Are you tired? Overwhelmed? Running on fumes? Let me be brutally honest with you—it’s probably your own fault. We (and yes I place myself in this category as well) tend to cram our lives full of stuff—appointments, errands, commitments, notifications, endless scrolling—and then wonder why we feel suffocated. The truth is, you’ve built a life with no breathing room. No margin.

And without margin, you’re not living—you’re surviving, barely.

Margin isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s the white space on the page, the pause in the music, the Sabbath in your week. Without it, everything blends into a chaotic blur, and you miss the moments that actually matter.

The Myth of More

We live in a culture that idolizes more. More productivity. More activities for the kids. More money. More accomplishments. But more isn’t making us happier—it’s making us miserable.

Here’s the kicker: the significant things in life—real relationships, awe-inspiring moments, hearing God’s still, small voice—rarely happen when you’re running at 110%. They happen in the margins.

Think about it:

  • That deep conversation with your son? It didn’t happen during soccer practice, piano lessons, and PTA meetings. It happened on the quiet drive home.
  • The time you truly connected with your spouse? It wasn’t during a whirlwind of errands. It was in the stillness of an unhurried evening.
  • That moment when God spoke to your heart? You weren’t rushing to the next thing. You were still, quiet, and listening.

When your life is too full, you bulldoze right over these sacred moments. You’re too busy with the minutia—emails, to-do lists, keeping up appearances—to notice the magnificent.

Let’s be honest for a second: most people don’t leave margin because it feels uncomfortable. We wear busyness like a badge of honor. If your calendar isn’t full, you feel unimportant. Lazy. Maybe even worthless.

But let me tell you something hard: filling your life with stuff is a lousy substitute for meaning.

Jesus didn’t run around like a headless chicken. He walked. He took time to pray. He noticed the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. His ministry was profound not because He was busy, but because He was present.

Five Simple Ways To Create Margin

  1. Say “No” and Mean It
    Stop being a people pleaser. Every “yes” to something unimportant is a “no” to what truly matters. Your time is precious—guard it like it’s your life (because it is).
  2. Ditch the Unnecessary
    Do you really need to binge another Netflix series? Spend hours scrolling Instagram? Join every committee at church? No. Free up that space for something meaningful.
  3. Schedule the Sacred
    Block off time for rest, relationships, and reflection. If it’s not on your calendar, it won’t happen. Treat this time as non-negotiable.
  4. Embrace Silence
    Turn off the noise. Put down your phone. Be still. You’ll be shocked at how much clarity comes when you stop trying to fill every moment.
  5. Rediscover Wonder
    Take a walk. Watch the sunset. Listen to your kid’s laughter. These things aren’t just filler—they’re the point.

God designed us to need margin. That’s why He gave us the Sabbath—not to burden us, but to free us. When you leave space in your life, you’re making room for God to move.

Psalm 46:10 doesn’t say, “Work harder and know that I am God.” It says, “Be still and know that I am God.” You can’t be still if you’re sprinting from one thing to the next.

A No So Simple Challenge

This week, I dare you—no, I double dare you—to cut something out of your calendar. Say no to one thing. Block off time to rest. Let go of your obsession with doing it all.

And in that space, watch what happens. You’ll start to breathe again. You’ll start to notice things. And maybe—just maybe—you’ll start to come alive again.

Margin isn’t optional. It’s where life happens. Don’t miss it.