“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
The Overwhelmed Life
In recent days I’ve had a number of things come up that have been stressing and difficult. One morning in particular I was feeling quite overwhelmed. As I was lifting things to the Lord, I felt Him reminding me of some important principles.
I thought of the verse from 2 Corinthians 10:5, “to take every thought captive.” I realized afresh that I can’t dwell on the hard, stressful, and difficult things that are pressing in on me. The more I dwell on them, the bigger and harder they seem. I must take those thoughts captive and take them to the Lord. It seems so simple, but sometimes it’s challenging. However, when I do that, the things I’m concerned about get in their proper perspective from God’s viewpoint. He enables me to release them into His hands.
When I take control of my thoughts, take them captive, it allows me to handle them in a godly way—not just react to them. As my mindset changes, then I’m able to handle things in a better way. I can ask the Holy Spirit then to guide and direct me in dealing with the things consuming my thoughts.
I also remembered how David “strengthened himself in the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6). In the midst of a very distressing time when his men were upset and thinking of stoning him, David turned to God for strength. I have done that so, so many times in the last few years. But I needed to do it again this time!
On the morning when I was feeling so overwhelmed, I asked two friends to pray for me. The third thing the Lord reminded me of was Matthew 6:34 from The Message: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
It sounds so simple! And yet so often my mind races ahead. God’s grace is sufficient for each day—but He doesn’t give us a week’s worth of grace at a time. Only a day at a time. If I keep my focus on Him today, He’ll help me.
Taking my thoughts captive, strengthening myself in the Lord, and living one day at a time…simple but powerful principles for helping me deal with all the overwhelming things I was facing. I’m so grateful for His reminding me of how to deal with all that was on my heart and mind.
I’ve lived by these wonderful principles for years…especially in recent years. And yet, it’s easy in the pressure of new burdens to forget the tools God has given us. I’m grateful for His gracious reminders to my heart of His ways.
Lord, You have already given us all we need to face what overwhelms us. Help us to live by Your principles. Amen.
Amen Sally. Thank you, as always, for your wisdom! Lifting you up in prayer 🙏😊
Thank you and ‘thanking our LORD for this sweet time of fellowship. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope” Romans 15:13. May you find respite in your day.
Rejoice knowing your words of encouragement come from the relationship you have with Abba Father, for those who share the walk every day. Bless you, Sally!
It is so easy to forget what God has done for you in the midst of a trial. Thank you for the reminder and sharing helpful principles.
This was such a perfectly timed message from God thru you. We’re in the middle of a very challenging situation in our family and my mind was so overwhelmed with all the things that could happen next. Thank you for reminding me to take my thoughts captive to the Lord and to focus on what God is doing today, right this very moment. ❤️