Wasn’t life so simple when we were kids? All we had to think about back then were toys, the latest popular cartoon, and how to get away with staying up past bedtime. Maybe a few other things as we got a little older, but definitely not the things we’re inundated with today. For me, I’ve got ministry, a full-time job, wedding clients, writing, and oh, the life maintenance things like grocery shopping, oil changes, and other tasks. But it’s not only just the things we have to do, it’s also our perspective on how things are going. Am I meeting others’ expectations? Am I meeting my expectations? That’s when another aspect of being overwhelmed takes place. It can be overwhelming to even think about it all. But that place of being “overwhelmed” doesn’t have to be a permanent state of being. As a matter of fact, living outside of that state will allow us to be more at peace and more effective while moving in the will of God. If you’re ready to tackle this thing head on, get your beverage of choice, your Bible, notebook and pen (or laptop), and enjoy this quiet time.
Overwhelm: to bury or drown beneath a huge mass; defeat completely; give too much of a thing to (someone); inundate; have a strong emotional effect on; be too strong for; overpower
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Q: Jesus says “Come to me…” What does coming to Jesus look like for me?
Definition by Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Yoke: Fitted on the neck of oxen for the purpose of binding to them the traces by which they might draw the plough, etc. ( Numbers 19:2 ; Deuteronomy 21:3 ). It was a curved piece of wood called ‘ol.
In the New Testament the word “yoke” is also used to denote servitude (Matthew 11:29; Matthew 11:30; Acts 15:10; Galatians 5:1).
Q: What kind of ”yoke”, i.e. work / servitude, does Jesus offer that he describes as easy and light?
Reflection: Is Jesus’ yoke the one you are currently bound / committed to? If not, who’s yoke are you currently bound to and why?
Definition by Merriam- Webster Dictionary
Burden: something that is carried; load, something oppressive or worrisome
Q: What kind of rest does Jesus promise when I go to him in your times of weariness from the burden / oppressive load that you currently have? Describe what you imagine that rest to be. Feel free to look up other scriptures about this to help you answer.
Q: Normally, “burden” has an unpleasant connotation. In what way has Jesus redefined the word “burden” when he uses it to describe his yoke / work / servitude?
Q: Why is Jesus’ will for me considered light but what I’m experiencing is a heaviness, especially when I’m overwhelmed?
ACTION ITEM: Determine one thing you will do within the next 7 days to prioritize God’s yoke / will / work.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23
Examples of “Whatever”: Work, school, preparing dinner, helping the kids with homework, PTO meetings, ministry, business, relationships, a phone conversation, getting the kids ready for school, completing a major work project, writing a book–everything.
Q: This scripture says for us to work as though we’re working for the Lord. If I am not working for the Lord, who might I be working for instead?
Q: What might my thought process be behind what I’m overwhelmed about?
Example: This is my responsibility, if I don’t do it no one will, I don’t have to do it but I’m good at it, I don’t have to do it but I think I should, I could give this to someone else but others expect me to do it, etc. Write down whatever comes to mind and resonates with you.
Q: What are some things that can happen if you work on something with the intention of meeting the expectation of others or the expectations of yourself?
Q: What is the benefit of working as though it is for the Lord as it relates to feeling overwhelmed?
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
Q: What can you do in those moments when you’re feeling overwhelmed to ensure that you are working for God?
ACTION ITEM: In as many places as possible where you live or work, write: “DO IT FOR GOD, THE ONE WHO STRENGTHENS YOU.”
“The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”
Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Exodus 18:13-23
- What do you have on your plate that is specifically wearing you out? Could these things be done in a more effective way that would lift the burden from you such as the delegation approach taught to Moses by Jethro? V.17
- Identify and write down what exactly is making you feel overwhelmed.
- How can you off-load, reschedule or adjust some of what is on your plate, whether by delegation or other strategies like removing unnecessary tasks from your weekly plan altogether?
Take the anti-overwhelming approach. List the action items that you agreed to do in this quiet time. Take one item at a time. Perhaps focus on one this week or one this month to start.
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
Rise and Shine Bright.