Christ at the Center: A Life That Holds Together

There’s something oddly humbling about bringing home a box from IKEA.

Inside that clean, minimalist packaging is not a piece of furniture, but a test of patience, precision, and perseverance. Assembling a bookshelf or dresser should be straightforward—but often, it becomes a lesson in frustration. Tiny tools, ambiguous instructions, and an ever-growing pile of leftover screws lead to one undeniable truth: if you don’t follow the directions, what you build won’t stand the test of time—or gravity.

Life is not so different. Many of us find ourselves looking at the pieces of our days—relationships, responsibilities, dreams—and wondering why it all feels a bit… wobbly. We long for stability. We crave a sense of cohesion, purpose, and peace. We chase success, hustle for approval, and stretch ourselves thin trying to hold it all together. But no matter how hard we work or how many self-help strategies we try, the deeper question remains: What holds it all together?

The Apostle Paul answers that question with piercing clarity in Colossians 1:17—“He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.” That’s the core claim of the Christian life. It’s not just about believing in God, doing good things, or following moral teachings. It’s about Jesus Christ being at the center—of creation, of the church, of your personal life. When Christ is at the center, everything else finds its place.

The Temptation of Alternate Blueprints

Our world offers no shortage of competing blueprints for life. From TikTok mantras to bestselling productivity books, we’re flooded with advice on how to build a better self. The messaging is seductive: “Grind harder,” “Find your truth,” “Manifest your destiny.” These slogans echo like modern-day proverbs, promising direction but delivering disorientation. We follow trends instead of truth. We adopt values without evaluation. And slowly, subtly, the pieces of our lives begin to shift out of alignment.

That’s why Paul’s vision of Christ in Colossians 1:15–28 is so compelling. It’s not a motivational speech or a set of spiritual hacks. It’s a sweeping theological symphony—a declaration that Jesus is not just part of the story. He is the story. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the one through whom and for whom all things were made. And He is the one in whom all things hold together.

This is not abstract doctrine—it’s an invitation. Paul isn’t just filling our heads with cosmic ideas; he’s offering us a new center of gravity for our lives. Jesus isn’t an accessory to the life we’re building. He’s the cornerstone. If we try to build without Him at the center, even our most well-intentioned efforts will eventually buckle under pressure.

Christ, the Center of All Creation

The beauty of Colossians 1 is in its rhythm and reach. Paul begins with a hymn-like exaltation of Christ as the image of the invisible God. This word “image” (Greek: eikōn) means more than a mere reflection—it means the exact representation, the visible manifestation of the unseen God. Jesus is not just a prophet or teacher. He is the full disclosure of God’s nature in human form. To know what God is like, we look to Jesus—His compassion, justice, humility, and sacrificial love.

Paul continues: “All things have been created through Him and for Him… He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.” That phrase—“hold together”—carries immense weight. It doesn’t simply mean Jesus initiated creation; it means He continues to sustain it. Every atom, every heartbeat, every sunrise persists by His power. If Jesus were to stop holding the universe together, it would unravel into chaos. And if He’s not holding the center of your life, that same chaos begins to seep into your soul.

Without Christ as our center, we may function for a while—just like that lopsided IKEA bookshelf might stand temporarily. But things will eventually crack. You’ll feel the pressure in your relationships, in your emotional health, in your spiritual dryness. The good news is that Jesus is not only willing but eager to step into the center and reorient every piece around His presence.

Christ, the Rebuilder of Broken Lives

Paul shifts from cosmic creation to intimate reconciliation: “Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds, expressed in your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death…” (Col. 1:21–22). This is the gospel in its most personal form. We’re not just spectators to a grand cosmic order; we’re participants in a story of redemption. Jesus doesn’t discard broken lives—He restores them.

Maybe your spiritual life has felt like a heap of unassembled parts lately. Maybe the instruction manual seems missing. Or maybe you’ve followed the wrong directions for too long. The truth of the gospel is this: no matter how upside-down your life feels, it can be rebuilt. Not with religious effort, but with grace. Not with shame, but with restoration. Christ didn’t come to make minor repairs—He came to reconcile us completely. To start over with Himself as the foundation.

And here’s the astonishing mystery Paul reveals: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Not just Christ near you. Not Christ as your example or teacher. Christ in you. That’s the center of the Christian life—not just external behavior modification, but internal transformation. Jesus doesn’t just show you how to live. He empowers you to live it.

This mystery—Christ dwelling within us—is the key to both holding together and shining forth. Your life, centered on Christ, becomes a display of His glory. Like a beautifully constructed piece of furniture, your life becomes both sturdy and stunning. You don’t just survive—you reveal. You don’t just endure—you shine.

The Consequence of Disordered Centers

Of course, when Christ is not the center, the results are sobering.

The prophet Amos warns of a different kind of famine—a famine of hearing the word of the Lord (Amos 8:11). It’s a haunting image. People staggering from sea to sea, searching for truth, but finding none. This is the cultural moment we inhabit. We’re surrounded by noise, information, and distraction—but starving for wisdom. We chase endless productivity but ignore the Word that gives life.

And in Luke 10, we meet Martha, anxious and overwhelmed with service, while her sister Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. Martha’s distraction is not sinful in itself. She’s doing good things. But in missing the “one thing necessary,” her soul frays at the edges. That’s the danger of misordered priorities. We can fill our lives with good intentions and miss the God who is present.

If Christ isn’t at the center, something else will be—and no other center can hold.

A Centered Life in a Fragmented World

So how do we recenter on Christ?

It begins not with striving, but with surrender. We admit that we cannot hold it all together on our own. We stop trying to earn peace through performance or secure purpose through perfection. Instead, we turn to Jesus—the One who holds all things together.

We make space to sit at His feet.

We return to His Word—not as a checklist, but as nourishment.

We reexamine our calendars, asking not just “what do I need to do?” but “who is this for?”

We invite Christ to be the center not only of our Sunday mornings but of our Mondays, our marriages, our parenting, our work, and our rest.

A centered life is not a balanced life in the way the world defines it. It’s not about distributing energy equally to all things. It’s about giving Christ first place—so that everything else can find its proper place.

Reflection Questions

1. What currently holds the center of your life? Take time to evaluate your priorities, your thought life, and your emotional energy. Is Christ truly at the center—or has something else taken His place?
2. Where do you feel most “wobbly” right now? Identify areas where you feel scattered, anxious, or unstable. How might inviting Christ into those specific spaces bring new peace or clarity?
3. What would re-centering on Christ look like this week? Think practically. Could it mean starting your morning in prayer? Limiting distractions? Being more intentional with your time? Choosing rest instead of hustle?

From Wobbly to Whole

Some of us feel like our lives are one shelf collapse away from disaster. We’re exhausted from holding it all up—our families, our finances, our future. We silently carry the weight of expectations, afraid that if we let go, everything will fall apart.

But here’s the truth you need to hear today: You were never meant to hold it all together. That’s not your role—it’s Christ’s. And He is more than capable.

He holds creation in His hands. He holds the church together in love. He holds your story—even the broken pieces you’d rather hide. And He holds the promise of glory—not just ahead, but within you.

Let that mystery become your anchor: Christ in you, the hope of glory.

So may you stop running off old blueprints. May you stop trying to be the glue that holds it all together. And may you trust the One who already is.

Center your morning on Him. Build your week on Him. Rest your soul in Him.

Because when Christ is at the center, everything else finds its place.