Have you ever had someone tell you, “You are walking a fine line?"
This expression is often used when we are very close to two different ideas or attitudes at the same time. For instance, it’s good to be assertive, until you start crossing the line to being aggressive. It’s good to have confidence, until you start crossing the line to cockiness.
In other words, there are positive attributes in life that we should stretch ourselves to achieve, but there is a fine line of stretching too far to where the positive attribute suddenly becomes negative.
When it comes to life, being stretched means we are growing. I worked in Human Resources for over 30 years. As a leader in Human Resources, we encouraged people to set stretch goals for themselves. Stretch ourselves to reach beyond what a person thinks they can do in order to grow the business and grow personally.
I still believe this, but I have also learned that there is a fine line between meeting said goals and entering burnout. A fine line between meeting said goals and sacrificing relationships. A fine line between meeting said goals and missing out on other important moments in life.
I used to teach the theory of the rubber band. With too little tension, the rubber band flops, it isn’t successful in what it is meant to do. With too much tension, the rubber band breaks, which makes it worthless.
I think the same is true spiritually. God wants to grow us and stretch us.
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."
James 1:2-4 (MSG)
God provides us tension in our life so that we can learn and grow. If we don’t have that tension, we will become complacent, flop, and not stand strong, just like that rubber band. My greatest lessons and character traits have come out of those times I have been stretched.
As I walk the journey of tension, I have also learned how important it is to stay connected to Him, to seek Him and understand His plan and purpose for me.
It is when I become disconnected with God that I walk that fine line to breaking or snapping like a rubber band. I’m guessing you, like me, see many needs in this world, AND God has called many disciples with a variety of gifts and talents to assist Him. By staying connected to Him and asking for His guidance, I will know which needs He is calling me to and which needs I should let go of for another gifted disciple to take on.
As Lysa Teurkerst so eloquently put it in her book, The Best Yes, “Whenever you say yes to something, there is less of you for something else. Make sure your yes is worth the less.”
With love and joy,
Laura