rest3

Are you overwhelmed?

When I look this word up, the definition is bleak:

Buried.

Drowning.

Defeated completely.

Giving away too much of a good thing.

Oh, that last one hurts.

I don’t know about you, but that’s not who I want to be. Yet, there are times I look in the mirror and that’s exactly what I see. I wish I could blame someone else for this. I wish I could make excuses or write a tidy list explaining why it just has to be this way.

I know better. Just this past month I slowed way down and refueled. It was sweet. It was intentional. We were still really busy, because that’s our life.

That’s when I realized: The things we need to do will never, ever go away. There will always be one more thing. One more opportunity. One more need. One more thing I can pile on the schedule. Almost every woman I know battles this, and there are seasons and factors that we can’t change.

Yet we are not helpless.

Let’s begin today by giving ourselves permission to not.have.to.do.it.all.

[ctt template=”4″ link=”2dqk0″ via=”no” ]When the good thing you are giving away too much of is you, it is time to reevaluate. #livefree https://ctt.ec/2dqk0+ #giveaway[/ctt]

My friend, Glynnis Whitwer, shared this verse this week:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)

As she shared it, I heard it as if it were the first time. I understand the concept of physical rest, but this was deeper.

You will find rest for your souls.

I wanted to grab that verse with both hands and pour the words over my heart.

Listen, daughter. I have rest for your soul. 

Is that a word you need to hear today?

If the good thing you’ve been giving too much of is you, it’s time to re-evaluate. It doesn’t mean that God won’t use your life, or that busyness will completely come to a halt. It simply means that we acknowledge that God isn’t asking us to do it all, all of the time.

 

We can say no to some things.

We can acknowledge that not every opportunity is our opportunity.

We can put down technology that pulls at us and let silence settle in those harried places.

I don’t know what this looks like for you, but I’m asking Him what it looks like for me.

As we go into 2017, let’s look back.

What causes that overwhelmed feeling and overwhelmed life?

Answer this question with as much honesty as possible.

Take a good long look at it. Let’s ask the Lord to show us our part in it, and how to begin to seek soul rest in the midst of it.

Lord, we desperately need soul rest. Show us how. We thank you for leading us to fill back up. 

Suzie

Related Resource:

I’m reading a pretty terrific book by Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory titled Overwhelmed: How to Quiet the Chaos and Restore Your Sanity

Question for today:

Q: What is one tangible change I can make, with God’s help, to feel less overwhelmed?

Related blog posts:

If you want to take this topic deeper, you might want to check out these blog posts:

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