Putting God First in Life’s Craziness

Have you ever watched a person walking a tightrope high above the ground? Every step is slow, calculated, and precise. The performer knows that one small misstep could lead to disaster. Their focus is intense- eyes locked straight ahead, body tense, arms stretched wide for balance. Each step is so critical. If you're watching and you see the person slip or almost fall, you heart skips a beat. 

Sometimes this is exactly how my life feels with trying to balance God, family, work, and finances. It can feel like walking a rope stretched across a canyon with the pressure to keep it all together ( it can be overwhelming). One wrong move like a financial mistake, a broken relationship, or a stressful job decision can send everything spiraling. Living under that kind of pressure day after day wasn’t what God intended for us.

How do we fix it? How do we find real peace in the middle of life’s craziness?

Matthew 6:33 says: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

In the verses before this, Jesus addressed people who were worried about food, clothing, and daily needs. Their minds were consumed with survival, but He reminded them that God already knew their needs. Instead of spending energy worrying, put God first—His Kingdom, His ways, His righteousness. When you do, He promises to take care of the rest.

How to Stay Focused on God Amid the Chaos

1. Start Your Day With God – Begin with prayer and Scripture. It anchors your heart before the day’s pressures start pulling. 

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you

    and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

2. Turn Worries Into Prayers – Bills, deadlines, relationships,etc.. don’t carry them; release them to God. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7

3. Filter Decisions Through the Word – Ask, Does this honor God? (before big choices). 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;6 

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5–6

4. Keep an Eternal Perspective – Earthly stress looks smaller when compared to eternal life with Christ. 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

When God is first, family, work, and finances may not become perfect, but they come into proper order. When you put things in proper order and prioritize God first, He will deliver on His promises.   

Make a conscious choice to start each day with God, even if it’s just 10 minutes of prayer or reading Scripture. Write down one area of your life (family, work, relationships or finances) where you’ve been trying to balance things on your own, and surrender it to Him in prayer. Remember: you don’t have to live like a tightrope walker—God wants to carry the weight for you.

Let's Pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that we don’t have to balance life on our own. Help us to seek You first in every area of our lives. Teach us to trust You with our needs and to walk in Your peace, even when life feels overwhelming. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.