Tag: tomorrow

Whelmed

I am looking around at the situations of my loved ones and they are whelming and overwhelming. And, incidentally, they mean about the same thing — engulfed, buried, submerged.

The feeling of overwhelm is real. Even our circumstances can be so much it can sink us into inaction — a state of “I have no idea what to do” or reaction — a perpetual state of “Hurry! How can I fix this?”

Maybe you are in a good place at the moment. The sea of life is relatively calm and you are plugging away on your projects. That is certainly something to be thankful for!

Some days, if I consider the stresses of the ones I love and I look at the list I have set up for myself and I can get stuck in a place where I cannot do much. It is important for me to consider what is really necessary. Sometimes I can get myself moving with a “Can I just ___________________ ” (I fill in the blank with a small, easy project that gets me up and doing something).

But, my first course of action is to acknowledge my feelings and give them over to God. He sees and knows where I am emotionally, physically, and spiritually and He wants me to take a moment to see and know it, too. I am not meant to carry all these things that burden my heart. It is important to recognize them and do the thing I can do —

And then I look at what is on “the list” and I get started by going through it. There will always be more for tomorrow. The goal is not to beat myself up for what does not get done. I am such an over planner anyway. My lists are ambitious. I enjoy creating! But sometimes my heart is burden with the situations of the ones I love. Intercession is serious business, especially for someone who feels for others so strongly.

My overwhelm reminds me that I may have forgotten the first and most important task for the day — intercession for those who are on my heart.

Are you feeling overwhelmed today? You may find that sharing the burden with Jesus and interceding for the circumstance gives you some space and perspective. Acknowledging my feelings about difficult situations helps me relax a bit and, after a time, consider some helpful next steps. My next moves aren’t necessarily solutions, but they are ways I can extend care and love to others.

What Are You Waiting For?

Are you living with dread for the coming days?

The next doctor’s appointment. The next review from your boss. The next episode in your family. The next rejection from a job. The next piece of disappointing news. The next roadblock.

Or are you living with anticipation for what God is doing?

God’s next provision, transformation, redemption. God’s perfect timing. God’s healing. God’s promise to work all things for the good of those who love him.

If we knew everything that was awaiting us, I don’t think it would be good. We think we want to know but I don’t know that we would be all that happy about knowing the future. Sometimes knowing something is going to happen is mesmerizing, debilitating, and paralyzing even if it is a good thing. While impending doom motivates some people to prepare it grips others with such fear they cannot think through to plod ahead and do the next thing. God knows having too much information too early on most items is distracting to the present.

Be careful that you are not so focused on what you are waiting for that you don’t breathe in and celebrate your today. The provision, the gifts, the beauty, and the aromas are sometimes here for just a moment.

Who holds your year in His hands? Who has the ability to work all things out for good? Who has led you where you are today?

Today. It is what we know and what we have. Don’t spend all your days wrapped up in tomorrows that may never be.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [Romans 8:28 NIV]