Two days ago, I was chatting with a precious young friend online. I actually message her daily. She is like a little sister to me. She is the sounding-board for each devotional I have written this year. She provides encouragement and feedback, and her life and family bless me more than they will ever know. I cannot thank the Lord enough for inviting her into my life thirteen years ago. During the course of our conversation, I mentioned that Christmas, at that moment, was only 4 days away. She admitted in her response that its closeness scared her a little. With five children at home, a very active household, and all that still needed to be accomplished, it can appear overwhelming. It is possible that many of us feel overcome by all that still needs to be completed in less than 48 hours before Christmas Day.
The feeling of being overwhelmed is one of being submerged by thoughts or feelings that paralyze us. These can speak and consume us so fully that we lack productivity, unable to do anything and incapable of finding rest. The perceived demands around us seem stronger, our emotions heavier and our need bigger than our ability to process and provide.
As we struggle to control the uncontrollable, fear, anger, impatience and discouragement are the fruit of our feelings, pushing us to give up and quit. Life is just too much. Everyone is trying to take a piece from us and our hearts and souls cannot find the peace we long to experience as we are pulled in every direction.
Sometimes we are overwhelmed because of choices we have made. In an effort to do all and be all, we have said 'yes' to far too many commitments. Each one sounded marvelous at the time of invitation, and there is no denying we would truly love to attend every gathering, go to every concert, extend hospitality to every friend, but as the expectations and pressures arise, like lava in a volcano waiting to release, it is impossible to contain and control an overflowing schedule. Individually each request extended is great. Collectively they overburden.
Other times, to no fault of our own, circumstances and situations have arisen, piling one on top of the next. Like building a tower with children's blocks, we know there will be a final placement, that one "brick" that topples everything and finds us down on the ground fighting to get back up.
Here is the beautiful promise of hope when life is crashing around us and within us, when our hearts feel they are holding more than we are able, "When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn." Our confidence comes in knowing that God knows the path to take. Does that speak rest to your heart? It should. When the weight of daily living is threatening to smother us, God knows the way out.
When we are living on the edge of overwhelm, we must rest our hearts in the Lord. David writes how God is the only One who knows the way for us to proceed. But here's the incredible truth. He not only guides our steps, but also orders our stops. Have we considered that a cancelled event, inclement weather that forces us to remain home, or some other detour or delay is the gift that creates margin for our racing souls when we feel at the end of our rope? It is at this very place, the end of ourselves, unable to give, go do, that God directs us as He fills us with Himself. Today may He quiet and calm our hearts as we find rest in Him.
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