Overwhelmed
Greetings. Sorry, I missed the last two weeks, but I have been overwhelmed with so MANY things, hurting people, and problems the past month. Not only did I lack time, but inspiration as well. As I thought about my sermon for this week, being overwhelmed came to mind. I am thinking about my friends and family who are overwhelmed with tasks, grief, work, problems, and life situations. It IS ALL so OVERWHELMING!
The dictionary says overwhelmed means “buried or drowning beneath a great mass,” but what does that actually mean? It can be physical, emotional, or situational. The 29th Anniversary of the Khobar Towers Terrorist Bombing was on June 25th. SO MANY people were overwhelmed (drowning) in grief, regrets (survivors’ guilt), and reliving the horrible event. They needed comfort, and I did my best to provide that, all the while dealing with my own grief over that horrible situation.
I also have two wonderful friends who I consider God given sisters who both lost their husbands recently, plus our house was hit by lightning, and there were many expensive repairs that had to be done quickly. Add that to tens of thousands of dollars in maintenance we were just finishing as the storm hit, working on the greenhouse planters AND getting ready to travel to Arizona to close on a house in escrow and I can truly say I have been physically, mentally, and situationally overwhelmed.
Being mentally overwhelmed can come from many situations. Losing a spouse, parent, child, sibling, etc. Death and the ensuing grief can definitely completely overwhelm us, and make us feel buried under a myriad of tasks and the pain of loss/grief. Even the loss of a pet can cause as much grief as losing a person. Having too much to think about, prioritize, and organize can cause one to be so overwhelmed that the mind starts becoming befuddled and confused.
Dealing with a spouse or family member who is aging and/or ill and can no longer perform or remember the way they used to is extremely emotionally overwhelming to themselves, their family, friends, and spouse. Suddenly finding yourself a caregiver in addition to your other responsibilities is another frequent cause of that “drowning” feeling. Being emotionally overwhelmed can cause many problems in our lives, making us emotionally numb and unresponsive to things that need to get done.
Being physically overwhelmed is often in conjunction with, or follows, being emotionally overwhelmed. As our body reacts to being overwhelmed, our adrenals become drained, causing extreme fatigue, irritability, and sometimes total collapse. Often, if you have too many tasks, problems, or “pulls” on your time and emotions at one time, you become too tired to do anything. The longer the above situations last, the more fatigued and beaten down you become. Soon, even a task such as dishes or laundry can feel impossible to accomplish, and we begin to feel upset and demoralized.
Being situationally overwhelmed is mentioned as a cause of becoming mentally and physically “paralyzed,” unable to do what is usually easy. As I mentioned above, in addition to my normal life tasks, I have an Arizona house in escrow, improvement projects here in Texas, and repairs required due to lightning damage, all going on while I am trying to run my church, support my military friends, and do my normal tasks at home. A car accident, an unexpected illness or injury, among many other things, can create a situation that makes you feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with life.
So what does the Bible say about being overwhelmed? First and foremost, LEAN on GOD!
Matthew 11:28 - Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Jeremiah 31:25 – “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
God says He will RESTORE you:
Psalm 23:3-4 – “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Turn to God in your weakest and darkest hours:
Psalm 61:1-4 – “O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter!”
Turn your thoughts and PRAYERS to God and the Scriptures, asking for the peace He promises:
John 14:27 - “I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Psalm 55:22 – “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 50:15 – “and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Remember, God is with you and wants to help you!
Isaiah 41:13 – “For I hold you by your right hand–I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”
Romans 15:4-5 – “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.”
God asks us to trust Him, lean on Him, and look to Him when we are overwhelmed. No matter the cause, He has provided scripture to edify (strengthen) you and soothe your aching body, mind, and soul. Depending on people to help you effectively when you are distraught and feeling crushed is ineffective. People can certainly bring us food, send us flowers, give hugs and encouraging words, but you will find THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.
When your soul aches, turn to the only Person who can truly give comfort, and that is God through your Holy Spirit. Listen for His Words and promptings. Remember Psalm 30:5 part two: “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” This does not mean a literal night, but if you focus on the comfort God provides, eventually your emotional, physical, or situational condition will ease and you will be comforted by God’s soothing Words and His love.
People are wonderful to have close to you when you are feeling overwhelmed, but often their words of comfort hurt more than help. When you are feeling overwhelmed for whatever reason, accept the gifts that people are willing to give, but DEPEND on God for your comfort, healing, and trust Him to return joy to your life. Amen.
PS Writing this sermon has reminded me how to become refreshed in the middle of my chaos! 😊
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