Breaking News… We live in an overwhelming world. We’re all busy. It seems we’re surrounded by trouble, pain, and suffering. Constantly, we get bombarded by messages that tell us we need to be hotter, smarter, healthier, wealthier, and happier. At times, life can be overwhelming. I do my best to overcome being overwhelmed. From a majority of the conversations that I have with people, I believe they are doing their best to overcome being overwhelmed as well. In order for us to overcome, we must continue to find ways to improve our body, mind, and soul.
Overcoming starts with prayer. When you begin to feel overwhelmed, pray about it. Before you do anything else, take it to God. Tell God about it. Talk to God about it. Don’t post about it first, don’t text someone else about it, pray about it. King David wisely wrote in Psalm 61:2, “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.” If you’re overwhelmed, don’t under pray. While you’re praying about it, implement a few practical ways to overcome being overwhelmed. Here are some personal examples I’ve found, that have helped me get over being overwhelmed.
1. Don’t Oversleep… Wake up. Get to work. Rest is important, but laziness is crippling. I have a saying that I use often and for many different areas of life: “Go After It.” I don’t have a tattoo, but if I got one, it would probably include those 3 words, “Go After It.” If you want something, go after it. I believe we can accomplish just about anything we put our time, money, and efforts into. If you really want it, go after it. Stop dreaming about it, and go after it. Want the job? Go after it. Want the championship? Go after it. Want a better relationship? Go after it. Want better grades? Go after it. Get out of bed and chase it.
2. Don’t Overeat… Obviously, you need to check with your doctor before you do any diet changes. In 2020, I cut my hand with a brand new buck knife while working on a fishing rod. After the healing process was complete, I went in to see my family doctor, to have him remove 10 stitches from my hand. They made me step on the scale and I was absolutely shocked by my weight. At that moment, I was determined to lose weight, and I have. As I type this, I have lost 67 pounds since that day. I was oblivious to the fact that my weight was hindering my spiritual walk with the Lord, and becoming a distraction to others. I made the decision to fast more often than I feast. I continue to shift my focus from living by more food to living by more faith.
3. Don’t Overbuy... I’ll be the first to admit I am the shopping addict in our house. I love to shop. Yet, I have to remind myself almost daily, not to spend more than I need. There’s freedom in realizing I don’t need to keep up with family members’ spending. There’s peace in knowing I don’t need to spend like my friends do. So I ask myself: Do I really need those new sneakers? Do I really need another fishing pole? Do I really need that new Oak Ridge Boys record? Of course I do, I love the Oak Ridge Boys! Our desires can be overwhelming, if we allow them to control our emotions and attitudes. Jesus warned often about the dangers of living for more stuff. Our greatest pursuit should be our love for God and our love for others, not our love for things.
4. Don’t Overanalyze… Thinking through things is always useful, but over-analysis leads to paralysis. Our thoughts are so powerful but useless, if they’re never put into practice. I have no doubt that when I over-think, I tend to underproduce. We are to live by faith, not by sight. Do you spend more time thinking about life or trusting God? I believe God has given us common sense, but life gives us plenty of opportunities to trust God each day more than we did yesterday. We may not ever understand why bad things happen to good people. God has never told us we will know it all. In fact, if we did, that would make us God. That’s not a job I want to apply for. Quit trying to figure it all out, and just have faith in God.
5. Don’t Overcommit… I think this is a tough one. Take an inventory of your life. I do my best to make commitments that make myself better and others better. Our word is so important. We should never be so busy that our integrity gets overlooked. Keep your word. Jesus emphasized this when He said this in Matthew 5:37, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your, ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” I know it’s an old school mentality but we should strive to keep our word. I want to do what I say I will do. My calendar is filled with daily commitments. If I don’t set my calendar, someone will. I want to finish what I start. What is especially unique, though, is to have healthy boundaries. Saying, “No” frees up the time to do the most important things with the most important people. Don’t oversleep. Don’t overeat. Don’t overbuy. Don’t overanalyze. Don’t overcommit.
This is my list. I would encourage you to make your own list of things not to overdo. I pray that if you feel overwhelmed, that you overcome it soon. All throughout the Bible we see people overcoming overwhelming situations. They are a great reminder for us all, that we can as well. May we all be reminded in these overwhelming days in which we live, the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:37, when he says, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Go after it!
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