What If?? - Week 5

Overwhelmed!

by: Kayla Ferris

We had been driving for 2 days.  We were exhausted, yet we were on the edge of our seats. And all of the sudden…there it was.  The ocean.  I will never forget that moment.  It took my breath away. 

It was my first time to see the OCEAN.  And for a girl from the plains of Texas, it was awe-inspiring. There were, however, a few things I did not anticipate.  I did not realize that the ocean is very LOUD.  The waves coming up to shore have a rhythmic roar to them.  We had to talk loud to be able to hear each other.  Another point that surprised me was the strength of the water as it came and went along the shore. 

The next day, as soon as we made our “home on the beach” with towels and toys and snacks, I grabbed the two oldest girls, and we headed to the water.  We walked in a little ways and before I knew it, a small surge came through the water.  It may have been small, but it was way stronger than I expected. I barely braced myself, grabbed the youngest, but it knocked my oldest girl smack down into the water.  I pulled her up as the water started shifting back.  She was covered in salt water and dead seaweed.  She looked up at me with an expression that said “Mommy, do NOT let go of me…!!”  Sweet little sis had witnessed the entire episode and was screaming.  Actually, the remainder of our trip, she cried out in fear if any of us even appeared to head towards the water.  Going down in the water was scary!

I am reminded of the story of Peter walking on the water.  Peter is being all super-awesome.  He sees Jesus coming, and he actually thinks to ask if HE can walk on the water.  I would have just stood there, staring, with my mouth hanging open.  But he jumps out of the boat and is walking on the water with Jesus.  How cool is that??  But then, the bible tells us, he “saw the wind” (Matt. 14:29).  And crash.  He starts to sink.

Have you had moments in life where you felt like you were sinking?  I can remember many a day thinking, “I’m doing all I can to simple stay afloat…like I’m thrashing at the waters surface!  But I look around and everyone else is making laps in the pool.  What am I doing wrong?! “ 

You feel overwhelmed.

And so the lie begins…

“This is too much.  I am going to drown in the chaos.”

I don’t know about you, but my life is all kinds of crazy.  The “busyness” can borderline ridiculous.  I’m wiped out at the end of every day, only to wake up and do it all over again. 

I want you to take a look at what the psalmist says in Psalm 42:7.  The AMP version says: “[Roaring] deep calls to [roaring] deep.”  Now look at the MSG version: “Chaos calls to chaos…”

Can you relate?  Do you have days, weeks, seasons where it seems to be one moment of chaos, calling to another moment of chaos?  Like the ebb and flow of the ocean?  And sometimes those seemingly small ruffled circumstances feel like they are going to knock you down on your face.  And the roar of the waves…it can be deafening.  The noise around you, or even the noise in your own head, makes it hard to hear anything else. 

You feel overwhelmed.

And crash.

You start to sink in the chaos.

But friend, you were not created to stay overwhelmed.

In Christ, we have the power to overcome. 
In 1 John 5:4, we have the promise that “everyone born of God overcomes the world.”

The difference is this: when we are overwhelmed, the problems sit on top of us. We are down in the water, bobbing up and down, salt water getting in our nose.  When we realize we are created to OVERCOME, we sit on top of the problem.  We walk on top of the water with Jesus.

How do we live as overcomers?  How do we walk in who He created us to be?

First off, we need to know that we can overcome only because Jesus himself is THE overcomer!  In John 16:33, Jesus tell us that “in this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  We achieve this only by the power of Jesus.  I want to encourage you to read through the practical tips today.  We have formatted them a little different. Feeling overwhelmed is a huge issue in our current day, and we want to give you some very real tools that you can use.  Please take the time to read through these and let them soak in.

I want to leave you with this:  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3).  In those moments when the earth beneath you is giving way, when the mountain tops are falling around you and the sea is roaring so loud you can’t hear and the waves are crashing and surging so hard you feel like you are about to be overwhelmed by it all…remember, God is ever-present.  He is ready to help.  Psalm 18:16 – “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.”  Read that again… “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.”

You were made to overcome, friend.  You were made to walk on water, not drown in it.  Look up and reach out for His hand. 

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 Practical Tips

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Let’s take a look at Jesus in Matthew 26:37-39. He is headed to the cross soon, and he knows what is coming.  The scriptures say He tells a few of his disciples that His “soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”  I do not pretend that I know what that is like... to be that overwhelmed.  Although I believe there are some of you that have been there.  Can I say this: Jesus understands.  He has been there.  Whether you are facing little overwhelming moments…or big scary ones…Jesus gets it.  He knows the feeling.  But He loves you too much for you to stay there.

So what did Jesus do in overwhelming moments? 

• He took a few close friends to support Him. (Matthew 26:37)  Find someone you trust.  The body of Christ was created to share each others’ burdens (Galatians 6:2).  I promise you, I am in constant amazement at how many times I think to myself “no one else could possibly understand what I’m dealing with,” only to find myself talking to someone who has gone through something very similar.  You are NOT alone.  
• But, there are occasion when you DO need to get alone.  Here in Matthew, Jesus told His friends to stay and pray while He had some time alone.  Sometimes we need an “adult time-out”.  It is not always possible, but when it is, it can help to step away from the “chaos” for a moment.  
• Then, Jesus cried out to His Father.  Oh friends.  I think you need to know that our GOD does hear you…!  Psalm 28:6-7 “Praise be to the Lord for he has heard my cry for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”  When Peter was sinking, he cried out “Lord, save me!” and “Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.” (Matthew 14:29).  Cry out to Him!  Cry out for help, and know that He HEARS you. 
• Lastly, Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done.  Which to my soul, means this:  No matter what, remember that God is good.  No matter what craziness we face today, God is still good.  And because He is good, I will praise Him.  I think this is key.  Praise Him in the chaos.  Praise is going to lift you out of the waves.  I love Psalm 42:11 (NLT): Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad?  I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!”  When I feel discouraged and overwhelmed, I need to tell myself…that I will praise Him anyway.

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Today’s Verses

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For today’s verses, let practice crying out to him and praising Him.  I want you to take one of today’s verses and actually speak it out loud!  Speak the Word over yourself and your situations today.  Let your ears hear it!

Romans 8:37 “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Lamentations 3:22 “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed.”

Matthew 11:29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 63:7-8 “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”

Psalms 47:6 “Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.”