I’m just so overwhelmed!
Those words came from a wife, mom, employee, church member, daughter, daughter-in-law, who probably has lots more roles that she plays. We’ve all been in the place where we feel like the pressures from every side are coming in on us. So, how in the world DO we handle all those responsibilities? They all need attention. They’re all important, but we know we aren’t superwoman with super-powers enabling us to conquer the world in which we are engulfed.
What’s a woman to do? How do we get it all done?
I think we all have to re-evaluate often. When we feel pressure about several things that need our attention, we have to stop and ask:
Is my life exemplifying a life that a is given over to the Lord to do as He wills each day?
Am I obeying His Word and priorities for my life?
Do my words and my actions match?
For instance, I love writing my blog, and my passion here is all about refreshment that begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ and then moves to family/home, then church and others. If I follow the things I teach from God’s Word, I will keep blogging its right place.
This week we were able to make a quick trip to visit my family in Kentucky. We celebrated Memorial Day on the lake with my sisters, their husbands and our parents. It was a fabulous day. At the end of the boating excursion and return to my parent’s home, we decided since it was late in the afternoon, we would wait and come home on Tuesday. No blog post had been written for Tuesday, but I had a decision to make – visit with my family for those hours, or interrupt it with computer time. The choice was simple. We had a great visit!
Here are some other practical examples that might happen in my life:
If it comes between…
- Quiet time in God’s Word and rushing out the door…which will I choose? God is first.
- Time at my church for services or time with visiting relatives? God is first.
- Time with friends at an extra outside activity or time I’d planned with my family? Family is first.
- Bible study with my small group or time to chill and watch a movie? Others are first.
- Time with my grandsons or time with my husband? He is first.
- Time to exercise or time to pray? God is first.
- Time watching my friend’s children or watching my grandsons? Family is first.
There are many times that I have regretted the poor decision to shift my priorities. But I pray each day that the Lord will direct my steps and help me make the best choice, and He does when I lean in for His guidance.
One day last week I had an idea of what I would do that day and it got completely changed. One event was when a friend stopped by. She later sent a text apologizing for “keeping me,” but as I told her, when you give your day to the Lord, you take whatever He sends, and sometimes He sends the blessing of time with a friend when you didn’t expect it! The Lord knew I needed that, even though I didn’t schedule it, He did! It refreshed me!
We need the Lord every single day for every moment of the day. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, rest in God’s priorities for your life, and listen to His leading. His plans are always better than what we could dream up, and when we lay our head on our pillow at night, we can say what Jesus said, “Lord, I have done the work you gave me to do.” His ways don’t overwhelm; they refresh.
What areas of your life do you need to re-evaluate according to God’s priorities for your life? Where do you feel most overwhelmed?
Don’t stress – Stay refreshed.
