OVERCOMING THE OVERWHELMING

We tend to find ourselves overthrown and overwhelmed by the problems in life that consume more time and energy than we have. Even the easiest of obstacles can seem insurmountable. We say “yes,” when we should say, “no.” We feel ill-equipped for the tasks at hand and fear of failure can get the best of us. Anxiety rises to the occasion and we’re overwhelmed and overcome to the point that we’re just not sure where our next breath is coming from.

Something has to change to overcome the overwhelming circumstances of our lives. We can learn from pastor and author John Ortberg who asked spiritual philosopher Dallas Willard how to be “spiritually healthy.” Finding himself run ragged, as we all do, something had to give. The answer was not what Ortberg expected: “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” John Ortberg noted that advice, and assuming there must be something more, he asked Dallas Willard what was next in overcoming the overwhelming. Dallas’s reply was, “There is nothing else.” Taking it in, Ortberg concluded that his hurried schedule was the culprit of his being overwhelmed—our situations are no different. We daily find our schedules overfilled and we’re empty. Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung put it this way, “hurry is not of the devil. It is the devil.” And God’s advice to that conclusion is this: “Resist the devil, and he will run away from you” (James 4:7 ISV). We can’t allow ourselves to be anxious. God’s told us not to:

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 ESV).

And there lies the command that yields a promise we desperately need … peace. If we’ll pray about everything, give thanks through anything, ask for God’s help, without worrying and trusting in Him completely, we’ll get peace:

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 ESV).

Don’t miss out on God’s peace--it’s the key to overcoming the overwhelming. Seek God and His will in everything you do and say. He’ll tell you when to say “yes,” assure you when you need to say “no,” and help you with every step of faith He asks you to take. Pray that God will help you to “ruthlessly eliminate” the responsibilities and relationships that aren’t a part of His plan for your life and you’ll find yourself overcome with peace instead of the overwhelming.