3 Things to Do When You're Overwhelmed

3 Things to Do When You're Overwhelmed

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Dear Readers,

Anyone feeling overwhelmed? Better question: Anyone NOT feeling overwhelmed? ('Cuz you're the special ones.)

We can be overwhelmed by so many different things in so many different ways. What kind of overwhelmed are you?

Are you overwhelmed by negative circumstances in your life? Too many stressors? Relationship problems, job situations?

Are you overwhelmed with the amount of things you need to get done that seem non-negotiable or obligatory? Work? Chauffeuring children? Laundry? Yard work? Connecting with a difficult family member? Volunteering?

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities for your life? Maybe they're all good things, but you don't know where to go or what is the best thing?

If we're honest, we all find ourselves on this list somewhere. I'm very thankful to say my stressors in the first category are minimal to non-existent right now, but I've experienced them before. At this point in my life, however, I am dealing with the second two categories on a daily basis - getting things done, and making big life decisions (where to work, where to volunteer, where to invest, when to start a family, etc.).

Unfortunately, when I have too many good or bad stressors, I succumb to analysis paralysis. I have too many options, too many choices, and I just sit down and binge watch TV or binge eat salt and vinegar potato chips. Please tell me I'm not the only one.

Instead of letting our circumstances and choices suffocate us, however, God wants to use this time to teach us, bless us and draw us closer to Himself.

There are three things we should do when we feel overwhelmed.

1) Ask the Lord for wisdom to make a decision.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5

God wants you to ask Him for direction. He wants to point you in the right direction. And He wants you to feel at peace with the direction you take because you are confident that the Lord has taken you there.

2) Ask the Lord to open your eyes to what He is teaching you about Himself during this time.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Ephesians 1:17

More than anything, God wants to have a relationship with us. Jesus Christ made the way for us to communicate with the Father openly. The more you pursue and communicate with someone, the better you get to know them. And the more you get to know the Lord, the more you understand His heart and begin to desire what He desires!

3) Ask the Lord to equip you for whatever He's calling you to do.

The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Exodus 4:11-12
Instead of sitting around doing nothing because you're too afraid you won't do it well (believe me, I've been there... far too many times), you can know that the Lord never called someone in the Bible to any task - great or small - without giving them just what they needed each step of the way to get it done. You've got the power!

The waiting is hard. I'm still a bit in limbo with some commitments I'm unsure of for the upcoming year and all of my nice, perfect, little summer plans that we all know won't play out quite like I imagine them in real life.

But can I just remind us that God is good, very good, and He wants you to do the right thing and do it well for His glory, and He is going to give you wisdom when you ask, reveal His heart to you and equip you for the journey ahead.

So let's get off our duffs and do one thing today that will give us even a small sense of order and accomplishment: Straighten that desk, clean up that kitchen, turn up the car radio and serve the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength!

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8 comments:

  1. Excellent advice! There are seasons where I feel that "overwhelmed" is a way of life, lol!

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  2. Amy ChristensenMay 2, 2016 at 4:06 PM

    Great post! I love the "analysis paralysis"! And yes, I am a salt and vinegar potato chip eater too! Ha, ha. Very good advice, backed by scripture. Can't ask for better! Thank you. - Amy
    www.stylingrannymama.com

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  3. Hylaandpeterechols.comMay 2, 2016 at 5:28 PM

    This is beautiful! If we are walking in Christ we have him to lean on when life gets overwhelming. Great pictures as well.

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  4. Andrea WienerMay 2, 2016 at 5:38 PM

    Pray pray pray pray!

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  5. simple yet powerful truths! In our anxiety we forget to run to the LORD! That is where we should start!

    Marie
    @spreadingJOY
    spreading-joy.org

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  6. Minivan MinistriesMay 3, 2016 at 11:32 AM

    This is great advice. So many times we are tempted to sit and do nothing, but prayer is something. It is rare that God doesn't tell us a next step, whether that is to pray or act.

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  7. 3 Good points of advice. Life is overwhelming some times, asking God for wisdom is the first great step to take. Sometimes He wants us to move and sometimes to be still, but we can know that God will guide us right. "I will go before you and make the crooked places straight."

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  8. Caroline @ In Due TimeMay 3, 2016 at 7:25 PM

    Nothing better than asking the Lord, right? I love how all of your suggestions point back to HIM!

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