overwhelmed?
Ever have one of those days (or weeks, or months) where you are just overwhelmed? Life has turned upside down and you don’t think you can handle it all? Struggling to stay afloat yourself, you don’t feel like serving others. You struggle to see God’s goodness in the “hiccups” of your day. Life is too much and you just want to sleep for days.
To one degree, that’s where I’ve been tempted the past few weeks. I recently got married and have found my life completely thrown upside down. Clothes and cans of food are still in boxes, I have never done this “wife” thing before and want to do it well but am not completely sure what that looks like, and no matter how well I plan, hiccups seem to take over my day. I’ve cried a lot. I’ve been angry a lot. I’ve struggled with the fact that God knows I just want to start this season of my life well, and yet I find myself struggling with bitterness, anger and exhaustion. I want to hide from the world.
I’ve spent a lot of time asking God what my response should be. I’m called to love my enemies. What about folks who cause extra work in my already busy schedule? Do I have to love them too? yes. What about the times when I’m just tired and want to sleep? Do I have to care and serve then? yes. What about when my plans are continually interrupted? Can I trust God’s control over my life then? yes.
But how do I do this? I am one person and honestly don’t have the strength to do it all. There are just too many plates to spin. That’s where I’m grateful for God’s promises… it’s what I need to cling to at times like this when I am tempted to feel overwhelmed…
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed… (Luke 10: 40-42)
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:5-8)
No matter the season, no matter the events of the day, I can trust my God. He is the foundation upon which everything else is built. So, with confidence I can both rest and walk forward knowing that my foundation is sure and my God is always faithful.
[copyright, 2010, Emily Riley; A Sacrifice of Praise]
