Overwhelmed.
There are times in our lives when we are confronted with situations that are bigger than we can handle. There's a saying that God won't give you more than you can handle. Maybe we say things to try to help people feel better.
In the Bible, in the book of Acts it tells about Paul and Silas being severely flogged, then thrown into prison, and their feet were fastened in stocks. Ok, that sounds like way more than anyone could handle. Yet at midnight they began praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening. How did they do that?
I've been in situations that I felt were way more than I could handle, totally over my head - hemmed in by the enemy. In times like that you reach. Sometimes being hemmed in is pointing you to the One who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask or think according to the power at work in us. Ephesians 3:20.
Jesus said he would send the Holy Spirit, our helper, to be with us. We must choose to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us and help us. This is how Paul and Silas sang in prison. God did deliver them and the jailer came to believe in this Jesus that Paul and Silas spoke of. But they sang and prayed before they were delivered. That is a place of peace that only God can give.
In times of trouble 1) Be still and know that He is God. Quiet your thoughts and focus on Him. 2) Pray, tell Him everything. He is a safe place. He cares about everything that concerns you. 3) Listen. Renew your heart and mind in the Word of God. His Word is Truth. Sometimes the lies swirl in our head and keep us paralyzed. Let His Truth reign in your heart. Hold on to His great and precious promises. 4) Speak His words. Guard your speech. His Word is powerful in our lives.
My mother wrote me a letter many years ago. It was a tender, honest letter about how she went through a difficult time. In the letter she tells how overwhelmed she felt when she found out she was expecting - Me. She already had two little ones and I'm sure she and Daddy were stretched in many ways. She went on to say that she went to the back yard and prayed. After that, it was ok. Well, God didn't change her situation. I'm still here. But, she found peace and strength. And here I am today to tell you this story.
For years after reading that letter, all I could think about was that I was the cause of her being troubled. But God has shown me that what Mamma was teaching me was what to do when you are overwhelmed and Who to go to when its more than you can handle. Go to Him. Go to Him with everything, every little thing, every big thing. He is your Heavenly Father. Go to Him as you are, where you are, no matter what you have done. Let Him hold you and heal your heart when you are overwhelmed.
He loves you and the story isn't over yet.