Pushing my hair out of my face, I tried to balance on one leg like a flamingo. I was stretching when my family came downstairs and spotted me. They burst out laughing as I wobbled back and forth. 

Balance is something I struggle with physically and mentally.  

My mind fluctuates from worry to overwhelmed to everything-in-between. What if this happens? How will we pay for this? Will my kids be ok? 

Timothy, the pastor of Ephesus, might have wrestled with fears of persecution and false teachers, because Paul reminded him of his faith and encouraged him. 

“God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7  

As Christians, God doesn’t want us to live in fear but to live by faith. 

We can trust Him because God has given us unlimited power. The same power with which God raised Jesus from the dead is available to us in our weaknesses. By tapping into His strength, we can persevere.  

God loves us. Nothing happens to us that He doesn’t already know about and that isn’t for our benefit (2 Corinthians 4:15). It doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen, but we know He is in control and loves us.  

A sound mind means “saved mind” or discipline. It is the ability to control ourselves and not be ruled by our emotions. This is only accomplished by mediating on Scripture and putting off false thinking and putting on true thinking (Romans 12:1-2).  

This is easier said than done, because it requires a daily discipline and reminds me of a tightrope walker. The funambulist must remain focused and not lean too far to either side. As Christians, we must stay focused on Jesus and not lean on our own understanding. Just as the acrobat grips the long pole for balance, we balance our lives with God’s Word.  

Relying on God’s power, resting in God’s love, and renewing our minds helps keep us mentally balanced. Just like I need a strong core to balance physically, I need to center on Jesus and His word to balance mentally.