Recently, I’ve talked with many who feel overwhelmed either by life circumstances, the busyness of life, or their own health.
Maybe that’s you. You feel weary and undone. You wonder if you’re making progress because nothing in your world is changing and you’re tired. Perhaps you’re overwhelmed by an illness and you can’t seem to figure out how to feel better. The bottom line is you’re worn out and desperate to hear from God.
Don’t panic. Many who have gone before you have been overwhelmed.
St. John of the Cross talked about the dark night of the soul.
Mother Teresa felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the task God had called her to do.
Elizabeth Elliott felt overwhelmed when she moved back to the jungle with her little daughter after her husband Jim died.
I’m pretty sure the disciples felt overwhelmed when Jesus told them He was leaving them and they were to take the gospel to all the nations.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
I’ve been meditating on these verses all week. As I’ve been praying them out loud I feel like I need to remind you to remember three things when you feel forgotten, overwhelmed, or just plain old exhausted.
Remember…
The Lord has infinite wisdom and understanding. He is the Everlasting God who sees the beginning from the end. He understands what you are feeling even when you don’t. He continually offers compassion. He doesn’t shame you for feeling overwhelmed and He is always working on your behalf. He has gone before you and He is answering your prayers even if the answer doesn’t show up for several years.
When we feel overwhelmed, we need to pause, breathe, and then remember that the God we serve is the everlasting God with infinite wisdom. He goes before us to make the crooked places straight.
The Lord doesn’t grow tired or weary. We definitely grow tired and weary. But He does not. As a result, God is always intimately aware of what’s going on in our worlds and in our hearts. When you feel overwhelmed, pause and pray. He’s listening. Praying allows us to process our feelings with the One who is the Wonderful Counselor. As we pray, the Holy Spirit strengthens our hearts to continue.
The Lord promises to give strength to those who put their hope in Him. As we direct our hearts to hope in the Lord, He will strengthen us to do the thing that He has called us to do. Often when we look at the size of the task ahead, we feel overwhelmed. However, the size of the task is not measured against our abilities, but rather against His. The Holy Spirit will empower us to do what He calls us to do. You can trust Him.
The next time you feel overwhelmed, pause and take a deep breath. Read these verses in Isaiah 40 out loud. Remind yourself that the Lord has infinite wisdom and understanding, He never grows tired or weary, and He promises to give strength when we focus our hope on Him.
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