Overwhelmed

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…”

Psalm 46:1, 2a

Do you ever get that feeling of being absolutely overwhelmed?  Do the demands of the day – of every day – seem way beyond your physical, emotional, and mental capacity and definitely way beyond the number of hours needed to handle it all?

• Those people in your life that you love so dearly – who all need so much of you
• Those friendships that bring fellowship, laughter and encouragement to your life but require your attention and demand that you make an investment of time in order to keep the friendships flourishing
• That job that God has so graciously given to you that provides the income needed to keep the lights on but that seems to suck every bit of energy, productivity, and life out of you by the end of the day – not to even mention what the commute does to your spirit
• Or maybe it’s the job that you don’t have and the financial pressures that weigh heavy
• Perhaps its relationships that have fallen apart and are in desperate need of healing
• Maybe its the physical or mental or emotional challenges with which you deal every day
• You try, but too often can’t to find the time to read your Bible
• You’re so exhausted that prayer time often turns into nap time

Whatever IT may be. . .however many “ITs” there may be. . .be assured of this, GOD knows, and it is not His plan for you to live overwhelmed.

There was a period of time in my life during which I took great offense when someone would ask me if I was overwhelmed by a major problem or confluence of big issues with which I had to deal. I immediately took that question as an attack on my capabilities. It was an assault on my pride. Clearly the implication was that maybe I couldn’t handle the situation; maybe I was in over my head. I would pointedly say “I don’t get overwhelmed. It’s all under control – I have a plan in place, and the plan is working beautifully.”

 My pride would not allow me to admit that inside I was juggling all of the responsibilities, problems, and challenges like a crazed juggler walking a wind-blown, swaying tightrope…over the Grand Canyon. One missed ball, one slip of the foot and I’d be a goner!

Overwhelmed? Yes. Totally!

It took me years to learn that it is only when I acknowledge that I am not in control that I can find peace in the chaos. To release my false claim on controlling my life meant recognizing and repenting of the pride that I had allowed to take solid root in my heart.

The prophet Obadiah, in a prophetic message to the Edomites, enemies of God’s people, said, “The pride of your heart has deceived you….” (Obadiah 3) Deceived by my own heart and totally overwhelmed, that was me.

God says, “I have it ALL under control – trust ME.”

• We may make great plans, but the real answers come from God – “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.” (Proverbs 16:1)
• God “establishes” – “directs” – “determines” (all legitimate translations for the Hebrew word used here) It is God Who directs our way. “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
• The purposes of God stand, regardless of our plans or desire to be in control. (Proverbs 19:21)

Realizing that I was NOT in control was truly liberating.

Trusting that God IS in control was absolutely empowering.

My responsibility is to have an obedient and surrendered heart to God, to seek His will and His direction for my life, and to allow His Holy Spirit to do the transformative work of sanctification in me. That is my responsibility.  

When life’s demands exceed your capacity, don’t be overwhelmed. Know that you can live victoriously and joyfully through the indwelling power of Jesus Christ our Lord – confident in God and His promises. 

God does not say there won’t be times that threaten to overwhelm. He does say that those of us who kneel before Him as adopted daughters redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, can trust Him to see us through whatever life may throw at us.