21 Days to Overcome Stressಮಾದರಿ

Overwhelmed!

Honestly, there are days in my life when my heart vacillates between being raw with paralyzing frustration and being stimulated by a thousand agitations.

Continuously, the floods of demands, disciplines, people, chores, habits, vices, and commitments create a massive quagmire that can only be described by one desperate word: overwhelmed!

In Psalm 61, David, the worshipper and man after God’s own heart, seems to have shared my incompetence at dealing well with all that life dishes out. He cried out to God, “… give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint [“overwhelmed” kjv, nlt].” David called God his refuge and tower of strength.

Although I do not know what specifically overwhelms you, I can assure you that the answer for both of us is the same:

"Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer.”

We need prayer more than we need our circumstances to change. There is someone mightier and more powerful who is well able to bring relief to our mountains of stress.

There is no shame in calling out to God when you are completely and utterly overwhelmed. In fact, there is a sweet and peaceful sense of fulfillment that comes as you throw yourself into His welcoming arms.

If you are overwhelmed with everything on your to-do list, perhaps you should set aside that list, get on your knees, throw your hands up, and cry, “Help!” It’s a prayer that God will answer quickly, tenderly, and wisely.

When your desperate life collides with the Father’s peace, you will experience grace and guidance without measure. Simply lay down your agenda and ask for the Father’s help. It’s what He has wanted all along.

Whenever I am fighting off the monster of stress, I choose to lay aside my to-do list and take the time to remind myself - out loud - of the internal and external priorities that are most important for me. I remind myself to trust in the promises of God…crying out to Him at times when anxiety and stress try to overwhelm me, and He will help me! I hope you will join me in this declaration.

DAILY DEPOSIT:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. – Psalm 34:17 NIV