by Emily Conrad

I knew launching my first book would keep me busy. Or I theorized that it might. But I think I also kind of expected things to fall into place as the event got closer. Sometimes that happens.

Unfortunately, this time, I’m scrambling a little bit. I owe a handful of people blog posts, in addition to keeping up with my own blog and coordinating the launch team. I may or may not also have a couple of other writing projects to work on, plus there are the normal family responsibilities. I probably don’t even have to confess this part, but here it is: I’ve dropped the ball a couple of times.

Somewhere in the midst of this, I got to thinking I should tweet about trying to do #allthethings.

Yes. Definitely must work that hashtag in. Very fitting. I’ll be in good company, and it’s super-accurate that, as a hashtag, there will be no spaces between the words. No spaces!

But as soon as I thought of using #allthethings, another Voice shot back, “But one thing is necessary.”


Oh, hey, Jesus.

I know it’s Him because the quote is from Luke 10:42 (ESV), and I’ve blogged before about Mary and Martha and Jesus. (Here and here.)

It seems this trying to accomplish allthethings is a recurring theme with me.

Maybe it is for you, too.

Maybe you, like me, are tackling something new and trying to make it all work come together perfectly.  Maybe you’re beating yourself up for your failures. Maybe your to-do list is daunting. Maybe it all seems so very important.

But, there’s hope in Jesus, even for perfectionistic overachievers.

Only one thing is necessary. Jesus.

When we are weak, He is strong. I think this is especially true when we know we’re weak, because that’s when we start asking–begging, even–for His help. I’m grateful that the mounting sense of responsibility has led me more and more often to ask Jesus to work with and through me.

Because Jesus is the one thing, the answer.

I’m learning to let go of some of the expectations I put on myself. The whole reason I started writing this post was because I thought, okay, maybe a fresh post is just not my one thing right now. Maybe I just need to share about the interview I did this weekend, and leave it at that.

Now, here we are. God richly supplied more than I expected. I’m weak, and He’s strong.

Strong enough for whatever your allthethings are, too. Spaces or not.

But if you do have space, I’d love for you to stop by Stitches Through Time for my very first interview about Justice!

When you’re trying to balance #allthethings, remember only one thing is important! #Jesus via @emilyrconrad

Photo credits
Chair in field photo by Michael Nunes on Unsplash
Forest meadow photo by Giulio Magnifico on Unsplash
Tree photo by Sanjeevan SatheesKumar on Unsplash