Overwhelmed? Hold On!

-

Anytime we receive news that is unexpected or larger than life, be it good news or bad, we can quickly feel overwhelmed! An unexpected pregnancy, a letter from the IRS, a bad report card or even an IRA that has multiplied like the parable of the fish and loaves. Wow, God! What do we do now? How can I process this information? I’m feeling more than a little overwhelmed.

Step one: Breathe, jump, dance, cry or run!

Find a safe place to let the emotions out. From a sigh, to a tear, to a wail. Whatever it takes to unlock your release valve so you can let some pressure off - in a healthy way, of course!

Step two: Remember that You’re not alone!
  • You’re not alone in your miracles – even when beyond comprehension.
  • You’re not alone in your misery –  because God promises to be with you in the valleys.
  • You’re not alone in your surprise – and soon life won’t seem so out of control.

Step three: Go to God’s Word!

“For this great God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide until we die. - He is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever! - No wonder we are happy in the Lord! For we are trusting Him. We trust His holy name. - The Lord will work out his plans for my life – for your lovingkindness, Lord, continues forever.”  Psalm 48:14, 73:26a, 33:21 & 138:8a (The Living Bible)

Life throws so many curves at us. Some we pray for and are surprised about when we later get an answer. Others we are fearful of, but relish in. Some are short-lived, but are instantly stretching. Others seem to never get resolved and sap our energy, patience and faith. And then for others, we just have to battle through them until we get to the other side. Regardless of how overwhelmed you may feel, or how hopeless today’s situation might seem, God has the answer.

The hard part, when facing ‘larger than life’ circumstances, is being faithful. When we feel overwhelmed and helpless, we need to lean into God’s promise that assures us that he will never leave us or forsake us. This truth is found in Deuteronomy 31:6, and it is later quoted in Hebrews 13:5. In Deuteronomy, the verse was given as an assurance to Joshua as he faced the reality of trying to fill Moses’ shoes. Not only would Joshua soon lose his leader and mentor, but he was being asked by God to lead the whole Israelite nation - that grumbling, ungrateful bunch - into the Promised Land. (Talk about feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand!) Then in Hebrews 13, these same words were quoted, but were in response to a totally different set of circumstances. Our finances! This passage says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’”

So, the next time a curve comes flying at you and you begin to feel overwhelmed, Hold On!

…to the One who has it all under control and in His sovereign care!

For today, and in this moment, worship the One who is never overwhelmed and who loves you with an everlasting love. 

“This We Know” by Vertical Worship.

https://youtu.be/sq233lM3k9w

----------------------

yokemates.blogspot.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Make the Connection!

-
            Is attending a carnival ministry? Sure! It’s a unique way to meet people and build relationships. This year, an out-of-town visitor asked my husband if he was the mayor of our town. The sincere question made us both grin! It is so refreshing at times to see things from a different perspective. Apparently, the man had seen my husband “working the crowd” and was intrigued. What this visitor didn’t know was that my husband is friendly all year long – not just at parades or when he is in the public eye. He genuinely loves people, wants them to feel special and takes the time to remember names. Shaking hands and giving hugs comes naturally to him. But, what do I do when “my pastor” is connecting with people? Often, a smile is all that’s needed.               People are always watching, and that reality is easy to forget. As Christians, we are in essence ‘on para...
Read more

Overwhelmed, Underwhelmed or Simply Unmotivated

-
  January is that time of year that many people get the Winter Blues - a general view of life that just says, "Blah!" Being underwhelmed with life threatens our sense of purpose and joy and makes everything seem a bit bland and boring. Perhaps it is fueled by the cold weather, feeling housebound or the fact that all the green things in life are resting dormant below ground or snow. Or, maybe it is just the reality of returning to the basic routines of life (even in a Covid world). All the frantic and fun activities that surround Christmas are behind us, and we just have the decorations and the bank balance to deal with.  For others, January is an excuse to cozy up by the fire, read a book or enjoy an indulgent mug of hot chocolate or hot vanilla. They enjoy their Christmas decorations as long as possible and their soul finds healing when the world is covered in a sparkling blanket of snow. They reflect on Christmas memories made and reread Christmas greetings. They're thr...
Read more

Bathroom Gymnastics?

-
If I had to guess, you’ve been enrolled in the school of bathroom gymnastics along with countless others in our world. It’s much more theatrical than balancing on a beam or flipping around and between parallel bars. Yet, I do believe it involves some of the same skills that are needed for a quality vault or floor routine! See if you can relate… When out and about on a normal day, we find ourselves in need of a place to “rest.” Our own bathroom at home may be preferred, but there are times when one just needs to find a place to “sit a spell” - and soon! So, the search ensues. Is there a business nearby that is open? If so, is their lobby accessible? Do they have public bathrooms? Are they clean by even pre-COVID standards?  Check. Check. Check and check. We breathe a sigh of relief - well almost! It's only now that we see the sign : “Only X amount of people are allowed in the restroom at a time.” (Hmmm…how do I know how many people are already inside?) ...and so, the gymnastics begi...
Read more