From Busy to Balanced: The Spiritual Art of Time Management

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

2 Timothy 1:7 AMP

In college, I was constantly busy but completely unbalanced. I stayed up late playing video games, missed class, and skipped study groups for sailing club and intramural softball. When I did sit down to study, I felt so overwhelmed that I stared blankly at my books. My schedule was full, but I wasn’t facing the things I actually needed to do.

Instead of dealing with responsibilities, I escaped them. At times, that meant running to entertainment and distractions. Other times, it meant overcommitting because I was afraid of letting people down. My life felt chaotic, and the more stressed I got, the more I avoided what was hard.

Studying the Bible showed me that my struggle with time management was really a spiritual issue. Fear made me avoid stress and discomfort, but 2 Timothy 1:7 taught me that God gives power, love, and discipline. I’m still growing, but trusting God has helped me face challenges instead of running from them, equipping me for new responsibilities in my career, family, and life.

From busy to balanced

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace ….

1 Corinthians 14:33 NLT

God is a God of order, not chaos. He brings peace into our lives by restructuring our priorities so we understand what truly matters in life (Luke 10:38-42). Our relationship with him comes first. As we walk closely with him, he gives us the power to make decisions out of love and courage rather than fear and timidity. 

God wants us to experience peace, which is what I was trying to find by avoiding stress and structure. For years, I have resisted making a weekly schedule because I haven’t wanted to face all the things I need to do. But I am learning that God’s way is better than mine, and the discipline I resist actually brings freedom. 

Proverbs 21:5 reminds us that careful planning leads to success, and Proverbs 22:5 says that we will suffer consequences if we “go blindly on” without preparing for what’s ahead. In summary, these are two important truths God has taught me about time management:

• When I resist or avoid structure, I feel stressed and out of control. There are also consequences to the people around me, who get swept up in the winds of chaos in my life. 
• When I embrace God’s discipline, I find peace and stability. I don’t have to face my schedule alone; I can trust God to help me with the stress as I turn to him for help in my planning.

When we live the way God intends, we find balance. We can take on our responsibilities while not going to the extremes of underplanning or overplanning, which can come when we say yes to too many things for fear of letting people down or missing out. We can trust God enough to plan times of rest and refreshment along with our hard work and discipline.

True time management isn’t about doing more—it’s about having the faith to face challenges, recognize our limitations, and prioritize what actually matters. When we stop letting fear control our schedules, we can finally experience the peace and purpose he intends for us.

Scriptures for reflection

1. Ask God for help.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

Before we start trying to plan a schedule, we need to do some spiritual reflection. This involves asking God for help in knowing and understanding our hearts. Without this kind of reflection, we won’t be aware of the thoughts, emotions, and motives driving our schedule planning.

Psalm 139 gives us a framework for how to do this:

1. Search me – Be willing to let God see everything in your heart—including your true motives and desires.
2. Know my heart – Share any feelings or sins you are aware of as you think about your schedule and your ability to plan your week. Be honest with God about any frustrations, fears, or discouragement. 
3. Test me – Embrace the fact that God will test your faith. Sometimes, making a schedule will force you to face the situations in life that are testing your faith. We don’t need to be discouraged by these tests; we can look at them with joy as opportunities to trust God (Romans 5:3-5). 
4. Know my anxious thoughts – Anxiety steals joy. Be honest about anything you feel anxious about and ask  God to help you. Trust him rather than trying to figure things out on your own. 
5. See if there’s any offensive way in me – Be open to the idea that your own judgment of your time could be wrong. Ask God to make that clear. 
6. Lead me in the way everlasting – Ask God to direct your time and trust him to do it. 

Self-reflection with God’s guidance is the first step toward the spiritual art of time management.

2. Be honest.

These people refuse to listen to the Lord’s teachings… They tell the prophets, ‘Don’t see visions about things we should do. Just tell us good things. Say what will make us feel good.’” 

Isaiah 30:9-10 ERV

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:32 NIV

God wants us to be honest with ourselves because honesty brings freedom. When we don’t tell ourselves the truth about how long a task will take or how we’ve been using our time, our lives will stay frustrating and chaotic.

When you are planning your schedule, ask yourself questions like this: 

• How long does this task really take? Don’t expect to squeeze a one-hour assignment into 15 minutes. Being unrealistic about how long something takes is a way we lie to ourselves and eventually crumble under the weight of these unrealistic expectations. 
• Where is my time actually going? If an assignment took three hours, was I focused the whole time, or was I distracted by scrolling, chatting, or daydreaming? Was I stressed and stuck? Could the assignment have gone faster if I had reached out for help?

When we stop guessing and start tracking how we spend our time, we can plan more effectively and avoid unnecessary stress.

3. Choose your priorities.

While Jesus and his followers were traveling, he went into a town, and a woman named Martha let him stay at her house. [39] She had a sister named Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. [40] But her sister Martha was busy doing all the work that had to be done. Martha went in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” [41] But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. [42] Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice, and it will never be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42 ERV

Martha was busy, but Jesus pointed out that her priorities were off. Mary’s relationship with Jesus brought her great peace and clarity by helping her say “no” to the right things. Putting God and his Word first in our lives shouldn’t be something we see as restrictive or burdensome; it’s not “adding” something to our busy schedule but reducing our stress by helping us prioritize. 

Without God at the center, our lives will feel chaotic, spinning around between all kinds of competing priorities. God brings clarity and gives us the courage to say no to unhelpful distractions, even well-meaning ones.  

4. Replace worry with faith.

What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. [34] So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries.

Matthew 6:33-34 ERV

Worry often fuels poor time management. These are some of the biggest ways it shows up in my life:

• Being overwhelmed by how big a task seems, and taking no action
• Procrastinating out of fear of failure or perfectionism
• Overscheduling because I am worried about not fitting everything in
• Rigidity and control – refusing to change or adjust my schedule out of fear that I won’t get everything done

Jesus’s words give us perspective: Focus on seeking God first, and everything else will fall into place. That’s what it looks like to live by faith; we can trust God to take care of us as we move forward boldly and live out his purpose. He cares about what we need and wants to bless our lives (Hebrews 11:6). 

Instead of stressing about the future, handle today’s tasks with diligence and trust God with the rest. One practical way to do this in our schedule is to break big tasks into smaller steps. For example, if we need to read  10 chapters for a class, we can break that down into a manageable number of chapters to read each day and schedule times to do it. This eases anxiety and boosts productivity.

5. Get help from a friend.

Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you are obeying the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 ERV

Time management is easier when we don’t do it alone. God provides relationships to support us in several ways:

• Faith – When we feel stressed or overwhelmed by our schedules or responsibilities, our friends can encourage us to believe in God rather than relying on our own strength (1 Samuel 23:16). As much as we need to work on our faith on our own, it helps to surround ourselves with people who are more objective than we are and can help us believe.
• Accountability – Friends can help us stay on track with our schedules, remind us of commitments, and encourage discipline when we’re tempted to procrastinate (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
• Perspective, and advice – Others can often see solutions we miss, whether it’s helping us prioritize tasks, suggesting better systems, or sharing wisdom from their own experiences (Proverbs 15:22).
• Practical support – When our friends know our schedules, they can help out when they are able. They might see ways to support us, like offering a ride when needed or helping us with an errand.

Instead of struggling alone, invite trusted people into your life who can encourage and support your growth.

Next steps for growth

Here are some practical tips and resources to support your spiritual journey as you develop stronger time management and organizational skills.

• Make your own Bible study – Use a Bible app or online resource to search for key words like “discipline,” “diligence,” or “wisdom” to build a study around what the Bible says about time management and organization. This can help you form your own Biblical convictions on how to wisely manage your time.
• Look for ways to enjoy challenging tasks – We’re less likely to avoid a task if we enjoy it, and God wants us to enjoy life (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13). If there’s a chore or assignment you need to do, look for ways to make it enjoyable. Create a playlist you like as your soundtrack, set yourself up with a favorite snack, or find a place to study that has a cool ambience.
• Prioritize your schedule – Plan your weekly schedule in order of priority and necessity. When will you spend time with God each day? What times do you need to set aside to be present with your family? What are your work or school hours? Put the essentials in your schedule first so that they don’t get squeezed out. 
• Plan times of rest and refreshment – A balanced schedule includes rest, breaks, fun, and spiritual renewal. Include things like sleep, exercise, relaxing time with friends, and time to read the Bible and pray. Taking appropriate breaks revives us emotionally, physically, and spiritually so that we can be more effective at our more challenging tasks.
• Do a time audit – Track your time for a few days to see where it’s really going. Apps like Toggl or a simple notebook can help you notice patterns and distractions. 
• Create a simple daily plan – Start each day by writing down your top three priorities. Keep it realistic and focused.  
• Accountability check-in – Talk to a friend or mentor about how you are working on your time management goals. Ask if you can run your schedule questions by them from time to time. If you don’t know how to schedule something, just ask!