The One Thing That Matters Most: Finding Peace in an Overwhelming Faith

Christianity was never meant to be a compartmentalized experience. We understand that following Jesus impacts every aspect of our lives—our relationships, vocation, finances, and even our politics. This holistic approach to faith is what we should aspire to.

But there's a dark side to this all-encompassing faith. When we set out to be "good Christians" in this holistic way, the bar can quickly become impossibly high.

The Overwhelming Expectations of Modern Christianity

Think about all the expectations we place on ourselves as believers:

We want to be good people—kind, thoughtful, patient, and forgiving.

We know we should make Scripture our foundation, reading it daily like our grandmothers did. But it's not always easy to understand, so we want to apply it to our lives in simple ways like popular preachers seem to do effortlessly.

At the same time, we recognize Scripture is an ancient text written across different cultures and languages over generations. So we feel we should study it in its ancient context, like scholarly theologians do.

The Never-Ending List of Spiritual Disciplines

Bible study is just the beginning. We need to connect the dots and articulate what we've learned—essentially doing theology. This means reading books, but with 2,000 years of church history, we need to understand theological history to avoid past mistakes.

Then we remember faith isn't just about books and ideas. It's about relationship with God, so we want to pray daily with reverence and faith. But which kind of prayer? Liturgical prayer? Extemporaneous prayer? Lectio divina? Prayer walks? Spiritual warfare? Prayers for healing?

The Call to Action Beyond Personal Devotion

Following Jesus isn't ultimately about our personal devotional life. We're called to "go into all nations," to make a difference. This means treating everyone with dignity regardless of skin color or political views, and being reconcilers who bring peace.

Should we pursue mission work? Support missionaries financially? Or if international missions seem problematic, should we support local ministries for the homeless or hungry? And just giving money isn't enough—we should volunteer too.

The Church and Community Expectations

Being part of a community of believers means attending worship services weekly, joining a small group, and volunteering in church ministry—teaching a class or playing in the worship band.

But we're not just supposed to go to church; we're supposed to be the church. This means getting involved in our community, volunteering in our children's activities, joining book clubs, or helping with neighborhood cleanups. We should know our neighbors to show Jesus' love through relationships.

The Political Dimension of Faith

Getting involved in our community inevitably leads to politics. Following Jesus should shape our worldview on issues like abortion, healthcare, taxes, immigration, prison reform, and international affairs.

Since we address these issues through our political system, we need to be informed about political options, parties, and opinions to vote our conscience.

The Exhaustion of Trying to Do It All

Aren't you tired just reading all this? It's exhausting to consider. Christianity is about all of life, but sometimes it feels like being a Christian obligates us to a million things. Even if we dedicated 18 hours a day, every day of the week, we would barely scratch the surface.

When something seems this overwhelming, it can be easier to set it all aside. Maybe that old compartmentalized "Jesus on the weekend" kind of life was enough. Or worse, we might feel it's all pointless.

The One Thing That Matters Most

This is precisely why it's crucial to get clear on the one thing that matters most. Jesus told his disciples in the upper room, "In that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you" (John 14:20).

A few verses later, he explained more explicitly: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing."

The only way we can navigate the countless options and opportunities in our life of faith is by focusing on the abiding presence of Jesus.

Living in the Present Moment with Jesus

There are nearly infinite things we could aspire to do in our lives, but there's only one moment called "now." This present moment is the only place where our life choices intersect with the infinite existence of God.

Are we responding to the Spirit now, in this moment? Are we acting in love at this moment? Are we applying the life of Christ to the conversation, vocational decision, or relationship in front of us?

In this sacred place—this one present moment—our limited heart can respond to the gentle presence of the Spirit. And that is indeed the only thing that matters.

Life Application

This week, instead of being overwhelmed by the endless list of what it means to be a "good Christian," focus on abiding in Christ in each present moment. When you feel the weight of spiritual expectations crushing you, pause and ask:

• Am I responding to the Spirit's guidance in this specific moment?

• Is love motivating my actions right now?

• How can I apply Christ's teachings to what's directly in front of me today?

• What one small step can I take to abide in Jesus right now?

Remember, Jesus didn't call us to an exhausting checklist of spiritual activities. He called us to relationship—to abide in Him. When we focus on staying connected to the vine, the fruit will naturally follow. The Christian life isn't about doing everything; it's about doing the one thing that matters most: remaining in Christ moment by moment.