Have you ever felt stuck? Maybe you’re dealing with a lot of moving parts and things aren’t going too well. Or you’re faced with a huge decision and you don’t know what to do.
When you get overwhelmed, it’s easy to numb out and avoid the hard stuff of life. But numbing out – while okay for a little while – will keep you from pursuing life’s great adventure of following God and loving others.
Getting unstuck
Sometimes I think of my yard as a metaphor for my life. When I don’t take time on a semi-regular schedule to prune and weed, the plants grow out of control. Right now my beds and borders are a hot mess.
To be honest, I’ve been paralyzed by discouragement and indecision. The shrubs in front of my house are so overgrown that I anticipated a huge, sweaty ordeal creating a massive amount of debris, and I just didn’t know what to do about it. I thought about paying hundreds of dollars to someone to come in and make it all go away.
But I’m cheap. And I have lots of other projects planned that require money. Like my carpeted master bath remodel that I’m STILL waiting to start.
Every time I walk in the front door, I see overgrown privets and hollies, dead or dying Indian Hawthornes and all the volunteer oak and elm trees (and my arch nemesis the trumpet vines). And I feel overwhelmed.
I realize I get that way in life, too. Frustrated by all the unfinished tasks and the projects that didn’t go as planned. Discouraged by my inability to fix major problems in my own life. Disappointed when my efforts to help those I love appear ineffective.
All this points to my difficulty learning to trust God. God doesn’t want me to stay overwhelmed. He wants me to come to Him for help.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.”
When I fix my thoughts on God and what He wants me to do, I experience His peace.
Here’s how I’m learning to trust God more so I spend less time feeling overwhelmed:
Get perspective
God is the Creator of the universe. He made me and He loves me more than I can imagine. Spend some time focusing on who God is.
“Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” – Isaiah 26:4
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” – Jeremiah 31:3
“But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
When I take time to think of all God has done for me and the fact that He is always with me to help me through the Holy Spirit, I know I can keep going.
Take a small step forward
If there is an issue that I need to address, I can take some concrete action. It may just be dealing with 1 percent of the problem, but it’s progress.
With my yard, I spent about an hour a few days ago pulling up vines, cutting out a few baby oak trees and tearing out a dead shrub. The debris filled one paper yard bag plus a small bundle of branches. There’s still a lot to be done, but I made a little progress. Making progress reduces that feeling of overwhelm.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 13:12
Some longings take a long time to fulfill, that’s why we need to keep going.
Change your mindset
Often when I’m in a bad mood, I catch myself thinking or speaking discouraging messages. Train your brain to think grace-filled thoughts for yourself and to speak encouraging words to others. Say to yourself the positive messages you would say to your best friend. Sometimes I’ll take a Bible verse or part of a verse, personalize it and repeat it to myself often.
Here’s an example: God doesn’t give me a spirit of fear. He gives me power, love and a sound mind (that’s from 2 Timothy 1:7).
If you want to know more on changing your mindset, go here or to this mindset makeover to find practical and Biblical help to transform your mind (Romans 12:2).
Cultivate gratitude
Counting your blessings is a great way to fight the overwhelm. Take a few minutes to write down several reasons to give thanks, and you’ll find it lifts your mood.
“Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4:8
Learning to trust God when you’re overwhelmed by life circumstances can be really hard. Sometimes you need help from a friend. If you’re off track due to depression or anxiety, please see a medical professional. There are solutions. Treat yourself with abundant care and kindness.
When you overcome the overwhelm with God’s help, you can experience more grace and joy to follow His calling in your life.
What positive step can you take today on the great adventure of following God and loving others?