Running the Race When We Are Overwhelmed

I’m a bit overwhelmed today.

I invite you to listen in while I preach to myself a little here. You may not have the same reasons for being overwhelmed – after all you have a different set of kids, a different spouse, and different callings – but most certainly you’ll be there at some point. Perhaps God would encourage you through my meager words.

I am finding myself simply spent. There is the hustle and bustle of school-aged children, the never-a-moment-off reality of caring for a 1 year old, the demands of producing a 5-day-a-week podcast, the nagging feeling that I am not writing for this blog enough, the youth group at church, the library at church, the upcoming women’s conference at church, the stress when I fail to make good on my commitments, the needs of my four young children, the house, the cooking, the laundry, the yard, the stuff that is broken, my husband’s travel schedule, and so on and so on. Gassed. Burned out. Overwhelmed.

My husband is in the same spot. Usually, one of us is down and the other up so we can help each other, but we both keep giving each other these wild eyed looks like we are whitewater rafting and realize there is a waterfall ahead of us!

Beyond Self-Care

I’m not trying to complain, but to show you where I am coming from. What do we do in these moments? Everyone experiences seasons like these. Mothers, in particular, seem to struggle because there is really no escape from the demands and responsibilities of motherhood. The respite is about 18 years down the road.

The world sure seems to have a lot to say on the topic – just take care of yourself, you are enough, go on a vacation, treat yo self, take on less responsibility, etc. But we, who have tasted of the Living Water (John 7:38), who experience the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) , who have an imperishable Hope kept for us (1 Peter 1:3-4), can’t we do a little better than “self care”? I think so!

Motor Capacity

We all have a different “motor capacity”.

What we are able to do varies greatly and it doesn’t come down to smarts or willpower. It comes down to grace. His Grace is sufficient and his mercies are new every morning. (2 Corinthians 12:9 and Lamentations 3:21-24)

I remember a similar feeling of being overwhelmed, 8 years ago, when I was a stay at home mom with ONE baby! I laugh a little now, because that sounds like a walk in the park, but the truth is that each day we are given mercies and grace sufficient for whatever the Lord has put in our path that day. No more and no less. So, if the Lord puts one baby in your lap you’ll have what you need to care for that one baby – no more and no less. If the Lord gives you a “Cheaper by the Dozen” situation then he will also give you what is needed for that situation!

God grows our capacity when we are overwhelmed!

What a mercy that my toddler isn’t expected to handle the demands of my adult life! God is so good. He doesn’t call us to do things that he doesn’t also give us the capacity to do! As he grows us, he expands our horizons and strengthens us – making us more like Jesus. When we surrender to his will he will use us for his purposes – the good works that he prepared before hand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). We were made to do things! Often hard things. What a privilege to be invited and expected to work for the King. To put to use the talents we’ve been given, to make the most of these fleeting moments, and to develop in our capacity to serve him!

Just like being sore after a hard workout, exercising various spiritual muscles can leave us feeling a bit fatigued. That shouldn’t surprise us – next time you feel wrecked by the day remember that you are being strengthened and grown by the Lord through all those demands and hard tasks. All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purposes. (Romans 8:28) “All things” certainly includes your mile long to-do list and your tired eyes.

Faith in the Overwhelm

We must have faith when we are overwhelmed and exhausted. Is God not on his throne? (Daniel 7:9) Is He not intimately involved in the moments of the day from the broken coffee grinder and spilled apple juice to the toddler’s “dead worm” crisis and the bed-time fiasco? (Lamentations 3:37-38) The One who spoke time into existence (Genesis 1:14) can surely manage yours. It is no challenge for the God who gave Samson his strength and Solomon his wisdom to give you what is needed for today.

We must fall on Him in faith, trusting him with our moments, our task lists, our parenting dilemmas, our messes, our hurts, our sleep, and everything in between. (1 Peter 5:6-7) Casting our cares isn’t something we check off our list. It is a posture. We should go through life continually casting our cares on Him, constantly acknowledging that we depend on him for the very air in our lungs. We are not “enough”, we are more like jars of clay that get filled, but He is the fountain of life that does not run dry. (Psalm 36:7-9)

Practical Help When We Are Overwhelmed

As Christians we ought to embrace some discomfort.

After all, we are called to be living sacrifices! Remember that this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory! (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) That suffering produces character and ultimately hope. (Romans 5:3-5) That we live in a fallen world full of pain and thorns and thistles but there is an unfading and imperishable inheritance being kept for us in heaven and He, who began a good work in us, will carry it to completion at the day of Christ!

Find joy in the reality that you are Not God!

You can not do all the things. You will fail! We all get sleepy. All those realities of humanity remind us that we are Not God and cause us to look To God – what a blessing! What joy that the burdens of deity do not rest on my shoulders! (Isaiah 45:5)

Cast your cares on Him because he cares for you!

He cares about your to-do list, so lay it before him. Ask him to show you what needs to be done first! Then, ask him for help to do it in a way that brings him glory.

Do the next right thing.

I don’t love Disney – but even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and again. Anna in Frozen 2 was on to something when she sang “do the next right thing”. That is often the sum of our calling. What has God put next for you? Do that. Don’t look at the mountain, look at the next step. You’ll be overwhelmed by the mountain, but the next step is manageable. And remember that you are upheld by his right hand so while you might stumble you won’t fall headlong. (Psalm 37:23-24)

Rest to move beyond being overwhelmed.

You might not have time to take a vacation (or even put your feet up) but you can still rest! Rest in the reality that ALL of your work is in grateful obedience and NONE of it is needed to earn salvation. Jesus has finished that work for you so you can rest. (Hebrews 4:9-11) Ultimately, nothing really depends on you. You get to parent your children, you get to change another diaper. You get to plan a youth camping trip for church. But all of it is dependent on the Lord, all of it is in his hands! Unless He builds it you labor in vain after all. (Psalm 127:1) You are more like a four year old helping your dad build a shed. The success of the shed is not dependent at all on the four year old!

Remember Sabbath – this is a more tangible and practical way to rest. Step out in faith that God has and will provide for you and cease working for one day! While you might think that the work will simply pile up, my experience is that stepping aside to focus on Christ’s finished work helps me to return to my work less overwhelmed.

Conclusion

Yes, there are seasons in life where it seems we’ve been tasked with the impossible. Where we don’t have the energy, time, wisdom, or strength to do what we think we need to do. But God. We can look to him in those moments and find joy in our dependence on him. Run the race set before you looking to Christ, the author and finisher of your faith. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Share this article with someone you know who seems overwhelmed. Let them feel the love.