If we don’t make room for silence the world will continue to fill every second of our lives with noise. The hard truth about this statement is, it’s in the silence where God speaks to us.
I’ve experienced both worlds. The one of continued hustle and focus on productivity, the world where I was hyper focused on doing the “right things” following the social norms. This world felt hard, exhausting and frustrating. I cried and was angry with myself and at times I will admit I was angry with God. I thought he didn’t care about me, I thought he wasn’t listening to my prayers “requests”. I also felt sad because I couldn’t hear God, I prayed for Guidance and answers but felt like I never heard from him. This world felt dark and heartbreaking. I didn’t understand what I was doing wrong and why this was a life God wanted me to live. Can you relate to feeling this way?
Have you ever felt alone or unheard? Have you ever felt like now matter how hard you worked, how many hours you poured into a career or how ever many self help books you read you just couldn’t make progress. Like no mater how hard you tried you just kept feeling stuck or worse going backwards!
It’s tough being in that world and if you’re there right now my heart goes out to you. Sometimes I wonder why God allows us to make choices that lead us to these dark places. Like can’t we just see a blinking sign that redirects us so we don’t have to experience that pain and misery.
But ultimately if we didn’t go through those tough times we wouldn’t come to the realization that we desperately need a savior to rescue us. To love us no matter what and to show us grace and forgiveness when we fall short.
We need him in our lives and sometimes when we think we can do it all on our own he allows us to experience the consequences of living life that way so we learn we can’t do life on our own. It’s too hard, too messy, too confusing, too dang exhausting!!!
I learned the hard way just like I’m sure you have or will too. Through my journey I realized when I came to him he was there for me. When I slowed down from my non stop lifestyle and created a time to be with him life started to feel different, better, more at ease and honestly it felt brighter. That dark cloud was lifted and I felt more peace and balance in my days.
🍃The Bible speaks often about the importance of rest, balance, and creating space in our lives for what matters most. But what does it look like to build margin in our lives? And how can we practically live with peace and balance when there’s so much to do?
What is Margin?
Before diving in, let’s first define what margin means. Margin is the space between our current load and our limits. It’s the room we create in our schedules, finances, relationships, and mental capacity so we aren’t overwhelmed by the pressures of life. It’s the “breathing room” that allows us to experience rest, joy, and peace, instead of constant stress and exhaustion.
For many of us, this margin is missing. Our schedules are packed to the brim, we rarely take a break, and we often feel like we are barely keeping it all together. But when we allow margin in our lives, we begin to experience the peace that comes with living in alignment with God’s design for us.
Today I want to share 5 Practical Tips for Building Margin in your days
🍃Schedule Rest and Downtime: Just like you schedule appointments, schedule time for rest. Whether it’s a weekly Sabbath day, a daily quiet time, or a power nap, make sure to intentionally rest and recharge.
🍃Simplify Your Commitments: This was a big one for me, it’s hard to create margin in our days with jam packed schedules! I encourage you to examine your commitments and consider how you can simplify or delegate tasks. You don’t have to do it all! It’s ok to turn down invitations, even if they sound fun. It’s ok to say no to things that drain you or aren’t aligned with your priorities. Saying no isn’t about being selfish; it’s about guarding your time and energy for what God has called you to.
We have to reprogram our brains from being hyper productive to being ok with stillness and silence.
Whether it’s outsourcing a chore or simplifying your daily routine, removing clutter from your life will create space for more peace.
🍃Trust God with the Details: Trusting God means letting go of the need to control everything. Again I know how hard this is, I’m a control freak deep down but have been working on surrendering. I can confidently say I’ve experienced the benefits of letting go and letting God. Allow Him to lead you in your decisions and give yourself permission to rely on His strength, he’s got your best interest at heart and will never leave you so it’s ok to loosen the reigns and let him lead.
🍃Practice Gratitude and Contentment: Cultivate a grateful heart for the small moments. When we focus on God’s provision and blessings, we find contentment in the present moment, which helps us avoid the pressure to constantly strive for more.
🍃Embracing a Peaceful and Balanced Life
Living a peaceful and balanced life isn’t about achieving perfection or doing it all. It’s about learning to trust in God’s design for your life, embracing the rhythms of rest and work, and creating space for what truly matters.
➡️As busy moms and women, building margin isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. When we make space for rest, for our families, and for what God calls us to, we find the balance and peace that leads to a more fulfilling life. One of the most freeing aspects of building margin in our lives is recognizing that we don’t have to do it all. We are human, and God doesn’t expect perfection. In fact, He invites us to come to Him with our burdens.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
When we trust God with our limits, we free ourselves from the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves. Jesus offers rest, not just physical rest, but the rest that comes from knowing we are deeply loved and fully supported by Him.
🍃So, take a deep breath. Trust God with your limits. And remember: creating margin is an act of faith, a way of aligning yourself with the rhythms of grace that God has designed for you. You are enough, just as you are, and with margin, you’ll find more room to thrive.
What are some ways you can build margin into your life today? Let’s encourage each other in this journey of peace and balance!