I’m Overwhelmed

I wish I was up to my neck in the crazy busyness of life.

Because that would be a reprieve. A respite.

Truthfully right now I feel absolutely and completely overwhelmed. I’m a human pinball bouncing around and simply reacting from moment to moment. I don’t have time to think, process, or even plan. I’m just hoping to hang on until this season passes.

I’m a husband, a special needs dad, a ministry leader, a boss, an advocate, a fundraiser, a son, a writer, a speaker, and a volunteer. In my spare time I am battling some serious and time-consuming personal health issues involving doctors, therapies, treatments, and tests.

Later this month my son with profound special needs turns 18 which involves conservatorship, court, and legal documents.

If stress were a jackpot, my life would be all cherries at the moment. My responsibilities are stacked up and my emotions are jacked up.

Torn, worn, weary, and overwhelmed.

You too huh?

Just when you think your life cannot get more hectic and more unbalanced, it does.

As Norm from the old TV show Cheers once said, “It’s a dog-eat-dog world and I’m wearing milk-bone underwear.”

In John 16:33 Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but remember, I have overcome the world.” I get so wrapped up and consumed in fighting the trouble, that I forget the promise of the last half of the verse.

In desperation I find myself collapsing in my bed and proclaiming, “God I am overwhelmed!”

And in the quiet and stillness of the brief moment, I sense His Spirit convicting me of the real problem.

The real problem is that I’m not overwhelmed enough.

I’m not overwhelmed by God’s grace. I’m not overwhelmed by his promises. I’m not overwhelmed by his presence. I’m not overwhelmed by his assurances of provision. I’m not overwhelmed by his love. I’m not overwhelmed by his commitment to me.

I am absolutely overwhelmed with all the wrong things. I’m overwhelmed by the difficulties and challenges of this world. I’m overwhelmed by the struggles of living in a fallen world. I’m overwhelmed by stress and anxiousness.

But I’m not overwhelmed enough by the bigness of God.

God is bigger than any giant in my life, and in your life. And if we were simply overwhelmed by that notion, then the giants in our life would seem so much smaller.

Our giants would appear as if they were ants.

“Come to me all of you who are tired and weary, and I will give you rest,” Jesus says.
“Greater is He who is in you than anything in this world,” the scriptures promise us.

When we find ourselves just trying to keep our heads above the water, we need to let our awe and worship of God overwhelm us again.

We need to remember the last part of John 16:33 when Jesus declares “I have overcome the world.”

We aren’t overwhelmed enough. We need to remind ourselves that the tomb is still empty and He still rolls stones away in our lives.

Whether we are in a doctor’s office, the school pick-up line, our job, or our home – we need to declare wherever we are to be holy ground, take off our shoes, stare at our own burning bush and remember the God who said “I AM WHO I AM.”

We will get through this. Not because of our own strength, and not because of who we are. But because of his might, who He is, and what He did for you and me.
Let Him overwhelm you today. Let Him wrap His arm around you and soak in His presence today. Allow yourself to be overwhelmed.

(*I posted this originally at ComfortInTheMidstOfChaos.com)