When You Feel Overwhelmed
Mother’s Day 2022
I want to start off today’s conversation, ‘When You Feel Overwhelmed,’ with some words to a song that David sang to the Lord after He had delivered David from all of his enemies including from the hand of Saul.
We find it in 2 Samuel 22 (Psalm 18)
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me.
“I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. “In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. – 2 Samuel 22:2-7
Prayer
NOW – we are currently in a series on The Gospel of Matthew… specifically unpacking the 8 beatitudes that are the intro to the Sermon on the Mount, His radical counter culture manifesto of what life in His kingdom is all about, but we are going to jump out of this series and ask Jesus’ mom (Mary) to give us some advice on what we need to do whenever we are feeling overwhelmed.
Those times when like David it feels like: the waves of death and the torrents of destruction and distress are swirling around us… Those times when we are overwhelmed and we need a place of refuge, a rock and stronghold we can cling.
QUESTION – anyone feeling a little overwhelmed this morning?
NOW - a lot of things can overwhelm us. Grief, guilt, grudges, worry can overwhelm us, responsibilities, circumstances…
AGAIN – today Mother’s Day 2022 we want to invite Jesus’ mom (Mary) into our conversation to share what she learned 2000 years about what to do when you are feeling overwhelmed.
QUESTION – moms have you ever found being a mom to be at times a little bit overwhelming?
AND LISTEN – though this conversation was birthed with the hope of encouraging moms… It is also my hope this morning that our conversation will bring a little hope and encouragement to anyone in this room, watching online, or standing on this platform who is just feeling overwhelmed this morning…
OKAY – let’s do this… Luke 1:26
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! – Luke 1:26-30
UNDERSTAND – at the time Mary was probably around 13 or 14 years old.. a Middle School aged girl.
LIKE – an 8th grader or a Freshman in HS.
SO – the angel Gabriel shows up one day to this young teenage girl and tells her…
• That she is highly favored by God
• That God is going to bless her life
And the blessing, ‘Mary even though you are not married, and have never been with a man, you are going to become pregnant… and the baby inside of you will be… will be God.
QUESTION - how would you react to that kind of news?
LIKE – if you were Mary would you be feeling a little overwhelmed?
OKAY – I’m not too sure I am liking this ‘God’s favor’ is on me thing. YEAH – Mary is probably thinking…
• How in the world am I going to explain this one?
• LIKE - who in the world is going to believe me?”
• She’s thinking, “How do I say this: ‘Hey, Joseph, guess what? I’m pregnant, but it’s not what you think.’”
• NO - I don’t think she was too excited about that.
• “How can I tell this to my parents?
• Mom, Dad… I’m pregnant but the father is God.”
Right, honey!
YEAH – talk about being overwhelmed.
• What am I going to do.
• Joseph is going to be so hurt, so angry and probably leave me.
• My parents are going to doubt me and maybe disown me for bringing shame to our family
• The community is going to disgrace me.
• My reputation is shot.
• Seriously, could it get any worse? God favor on me…
AGAIN - she’s just a young teenage girl… Middle School aged. The Bible says she is confused and disturbed. In other words, she is overwhelmed with fear. I MEAN…
There’s the fear of criticism.
What’s everybody going to think?
There’s the fear of the unknown.
Exactly how is this going to happen?
And what’s going to happen inside of my body?
There’s the fear of inadequacy.
I’m going to be the mother of the Son of God?
No way, I am not up for this, have you see my resume?
AND - there’s the fear of change.
I know that my life is never going to be the same again?
Mary is overwhelmed with fear... Fear of:
criticism, the unknown, inadequacy, and of change.
QUESTION… … - ever been there? are you there now?
MGCC… B/S - what do we need to do when we’re feeling overwhelmed?
ANSWER - we need to do the three things that Mary did.
AND UNDERSTAND – it doesn’t matter whether we are feeling overwhelmed, because of…
Debt, stress, fatigue, responsibilities, relationship issues, fear, doubt, change, the unknown, criticism… or inadequacy
WE NEED – to do the same three things that Jesus’ mom did 2000 years ago when she was feeling overwhelmed.
THREE THINGS BTW – that are usually the exact opposite of what you feel like doing.
OKAY MGCC – are you ready? Let’s do this
When you are feeling overwhelmed, the first thing you need to do is what Mary, did…
I. Let go of your need to control the situation.
QUESTION – are there any situations in your life right now, that you wish were different?
SITUATIONS – that are ‘out of your control’…
BUT YET – you still want to be able to control the outcome?
NOW - typically the more out of control we feel, the more overwhelmed we feel, AND - the more we redouble our efforts to regain control. LIKE - we hyper control.
I MEAN - we use force, we use willpower, we map out various strategies and action plans…
YEAH – we will do just about anything in our attempt to regain control and make things work out the way that we want.
UNDERSTAND B/S - so much of the stress in our lives, in your life and in mine… Is caused by this desire we have to control uncontrollable.
BUT LISTEN – here’s the deal… The harder you try to control the things that are uncontrollable in your life, the more overwhelmed you will feel.
AND LISTEN – the truth is that a lot of things in our lives will always be out of our control.
And especially how other people behave, act and respond.
AND ON TOP OF THAT – it is pretty clear from Scripture (and from life) that God often keeps His people in the realm of uncertainty.
• Abraham leaving his homeland
•
•
QUESTION – and why does God intentionally not tell us certain things about life?
UNDERSTAND – it is not because He just loves to keep us in the dark.. YOU KNOW – like, he enjoys watching us stumble around and fall.
LISTEN – God often keeps us in the realm of uncertainty…
SO THAT – we will rely and depend on Him.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. – 2 Corinthians 2:8-10
BOTTOM LINE – there will be times in our lives when we find ourselves in situations, that we cannot figure out and that we cannot control.
TIMES - times when even though we know that…
we are at ‘A’ and, we to go to ‘B’ we are totally clueless on how to get there,… and we just feel so overwhelmed.
OKAY – here’s the deal… and listen some of you in this room or watching online really need to hear this…
LIKE – I certainly do.
Whenever you are overwhelmed by something that is out of your control, stop trying to control it.
BECAUSE – and please lean in church (Steve)
Continually trying to control something that is out of our control will inevitably lead to…
Frustration, discouragement, depression and hopelessness.
AND – believe when I tell you, I know this to be true.
LISTEN – if Jesus’ mom was in this room with us Mother Day 2002… she would look us in the eyes and tell us
Whenever feel overwhelmed… let go of your need to control the situation.
(Fist/Release)
OKAY – back to Mary.
SO – Gabriel gives Mary this crazy and overwhelming news, Mary, because God wants His favor and blessings to rest on you, you’re going to have baby and He is going to be the Son of God, He will sit on David’s throne and His Kingdom will never end. AND – what was Mary’s response.
“But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” – Luke 1:34
AND HEY – isn’t that our typical reaction when we feel overwhelmed. “But how”
NOW IF – you are filling in your notes go ahead and circle those two words… “But How”
“But How…”
• Will I get it all done
• Can I overcome these odds
• Can I turn things around
• Will I be able to: make that payment, solve this problem, restore that relationship, overcome that hurt, survive this crisis…
NOW UNDERSTAND – it is not that Mary is doubting what God had said through the angel Gabriel. LIKE - she didn’t doubt that it was going to happen. She just had no idea (from here her human vantage point) how it could happen.
I MEAN - she didn’t say when Gabriel said, “You’re going to be the mother of the Son of God.” She didn’t say,
“No way, that can’t happen!” Instead, she said, “But How?”
AND MGCC - there’s a huge difference between…
“No way, that can’t happen!” and “But How can it happen?”
AMEN?!
BUT B/S – we must never forgot the we can only see things for a 5 ft perspective, where God sees things from an eternal perspective.
“But How could a virgin have a baby?”
Great question, right?
LIKE - People are still asking that one 2000 years later. “How did that happen?”
NOW – after Mary’s ‘But How’ question…
Gabriel gives Mary ‘some’ details, of how a virgin could become the mother to the Son of God…
BUT LISTEN - the core/bottom-line answer to Mary’s ‘But How…’ Was basically this…. ‘is anything too hard for God?’
For nothing is impossible with God. – Luke 1:37
QUESTION – is there anything too hard for the…
Star-breathing, Ocean-holding, sea-parting, giant-slaying,
life-giving, dead-raising, all powerful, all knowing, all present, always existing, never: tired, weary, confused, overwhelmed… Sovereign King of the Universe?!
OKAY – here’s the deal.
Whenever you are overwhelmed by things that are out of ‘your control’ never forget that there is nothing that is ever out of His control.
AMEN?!
LIKE – do you believe that? Really believe that?
UNDESTAND – 2000 years ago Mary, Jesus’ mom she believed that… and the moment that she did…
She stopped worrying and she started trusting.
How do I know because of what she says next.
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. – Luke 1:38
MGCC – do you hear what Mary is saying?
She is saying…
I may not get it, I may not understand it, I may not know how everything will work,
And I’m not sure I even like it, I hate when things are out of my control…
But I am Your servant, I trust you and whatever You want to happen in may life, however You want things to workout…
That is what I want!
“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
No doubt with a smile on his face.
QUESTION…
Are you feeling overwhelmed this morning?
Like, are you in a situation that you would rather not be in, and desperately want to change…
BUT - it’s, for the most part out of Your control.
I MEAN – like those words ‘But How’ ‘But How’ ‘But How’
Will things get any better, how will things turn around.
Seem to be the echoing louder and louder in your heart, mind and soul with every breath you take.
IF SO – maybe God brought here this morning (May 8th Mother’s Day 2022) for you to both hear and take some advice from an overwhelmed Middle School aged teenage girl,
ABOUT - letting go of your need to control of the situation.
ABOUT – trusting the ‘never out of control God’ and saying,
“Lord I am your servant, may everything happen in my life exactly as You want it to happen!”
YOU KNOW – I am pretty confident that Mary breathed a ‘huge’ sigh of relief after believing and saying those words.
After letting go and trusting God.
OKAY – I want you to picture whatever it is that is overwhelming you, right now, Maybe it’s…
• Work or school,
• the unknown
• It’s a health or relationship crisis
• Your finances or a schedule or demands on you that are simply impossible to meet
• Concerns for a family member or a friend, or for the health and growth of His church
• Feelings of depression or discouragement or hopelessness that you just can’t seem to push through
AGAIN - whatever it is that is overwhelming you…
I want you to think about (and if nothing is overwhelming you, I can guarantee that someone sitting near you does)
… and now I want us to say these 3 words out loud
He’s Got This!!!
A couple of verses and then we will move onto to the second thing that this teenage mom teaches us to do whenever we are feeling overwhelmed…
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5,6
QUESTION…
Who is smarter… you or God?
Who knows what’s best for your life… you or God?
Who always knows the right path to take when you are feeling overwhelmed and things are out of your control…
you or God?
AND – checkout these words by David.
One of my favorite Old Testament bros.
AND LISTEN – what I love the most about this guy, is that the dude is so real, transparent and authentic.
I MEAN – so many of His Psalms, are like reading about his personal struggle to chase after God’s heart in the face of often overwhelming situations… some of his own making.
YEAH – I love the guy… and I can so relate to the him.
Though I am surrounded by troubles, You will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will work out His plans for my life— for Your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me. – Psalm 138:7,8
NOW NOTICE – David does not say,
“The Lord will work out my plans for my life,” or
“The Lord will work out the plans I want for my life.”
NO - it says, “The Lord will work out His plans for my life.”
HEY – I don’t know about you, but I think that it’s pretty cool that God has a plan for my life and for yours, AMEN?!
OKAY – 3 quick facts about God’s plan for your life.
AND MGCC – we need to know these facts, because they will help us stayed grounded when we are feeling overwhelmed.
God’s plan for your life…
Is often bigger than your plan
I MEAN - all Mary and Joseph wanted to do was get married, settle down, put some meat in the crockpot and buy a condo! YOU KNOW - Just have a happy, little comfortable life.
Not a bad plan… HOWEVER – God’s plan was much bigger.
“Mary and Joseph, I want to bless the entire world through you.” YEAH - it was a slightly bigger plan.
UNDERSTAND B/S - we have no idea what God could do through your life if it was totally, completely, absolutely sold out to Him. Not just a part of your life.
But if every fiber of your being belonged to God and if like Mary, you said, “God, whatever You want to happen in my life, however, you want to use it… that is what I want.
AND LISTEN – when you and I have a heart like that look out… because as 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, AGAIN - You have no idea of the powerful ways that God wants to use your life.
The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
– 2 Chronicles 16:9
“The Lord will work out His plans for my life.”
Like your plan is to..
• Just get through that sickness or depression or the loss, or relational struggle… God’s plan is to get you through it, and then to use your testimony to help countless others
• Get the job that will not only pay the bills but help you get ahead, God’ plan and for you to be a light and a witness for Him…
AGAIN - God’s plan is often bigger. That’s kind of cool, right?
God’s plan for your life…
Is often more painful than your plan
(Sorry)
YES - sometimes His plan, is harder. Sometimes it’s difficult.
AND IT’S - often confusing and it doesn’t make sense.
I MEAN - the plan that God had for Mary’s life was more difficult and much harder than the one she had.
Can you imagine the difficulty of facing the gossip that she faced as an unmarried mother who claimed that God was the Father?
NOT TO MENTION – having to make the difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem mere days before giving birth…
NOW – we are not sure if she made that journey on foot or on the back of a donkey (the Gospels do not tell)…
BUT HOWEVER – she got there it was not an easy journey.
AND – I am sure she was thinking… “Come on Lord, why Bethlehem, why can’t I just give birth in my own home on my own bed. Why, God? Why does this have to be so hard?
I’ve surrendered to Your plan. Why does it have to be so hard?”
BUT UNDERSTAND – what Mary did not know was that God was fulfilling a promise He had made thousands of years before (through His prophet Micah) when He had said the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.
LISTEN – here’s the deal…
God was working out His plan in Mary’s life even when probably at the time, all she could see was the difficulty.
UNDERSTAND B/S… nothing in your life is an accident and
there is a purpose behind every problem.
LIKE – whatever is overwhelming you right now, is not a surprise to God.
IN FACT - He knows everything that was going to happen in your life before it ever happens.
Even the bad.
NOW GOD - doesn’t cause the bad. LIKE – there is bad enough in the world already.
But God can and does, take bad and bring good out of it…
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. – Romans 8:28
So God’s plan for your life is
Often bigger and harder than your plan, and 3rd
God’s plan for your life…
Is always better than your plan
AND – notice that I did not say, that His plan is ‘often’ better, but that it is ‘always’ better.
UNDERSTAND - when you cooperate with God’s plan for your life you can relax and you can stop being overwhelmed.
BECAUSE – you know, that…
A)He has a plan, and
B) That His plan is always better.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4
OKAY – so when you are feeling overwhelmed…
STOP – trying to control what you cannot control, and trust God… “He’s got this!” AMEN!
AND - the second thing you need to do when you feel overwhelmed is the second thing Mary did and that is…
II. Let other people help you
AGAIN - this is often the opposite of what we tend to do.
YEAH – sometimes when people get overwhelmed instead of asking other people to help them, THEY…
• start withdrawing and pulling away from relationships
• isolate themselves.
• Say, “leave me alone. I don’t want to be around anybody. Just let me hunker in a bunker.”
• Stop coming to church.
• Start pulling out of their life group.
• Push away family members and friends
BUT UNDERSTAND B/S – whenever you do that, you are backing away from the very thing you need the most, when you are in drowning in the waters of those hard, difficult and overwhelming times… – other people.
AGAIN – back to Mary.
SO – she just received this crazy, insane, mind-blowing and overwhelming news… The angel Gabriel has taken off.
OKAY – so what’s Mary’s next move.
Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
- Luke 1:39-45
NOW - Elizabeth was the cousin of Mary.
But that’s not what important about her.
INSTEAD – what was important, is ‘who’ Elizabeth was.
ONE - she was a very godly woman married to a godly man… Who believed in the power of prayer.
So she could pray for Mary. That was a good thing.
TWO - she was an older woman… And therefore had a lot more life experience to share with Mary.
THIRD - she was also pregnant.
IN FACT - Elizabeth also had a very unique and unexpected pregnancy (though, not nearly as unique as Mary)…
REMEMBER – Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah, had been praying for a child their entire lives and remained childless until they were both very old.
AND THEN – an angel shows up and tells them that their prayers had been answered and they were going to have a son. A son who would prepare the way for the messiah and turn the hearts of fathers back to their children.
SO - not only was Elizabeth wise, older and godly but she was just a little bit further ahead than Mary in the same journey.
LIKE - Mary is newly pregnant, Elizabeth is six months pregnant. SO SHE - can help her younger cousin go through this situation.
AND MGCC - here’s the point, when you’re overwhelmed you need to find an Elizabeth. QUESTION – what is an Elizabeth?
AND LISTEN - here’s what you look for:
FIRST - find someone who is a strong believer, someone who is genuinely chasing after their relationship with Jesus.
SECOND – look for someone who is ‘probably’ a little bit older than you… someone who has had a little bit more of life experience than you’ve had.
THIRD - find someone who’s just a little bit further along than you are. They don’t have to be perfect. In fact, you’ll never find a spiritual partner or mentor who is.
Just find someone whose just a little bit further along than you are… and they can help you out.
MGCC – here’s the deal…
We all need other people in our lives, especially during those times when we are feeling overwhelmed.
The bible says the following in Ecclesiastes 4…
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
MGCC – when you are feeling overwhelmed do what Jesus’ mom did, let other people help you.
AND LISTEN - this is why you need to be a part of a church family, and this is why you need to be in a small group.
UNDERSTAND - it’s not enough to just attend a church and hear some Bible teaching.
You need to get connected to other believers in community.
And let me tell you when to do it:
Do it before the crisis happens.
LIKE - get connected before the inevitable problems that are going to come into your life, hit. LISTEN…
You’re going to have friends and loved ones die.
You’re going to face illnesses.
You’re going to face financial and other kind of crises
SO WHY - not get connected before all that happens so that your support system is already in place?
AMEN!
AND – let me say this…
Christian fellowship, Christian community… is not an option. It is a commanded. Among other things, the Bible says this,
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2
QUESTION…
What is one of the main requirements for someone to help carry your burdens?
They have to know what your burdens are.
QUESTION – do you know what it is called, when you help carry someone’s burdens and they in turn help you carry yours? It’s called…
• Church.
• Living out the second greatest commandment,
• Loving your neighbor as yourself
• Authentic Christian fellowship
• Being real, so that you get can better
• Being honest and transparent about when you are bot okay.
Truth Be Told – Matthew West
Lie number 1 you’re supposed to have it all together
And when they ask how you’re doing just smile and tell them “never better”
Lie number 2 everybody’s life is perfect except yours
So keep your messes and your wounds and your secrets safe with you behind closed doors
Truth be told, The truth is rarely told
I say I’m fine, yeah I’m fine oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine but I’m not, I’m broken
And when it’s out of control I say it’s under control but it’s not, And you know it
I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it
When being honest is the only way to fix it
There’s no failure, no fall
There’s no sin you don’t already know
So let the truth be told
There’s a sign on the door saying “come as you are” but I doubt it
If we lived like it was true every Sunday morning pew would be crowded
But didn’t you say the church should look more like a hospital
A safe place for the sick and the sinner and the scarred and the prodigal, like me
Truth be told, The truth is rarely told
Don’t wait another day. Get connected before the tough times come into your life. Do it now.
There’s a third thing you need to do and that’s what Mary did when you’re overwhelmed. You let go of control, you let other people help you and, YOU…
III. Lean Into God’s Strength
NOW UNDERSTAND B/S – God’s strength is always there, and always available, but you…
• Need to choose to lean into it
• Need to stop acting and living like it all depends on you (because it does not, unless you decide to make that choice)
LISTEN - the reason why this young little thirteen, peasant girl was not blown away by her overwhelming circumstances is because she trusted God’s word and leaned on His promises.
You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said. - Luke 1:45
YEAH - Mary was calm and composed because she believed that God would do what He said, that He would keep His promises to here. AND THAT - gave her strength.
NOW - one of the promises in Scripture that you want to hold on to, whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed is found Isaiah 43…
The one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
- Isaiah 43:1-3
UNDERSTAND - on your own strength…
You may drown, when that food comes.
You may be burned up and consumed when the fire rages
But not in God’s strength.
QUESTION – so where, do we get that kind of strength,
YOU KNOW - the kind of strength Mary had?
ANSWER – we get it by doing the same two things Mary, Jesus mom did 2000.
By praising God for His goodness.
UNDERSTAND B/S - there is enormous power in praise.
LIKE – praising for who He is, for His goodness…
creates a very powerful and palatable energy.
Mary did that.
IN FACT - Luke 1:46-55 the words of a praise song that she sang to the Lord. that Mary drew strength from.
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, - Luke 1:46,47
Magnify (megalyno) – make great, enlarge, esteem highly.
• He took notice of his lowly servant girl,
• The Mighty One… has done great things for me
• He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.
• His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
• He has filled the hungry with good things
• He has kept His promises
LISTEN – when you are feeling overwhelmed I encourage you to take little praise break, JUST…
Try this. It works. LIKE - in the middle of an overwhelming feeling, stop and praise God for His goodness to you.
The other way you find strength when you’re overwhelmed is by…
By being in and treasuring His Word
Mary treasured up all these things in her heart and thought about them often. – Luke 2:19
UNDERSTAND - Mary thought about God’s word.
AND LISTEN – when you read Luke 1 it is obvious that this young lady (long before Gabriel showed up) knew God’s Word. I MEAN – she quotes Scripture extensively in her song.
LIKE - She knew the Bible.
QUESTION - why is it important to read, study, memorize, meditate on the Bible when you’re feeling overwhelmed?
BECAUSE – this book is…
(My recent ‘You Got It’ example)
AND - this book not only encourages and gives you strength, but it also helps you to sort out what’s really important in life.
UNDERSTAND – many times the reason we get overwhelmed in life is because we treat everything we have to do as of equal importance, and it is not.
SO - you’ve got a list of things you’ve got to do and some of them are very important, and some are not all that important, LIKE…
Live for God; love you family and friends; expand His Kingdom… and
Buy some shaving cream; make the deal; Clean the house.
UNDERSTAND - those are not of equal importance.
YOU SEE - what happens is when you look at all that you have to do you start thinking “I'm overwhelmed.”
HOWEVER - there are only a few things in life that really have to be done. Most of what we do isn’t going to matter even a week from now much less an eternity.
SO - knowing the Bible helps clarify your values, solidify your priorities, discover what’s really important, which makes life simpler.
(Martha you are…)
UNDERSTAND - these two practices that I’ve just mention – Praising God for His goodness, and being in God’s word – are guaranteed to help you to lean into His strength when you are feeling overwhelmed.
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, He enables me to tread upon the heights.
- Habakkuk 3:17-19
NOW – I am sure that there may be one or two people in this room or watching online who are feeling overwhelmed.
You may be overwhelmed by fatigue – you’re really tired. You may be overwhelmed by loneliness and there’s an ache inside your heart.
Or any other number of things that could be overwhelming. Regardless.
Take these steps that Jesus’ momdid:
• Let go of your need to control the situation
• Let other people help you,
• Lean into God’s strength.
If you will do these three things, you will find yourself developing the attitude of Paul that we see in his letter second letter to the church in Corinth…
(the letter we read from earlier)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
– 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
(Note: a sermon I listen to on YouTube by Rick Warren was very helpful in preparing the message)
