DO YOU ‘HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER”?

Some women think they have it all together. Others feel like falling on the floor in a heap as they know they could never have it all together, especially if it means keeping a perfect home, perfect children, and perfect situations! Let’s face it. There is not a day that goes perfectly. Every day poses new challenges.

And yet Titus 2:4, 5 tells the older women to teach the young women to “have it all together.” Well, it actually says “to be discreet” in the King James Version. Would you like to find out what this word really means? I love the adventure of discovering what God is truly saying to us, don’t you?

The Greek word for “discreet” is “sophron” and comes from two root words:
“Sozo” which means “to save, deliver, protect, heal, cure, preserve, keep safe, and make whole.” And “phren” meaning “the mind.” Therefore it means to have a sound and whole mind.

We can never have it all together in our circumstances as we cannot control our circumstances. If we have babies and little children around us we can never have a perfect house with laundry and every household duty up-to-date. However, in the midst of chaos, babies and children, crying and loud noise, the weight of more to cope with than we think we can possibly accomplish, we can still have a sound and steady mind. We can have peace in the midst of the storm. This is what it really means to have it all together.

Let’s look at some other translations:

“To be mistress of themselves” (Moffat). This means that we are in control of ourselves. We have command of our emotions. We are self-disciplined. Not freaking out. Not falling to pieces. No matter what happens around us, our hearts and minds are fixed upon the Lord. What would I do without the wonderful promise in Isaiah 26:3, 4: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” I believe this is the underlying secret of having it all together--to keep our minds stayed upon the Lord, no matter what the situation.

“Orderly behavior” (Knox). Our example as a wife and mother must not bring discredit to God’s Word, but be a good advertisement to the Christian faith (Titus 2:5).

“To live wisely” (RSV and NLT). Not foolishly. Not gadding about. Not hankering after the materials things of this world and worldly entertainment. Not possessed by social media. We speak wisely. We act wisely. We walk according to God’s plan for wives and mothers, rather than fashioning ourselves according to the ways and trends of this current society.
“To be sober-minded” (WEB).

“To be self-controlled.” Many translations use this phrase such as NET, AMP, TLV, CJB, ESC, GNB, HCSB, LEB, MEV, and NIV. How can you be self-controlled? Stoically repress your emotions? No. We surrender to the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, for He is self-control. In fact, He is everything we need to have it all together. His life in us is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23). That’s everything you need. Instead of yielding to the flesh, yield to the Holy Spirit.

“To be sensible” (CEB, CEV, and NASB). Being sensible keeps our feet on the ground and act in a way that brings glory to God.

Dear mother, you may feel overwhelmed, the house may look chaotic, but you can still “have it all together” as you look to the Lord and allow His peace to fill your heart and mind in the midst of everything that is happening.

Have a wonderful day,

Nancy Campbell