This post was written by Wendy Woerner of Your One Tree
This month has really been busy for our family!
When I looked through our family calendar for the month, it was a bit overwhelming to see how many days we had filled in with appointments, trips, and events, as we are not constantly on-the-go anymore.
Though everything on our calendar was something we wanted or needed to do….such as family coming to visit, dentist appointments, and church trips for both of my older children….I felt a bit discouraged at the beginning of the month, as if there was no way I could ‘get it all done.’
And actually, I can’t, but I know the One who can.
So what do I do when I feel so overwhelmed?
Sadly, sometimes I give in to the feeling. This often results in harried and short responses to my children and husband. Then there is mending to do, apologies to dole out, and prayers that time will heal those wounds I have created because I allowed myself to succumb to my feelings.
However, when I begin to feel overwhelmed, I try to turn to The One who has all the answers. I have learned that turning to Him first, before making commitments, scheduling trips, and buying tickets to events, is the key to maintaining self-control and not becoming so overwhelmed. After all, He knows what I can handle. He knows what His plans are for my family. When I charge ahead of Him I am missing out, and causing my family to miss out, on His plans for our lives.
When presented with the chance to attend an event, host a gathering, prepare a meal for a family in need, or any one of the multitude of opportunities we can be inundated with, try the following tips and see if they help you avoid becoming overwhelmed.
- Pray. Always pray over what you want to do before committing. I have learned (and re-learned!) that I need to do this. Too many times I have had to back out of something, or power through but cause my family to suffer, because I did not pray first and heed the Lord’s wisdom.
- Talk with your spouse. Before committing, talk things over with your spouse. I try to do this with almost everything, especially if it is something that will affect my husband in some way. Your husband or wife may be able to offer a different perspective or reveal a potential problem that you may not be able to see. It is also respectful to include them in your decision-making.
- Be sure that your goal, what you are trying to accomplish, lines up with God’s Word. Often, we will be working towards one goal, believing that it is what God has for us, and we haven’t even been in the Word and gaining the wisdom to discern whether it lines up with what God has to say! I am guilty of this. Too many times I go with what I feel, rather than with what God says.
Now, if you think I “have it all together,” let me just go ahead and say, I do not! The tips above are simply lessons I have learned through my own mistakes. One of the wonderful things about God is that He will redeem our time! Even when we mess things up, when we ignore His leading, He is always there waiting for us to come back to Him, and with open arms.
Are you in that season right now? Do you need to head back to His Word once again? I do. Won’t you join me?
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Much needed and timely post! Thank you for sharing!
So glad it was helpful, April!