Are You Too Busy? Let God Be Your Plate-Spinner

School is around the corner for most of you and there are a million things to do and juggle. Although I’m not in school or have kids there, I’m publishing my ninth book, teaching a new Bible study, and having major surgery all in the next month. Yikes! If you and I aren’t careful we’ll become frazzled complainers and poor example-setters for those around us.

To help this emotional yo-yo, the Lord reminded me of a ridiculous word picture that He gave me a few years ago—that of a plate-spinner.

Have you ever watched one? It’s dizzying and stress-producing just to do so! (Check out this video if you need to get hyper!)

But in my crazy word picture, it’s even more hectic. Each spinning plate has their own bunch of plates that need to be spun! Ludicrous—I know. Maybe God just wants you and I to laugh when we’re stressed out!

Seriously though, the Lord is trying to tell you and me that it is impossible for us to keep all these details spinning properly, let alone maintain peace. That’s how absurd it is when you and I try to do life on our own, and expect things to work out. I certainly have broken a few (well many) dishes in my life when I was “in control.”

If you are too busy, let God be your Plate-spinner!

Managing the various tasks and relationships of our lives can get quite complicated, for each category has subsets of its own. Think of the many areas that make up your life—your family, work, ministry, etc. (=plates). Now consider all the things needing attention in each one. But don’t stop there because each of these has their own details to address. (It’s complicated just trying to describe it!)

So using one of your kids, try listing all the areas in his life, including problems and things needing attention. Then keep adding details to each subset. See the hypothetical chart below.

No wonder it’s so difficult to focus on any given area properly! Everything suffers:

Relationships wane.
Work efficiency plummets.
Our joy has left the circus.
And peace—what’s that?!

Unless, of course, God is the Plate-spinner. He is not one of those plates, mind you. He’s the One controlling each of those plates.

It is God directing our yielded lives that keeps us from having shattered ones.

It is through Him that we are empowered to keep all these areas going in the proper, best, and most long-lasting way.

With this type of approach, you will be able to give complete attention to one area at a time—without worrying. You can be fully present as you deal with your troubled child or work on a project deadline. Contrary to what most of us believe, our brains are not designed to multitask. Instead, you can choose to trust your Lord for guidance and wisdom as to how and when to address each area. And while you focus on that one plate, He will keep the other plates spinning and not allow any to fall and break (or even chip).

I encourage you to take each of your plates, individually and offer it to God. Be as specific as you can in naming your plates (and sub-plates). Prayerfully express your concerns about them to God. Then, by faith, let Him take control. Focus on Him instead of your plates. Follow through with whatever He says. He won’t drop the ball (plate)—He promises!

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. (Is 26:3 NKJV)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…. (Heb 12:2)

Remember friends, your life doesn’t have to be a circus.
Let God be your Plate-Spinner!

Except where indicated all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV. ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.