Friday Fight 227: Biblical Balance

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF227.

How often have you tried to make changes to your life and ended up going too far? Perhaps you're unhappy with your health and go from not working out to exercising every day, taking handfuls of supplements, and overhauling everything at once. Instead of finding a steady and sustainable path, you seek transformation through extremes. The extremes in this situation could cause muscle injuries, digestion issues and possible organ problems.

Perhaps, it's career, education, finances, or relationships that have us believing we better make big changes to “get our life in order.” That may look like enrolling in too many classes, working overtime, or drastically cutting spending in all areas, to include tithing. All of these “fixes” can be an over correction and in most instances they end up not working. So moving forward how can we learn from these and apply this to our spiritual lives?

Biblical Balance:

Imagine a time in your life when, to make changes, you recognized your extreme overcorrection. I've seen people swing from indulgence to deficiency or from people-pleasing to isolation. Spiritually, it might appear as someone searching for God through endless sermons, devotionals, or rigid practices, hoping that effort alone will bring peace, change or healing.

The truth is, growth and healing come through the middle path—not the extremes. And this isn't just practical wisdom—it's biblical. Ecclesiastes 7:18 says, "It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes." In other words, a life aligned with God involves a balance of tension and harmony. We hold truth and grace, strength and humility, correction and compassion—all at once.

Let's apply that to our spiritual journey. Life is difficult and we all face trials but, in our effort to heal or improve, we must be careful not to overcorrect. Sometimes, we subconsciously try to compensate for past mistakes or deep wounds by imposing extreme discipline or self-denial, believing that punishment will lead to progress. However, shame is not a path that leads to God.

Spiritual growth requires a balanced rhythm: love with discipline, correction with forgiveness, control with surrender. Many of us fall into the trap of fear-based control—whether it's diving into intense workouts or withholding our tithe out of financial anxiety. These are not Spirit-led decisions; they're driven by panic, guilt, or striving. Steady faithfulness will carry you further than frantic striving ever could.

True transformation is not frantic or forced. It welcomes gradual change. It comes from awareness, not fear. As Christians, spiritual steadiness involves examining what we give and what we receive—our time in prayer, our words, what we choose to consume, what fills our thoughts, and how we walk with God. Living with intention means choosing balance in every area, rather than simply reacting to life's pressures. Balance isn't just wise, it's holy.

So today, take time to pray about how you have been navigating these extremes and pause. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your heart a balanced way forward. Remember, Ecclesiastes tells us to avoid all extremes—not because change is bad, but because God’s way is often found in quiet consistency and surrendered balance. Not the loudest, not the fastest, not the most intense, but the steady, faithful path that keeps your heart aligned with Him.

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Photo Credit: Michele LaSala

In His Grace,

Pastor Shannon

River Church