The Cure for Being Overwhelmed

No matter who you are and what you do in life most of us are a few steps away from becoming overwhelmed.  It is a symptom of our present day society.  It is a state of being that far too many people have conceded to as being their normal.

This should not be and this is not God's best for us.  If you are feeling overwhelmed please don't be condemned by this statement.  It's just a matter of fact.  So how do you get from a state of being overwhelmed to finding a sense of contentment and peace?  There is so much information out there that will tell you to prioritize, get a plan, make a budget, slow down, and the list goes on and on.  All of these things are really good and things you should do.  But what do you do at that moment.  You know the moment when you are desperate.  You can barely keep it together and you feel like a pressure cooker about to blow your top.  The moment when the budget is a bust, the schedule has been thrown out the window, and every kid in your house has an emergency that demands your attention NOW!

Let me encourage you to:

Praise God

Worship God

Get an Eternal Perspective

Invite God into your Overwhelmness (OK I know that's not a word but you get my point)

Please don't stop reading now and think oh no not another pie in the sky put God first post.  I need help now! I've tried those things and I still feel overwhelmed.

Think of it this way.  Remember as kids we learned that when there is a fire you should STOP, DROP, and ROLL.  It was ingrained in our heads over and over again to the point that it would be automatic if we were ever in an actual fire.  Suppose you were in a fire and you stopped, dropped, and rolled twice but your clothes were still burning.  You stand up and say oh well I guess that didn't work I am doomed and will just have to burn to death.  That's crazy isn't it!  No you would be so desperate for relief that you would roll around ferociously until the fire was exhausted.  

Let me encourage you to do the same using the 4 points above.  Praise God for who he is.  I love Psalms 145 - 150.  Speak them out loud so your voice will drown out your feelings.  Get a good book of prayers or confessions.  I love Joyce Meyer's little purple book entitled, "The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word."  Say scripture over and over again so in those moments of despair they are already ingrained in your spirit.

Play worship music and invite your kids to sing along.  Stop your homeschool lesson, cleaning, whatever you are doing and put on worship music.  If you are close to a computer go on YouTube and find some great worship videos.  I love songs such as Yahweh from Kari Jobe or He Loves Us from Jesus Culture.  If you can't get to music sing a hymn in your head.  Get to know some old hymns.  They are powerful.  Get an old Baptist Hymnal book.  We consider these things outdated but let me tell you I thank God for all those Sunday's growing up with the hymnal in my hand singing "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus."  These songs are easy to learn and often have a rhythm that is almost like a nursery rhyme in that you can memorize them easily. They don't need live music or a band because of their simplicity of truth.

Get an eternal perspective.  I love Phillips, Craig, and Dean's song "When the Stars Burn Down."  Read the lyrics of this song.  Go to the book of Revelation.  Read the last chapters about the new Jerusalem and the coming of Christ.  Live in light of eternity.  Reflect on trials of the past and see how you are still here and standing when you should have fallen.  In Revelation 21:4 the bible says, "He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain.  These things of the past are gone forever."

Invite God in.  At this point ask Holy Spirit to help you invite God into the moment.  Speak in your prayer language (it really helps to quiet your soul).  Physically kneel to pray.  Raise your hands to heaven in an act of surrender.  I have even clenched my fist and then physically opened them as a physical act of releasing the situation to God.

Please be encouraged.  Nothing lasts forever.  Even these things listed above can be done in a matter of moments.  It doesn't have to be a long drawn out process.  If you are still feeling overwhelmed please keep at it.  Don't give up.  Never give up until you have God's peace and rest.  Then ask God to help you get to the root of your feelings.  This is where the practical steps come in such as trimming down your schedule, planning, cleaning-up, whatever you may need to change.  But before doing all that put God first and see how he can help you in the midst of your moment.

Be Blessed ...