Feeling Overwhelmed?
One of the things I was not expecting as we start to emerge from coronavirus was the feeling of going from a calendar that was quite empty to a calendar that looks like a child with a box of crayons was playing with it. Not only are there so many things going on, but all those things have to be thought through in a different way to make sure they are done safely and efficiently. It’s all a bit overwhelming to think through it all and schedule the time to prepare for everything, especially when things seemed so much slower (although, really, they weren’t–they were just different) not all that long ago!
Maybe for you, the overwhelming stuff is personal. Maybe you are going through a difficult period of parenting. Maybe your marriage is shaky and the stress and emotions are more than you feel you can bear. Maybe finances are tight and you really are not sure how much money there will be to pay bills this month.
Anyone who has lived life for very long knows the feeling of being overwhelmed. Call it stressed or pushed to the limits or anything else you want, but we know what it is like when our emotions are frayed and we are not sure our mind can absorb anything else.
May I give just a few helpful suggestions for those times when you feel this way? These suggestions are meant to be generic; in other words, they are meant to be helpful in any type of situation you find overwhelming.
- Get Alone with God and Pour Out Your Heart. Yes, he already knows, but being open and honest with your heavenly Father frees up your mind because you rely on His trustworthy nature. Even Jesus, before the overwhelming task of selecting the apostles, spent all night in prayer.
- Stay Physically Healthy. When we are overwhelmed, we are often tempted to do things that will only add more stress because they are unhealthy. We “stress eat” or lose many hours of sleep or maybe even take to drinking. Eating better and doing our best to rest are huge in helping overcome those times of stress.
- Specifically, Rest. This is more than just a physical help, it also gives your mind a chance to recover. And, we all know that, when we are rested, we think more clearly and see things from a proper perspective.
- Don’t Exaggerate the Problem. I’m not saying that you should understate it, either. But sometimes, when we are stressed, we start to exaggerate the problem in our mind–or even to others. Doing so, though, only adds more stress because, now, we have a bigger situation on our mind, even if it is only one we have made up in our mind.
- Seek Help. Let a trusted friend know that you are stressed. Ask someone to take a task off your hands (or, at least, to help you complete something). Read a helpful book or listen to a helpful podcast that gives you tips that will guide you through. Go to counseling or talk with your preacher for guidance.
As I said, these are generic, but they may also sound somewhat familiar. Why? Because these are the exact things the Lord Himself told Elijah to do when that great prophet was overwhelmed and fearful (1 Kings 19). These are divine suggestions for those times in life when we have too much on our plate.
So, they don’t come from me; they come from God Himself. That being true, don’t you think they might help you?
