Overwhelmed

Have you ever been driving along only to look down and see a warning light glaring at you? I know when it has happened to me, my first thought is “not now,” but warning lights are there for a very good reason – to let us know that, if we continue on without taking action, problems will likely ensue. Thankfully, God gives us warning signs in our lives as well, and the feeling of being overwhelmed is one such sign.

I have personally being feeling overwhelmed lately in caring for my teenagers. Thinking through the challenges they face, the decisions they have to make, and the heartbreak they will certainly feel as they make their way through these next few years is enough to bring any mother to her knees. I worry about the friends they choose, the situations they find themselves in, and even the effects of my poor parenting decisions. I wonder if they will stick to their convictions when faced with temptation, if they’ll make it in this world without all of my reminders and nagging, and if they’ll ever have clean clothes when I’m not around (please tell me I’m not the only one that worries over this). I fret over their relationship with the Lord, if they will always draw near to him, and if they will allow their lives to be used for His glory. And at the exact same time these overwhelming feelings take over, I realize how grateful I am to be blessed with the opportunity to be a parent to two great (not perfect) kids. And as much worry as they may bring to my life, they bring even more joy.

I often struggle with that same overwhelming feeling in other areas of my life as well. Whether it’s work deadlines, volunteer obligations, balancing finances, working to stay healthy, or catching up on never ending laundry piles (again – clean clothes!), sometimes the strong urge to throw my hands in the air rises to the surface. And yet, all these areas of my life bring me such joy at times (maybe not the laundry) and I’m truly grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given.

So it is possible to be grateful and overwhelmed at the same time but there is something far better than being overwhelmed. It is perfect peace. And it only comes by trusting in the Lord.

Psalm 61:2 tells us “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Christ is the rock in our lives. He’s never changing, always faithful, and He cares about our overwhelmed hearts. He calls to us to lay our burdens at His feet through prayer and to place our trust fully in His capable hands to lead and guide our lives as children of God.

Just like our vehicles are equipped to warn us when they need servicing, these overwhelming feelings may very well be our warnings to spend more time with our Savior, to read His word and follow His direction, to pray and share our concerns, and to fully trust in Him and allow His perfect peace to reign in our hearts.