmed, I shut down. So I made a list of a few things that can be done in about 5 minutes. These are “pebbles,” the little things that I fit in throughout the day.

Unload the dishwasher
Put a load in the washer
Put a load in the dryer
Dust a room
Throw away trash in the car
Hang up clothes in bedroom

Final Thought

I’m sure I have missed about a dozen things that belong on these lists. And most likely your list will not look just like mine. We all have different priorities of things that will keep us productive and calm. The important thing is to be intentional with your time. Know when to leave items off your to-do list. Go snuggle those babies!

xoxo

Scatterbrained: Focusing on God Amidst the Chaos