Each and every day there are so many things that come our way, feelings we have to deal with, news we weren’t expecting, situations that cause disruptions in our lives, etc. Amongst all of this it is easy to get lost, to become buried. Sometimes it all brings you to the place of being overwhelmed.
No one ever desires to be overwhelmed, they don’t want to feel unable to keep up with to do lists, activities or responsibilities. Yet, all too often we get to this place, where nothing can be balanced, it’s all topsy, turvy stacked just hanging on until another bump in the road when it will call come crashing down.
When we reach the point of being overwhelmed, we often wonder how we got there. What decision(s) led us to this state of constant pressure and no rest? How did we let it get so far…so out of control?
When exhaustion begins to set in we begin to think, how can I get control of all of this? What do I need to do to handle it all?
The answers to these questions don’t always come easy and they aren’t always the ones we want or expect. Sometimes they come hard, sudden and break your heart because the very answer to you gaining control means letting go of something very dear to you. Other times the answers are plain, simple and right in front of you.
The hardest part has yet to come. See those of us that find ourselves overwhelmed (especially if we’ve gotten to this place more than once), it’s often due to our inability to say no. We just can’t do it. Someone needs help with a task, a ministry needs a new leader, or a great new idea requires carrying out.
It is not always just our inability to say no that causes us to be overwhelmed, life happens and hard times come when we’re struggling to tread water. It is during those deep water moments that we must hold onto our Rock, God who keeps us safe, who holds us up when we feel overwhelmed.
The hardest part of climbing out of being overwhelmed is the letting go. Letting go of hopes, dreams and things special to you. Loosening the grip because you know that you’re not going to be able to tread water forever, at some point your legs will give out. It is in the letting go that we see hope. Hope that we can truly live again without fear of drowning. Sometimes getting to the sight of hope brings some pain and sorrow because hearts are fragile and things we hold onto become part of our hearts. Yet, through it all that glimmer of hope remains. Hope that we can gain control and spend time with out families just resting in the gift of the moment with them.
Being overwhelmed doesn’t have to be your way of life forever. It is our responsibility to learn to say no, to think of how something will affect our family before we take it on, to pray and seek God’s will and direction in regards to any changes we’re considering. We must remember that just because an opportunity comes our ways doesn’t mean God desires us to do it. We must learn to be discerning in all things. That is they key to not becoming overwhelmed….discernment. Learning when to say no and how to let go.
The choices are yours. Freedom can be too. The question is will you begin and follow through with the processes of letting go and learning to say no?
