Ever since high school, I have made it my mission to search for “balance.” I constantly seek that perfect place between work and rest or between social time and personal recharge time. Most importantly, I long to gracefully walk the tightrope of giving control to God while also being a good steward of my responsibilities.
I talk with my peers about these issues, and I realize that this third point of balance represents a struggle for many of us. This summer, as I read through my study Bible, I came across a commentary explanation of a chapter in Proverbs. The line read: “We must maintain a delicate balance: Trusting God as if everything depended on Him, while working as if everything depended on us.”
I want that. Do you? How do we find the balance between trusting God as if everything depended on Him, while working as if everything depended on us? Where do we draw the line between self-dependence and dependence on God?
In the past year, I graduated from college, moved into my own apartment, and started my career. I learned that each morning when I woke up, I had to answer these questions for myself. To tell you the truth, I am still figuring this out. But, I encountered two things that I like to remind myself of each day as I try to find this “balance.”
Reminder #1: Trust that God will guide your footsteps.
I find myself worrying about the future quite often, over-thinking the uncertainties that lie ahead. Sometimes, I overthink so much that I forget to trust God with the matter in front of me.
I came across a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. a couple of weeks ago, and it gave me a new perspective about the future. He said, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase… Just take the first step.” When I read these words, they inspired me to look at my life’s journey in a new way. Oftentimes, I want to know exactly what God’s plan is for my life. I want to know each and every one of the steps on the staircase. However, if I truly want to trust God, I sometimes need to take that first step—even though I do not know what that future step looks like. God will show up for us in the midst of uncertainty if we seek Him and pray for guidance.
My roommate during my sophomore year of college always said that when she prayed to God about a decision, she would pray, “God, if this is from you, please make it work out. Show me a sign. Help me take the next step. But, God, if this is not from you, please take it away from me.” In this current season of my life where there are many pivots and uncertain steps on the staircase, I pray this prayer all the time. I need to realize that God is in control and that He will work things out in His timing because He wants what is best for us. Proverbs 19:21 reminds me, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Reminder #2: Look back at all the ways that God has worked in your life previously.
One of my favorite worship songs is “See A Victory” by Elevation Worship. One section of the lyrics says, “You take what the enemy meant for evil and you turn it for good. You turn it for good.” I think back to times in my life when my heart felt disappointment and loneliness. I see that God not only put my broken pieces back together, but He also brought blessings from the hurt. He turned my mess into a message—a message to come back to, a message to cling to, a message to speak to others. Through all of the hard times, I can testify that the anthem the Lord has allowed me to hear over and over is, “I am all you need.” No matter what happens in life, He is always there for you. He will always pursue you, listen to you, cherish you, and push you to become a better version of yourself. When we take a moment to look at our past and see what God has done in our lives, we can use these memories as a source of strength and motivation as we work hard to accomplish our goals and impact the world.
As I have searched for the balance between giving control to God while also stewarding my responsibilities well, I have realized that this balance is found in trusting God and His plan for me. Because God has already written our life story, He knows what we need to accomplish each day. God will help us understand when we need to work and when we need to rest. Our responsibility is to trust Him and remind ourselves of all the ways He has guided us in the past. Proverbs 16:9 shares this truth in a beautiful way: “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Isabelle Clausen is a Financial Advisor at Desert Wealth Management. At this firm, she utilizes her investment management and financial planning resources to create personalized plans for her clients to help them worry less about tomorrow and focus more on today. Isabelle graduated from Grand Canyon University in April 2020 with a major in Finance and Economics and a minor in Entrepreneurship. She wanted to become a financial adviser because she loved economics, people, and entrepreneurship. Isabelle could not think of a better career to combine these three passions! For students who have an interest in wealth management, Isabelle would highly recommend this career, as it is both brain-stimulating and life-giving. Isabelle’s goal is to help each of her clients feel confident in their financial future, comfortable in their lifestyle, and present in their everyday life.