If You’re Worn Down, Show Up

In Isaiah 40:28 it says, “Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The LORD is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary.” (GNT)

The bigger the changes that happen in my life, the more time I need to spend with God.

This time with God is called a quiet time. In it I read the Bible, talk to God in prayer, and learn to be quiet so that I can listen to what God wants to say.

When I’m stressed out, time alone with God is the great stabilizer. It’s also the greatest re-energizer when I’m worn out. We’ve all gone through a lot of stress recently, and we don’t have as much energy as we used to. Chronic stress has drained us so much, and in it, our lives have changed.

As a result, feeling fatigued is natural. It’s what chronic stress does to a body. No matter how much sleep we can get, we end up waking up tired or start to drag a few hours into the day. In addition, If I feel like I’m just trying to get by, I’m not alone.

So If we’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, stressed out, and barely hanging on, then we need to remember Isaiah 40:28: “Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The LORD is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary” (GNT).

God created the entire universe in six days—and he only rested on the seventh day to model a Sabbath for us. He never gets tired! He is never overwhelmed or worn out. He never gets stressed. He can handle anything—including all the things we can’t.

If I spend more time with God, who never grows tired or weary, then I’m going to have more energy. Spending time with God is not a burden or a drudgery or a drain—it’s the opposite! He gives strength to those who are weary. He gives peace and rest.

So If I’m stressed, I shouldn’t seek a quick fix or look for a shortcut. Don’t fight changes that I can’t possibly control. Instead, spend time with God every day.

Even the strongest people will get tired at times, but God's power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired or too busy to help and listen. His strength is my source of strength. So if I feel life crushing me and it seems that I cannot go another step, I can call on God to renew my strength. 

Trusting in the Lord is expecting that his promise of strength will help me rise above life's distractions and difficulties. Believe that God loves me and wants what is best for me. I can relax and have confidence that his purposes are right, and that he has the power to control all of what's around me and my life. Though my faith may be struggling or weak, I can accept his provisions and his care for me.

In summary, my God will never grow tired or weary. He will strengthen me when I'm weak and tired. When I trust in him, I will find the strength is renewed. God's power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired or busy to help and listen. His strength is my source of strength. When things are taxing and burdensome, I can call on God to renew my strength. Trusting in Him is expecting that his promise of strength will help me rise above life's distractions and difficulties.  Believe that God loves me and wants what is best for me. I can have confidence that his purposes are right, and he has the power to control and use all things. When my faith may be struggling or weak, I can accept his provisions and his care for me. The worst times of life will exhaust and drain me. Since God can raise the dead, he can certainly help me. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to me. God can resurrect my health and infuse new life into my career. I receive his power when God fills my life with the Holy Spirit. I can master my situation. I'll no longer be relying on my own power to hold the strings of life together. Instead I'll be depending on God's power. God is faithful. No matter what I'm facing, he will carry me through it. 

From Being Overwhelmed to Overflowing

In John 15:5 I read, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (NIV)

The moment I start doubting the goodness of God and deciding for myself what will make me happy, all kinds of problems begin. I wind up being overworked, overanxious, and overloaded—and just generally overwhelmed!

But God promises me an overflowing life, not an overwhelmed one. 

Jesus said, “I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness” (John 10:10 GNT).

How do I experience an abundant, overflowing life? I’m learning that there is one habit that, if I do it every day, will fill me with an endless supply of God’s goodness: It’s staying connected to Jesus.

In John 15:5, Jesus compared staying connected to him with a grapevine: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV).

What happens when a cluster of grapes is cut off from the vine? It dies. The same is true with me.

God is my true source of energy and power. If I try to go through life on my own power, I’m going to be overwhelmed. But if I’m connected to him, I’ll have all the power I need. Or, as the Bible says, “Your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11 NLT)

One way I try to stay connected to Jesus is through my daily quiet time. In a quiet time, I set aside time to be alone with God and get to know him through reading his Word and talking to him in prayer.

Mark 1:35 says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (NIV).

Even Jesus knew his personal need for connection with God—and he was the Son of God! How much more do I need the strength that comes from daily time with the Lord?

There are and will be some days that I may not feel like having a quiet time—but I need to do it anyway. If I wait to have a quiet time until I feel like it, Satan will make sure I never feel like it.

If I find my life needing more time, energy, knowledge, or opportunity, then I need to continue to challenge myself to the habit of spending daily time with Jesus. When I stay connected to him, I’ll find my life overflowing with God’s goodness and power—and I’ll realize that’s all I really need.

In summary, remaining in Christ means (1) believing that he is God's Son, (2) receiving him as Savior and Lord, (3) doing what God says, (4) continuing to believe the Good News, and (5) relating in love to the community of believers, Christ's body. So I need to stay connected, be grateful, be generous and be content. 

God Wants Whatever I’ve Got

In John 6:5-6 I read, “‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.” (NIV)

Do you remember the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish? I think it’s amazing that out of 5,000 people, only one person brought lunch. I’m thinking a lot of people were hiding picnic baskets under their robes because they didn’t want to share with anybody else.

But one little boy offered the bread and fish he packed for his lunch. He gave Jesus what little he had, and God used it not to just feed a lot of people but also to show them how much he cares and how powerful he is.

God always starts with what I have. I may not think that I have much time. My finances may not be worth much. I may not think I have much talent.

But I can give God everything in my life. Give him my heart, reputation, past, present, and future. It may not be much, but I can give him my five loaves and two fish.

In John 6:5-6 Jesus asks, “‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do” (NIV).

Jesus wasn’t worried about how to feed 5,000 people. He already had in mind what he was going to do. He saw the need long before the disciples did. And he had a plan.

I need to understand that God always has the answer before I even know the problem. God is not worried about my unsolvable problem. It’s not too late in the day for Jesus. He saw my problem long before I did. He knew it was coming, and he already had a plan for it. God knows the solution to my problem before I even recognize it’s a problem.

So why am I worrying? Just admit I have an unsolvable problem, and then give God everything I have. Watch him take my loaves and fish and turn them into a feast.

In summary, one little boy offered Jesus what little he had, and God used it not to just feed a lot of people but also to show them how much he cares and how powerful he is. God will always start with what I have. I may not think that I have much time, money or talent. But I can give God everything in my life. Give him my heart, reputation, past, present, and future. It may not be much, but I can give him my five loaves and two fish. I need to understand that God always has the answer before I even know the problem. God is not worried about my unsolvable problem. It’s never too late for him. He saw my problem long before I did. He knew it was coming, and he already had a plan for it. God knows the solution to my problem before I even recognize it’s a problem. Just admit I have an unsolvable problem, and then give God everything I have.

Over the last few days, I’ve been struggling with having too much put on me and no way to continue to do it and other things that have wanted me to do. The solution offered to me was to gather other leaders together and re-assign the work. This also meant giving another team more authority than I would have wanted them to have or trust them with. I was told to let it go and provide them the access they would need so that they could do it. I need to trust that God had a plan even before I knew it. So, I will give him my five loaves and two fish and let him show me what he wants me to do.  I thank you for this supportive study today to affirm this situation. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.

 

When I’m Overwhelmed, Stand Strong

In review of 2 Chronicles 20:20 it tells me to “Put your trust in the LORD your God, and you will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed” (GNT).

I am to believe in and put my trust in the Lord my God and know that I shall have success! I can believe his prophets and everything will be alright!” However, when I focus on my problems instead of trusting God, I’m going to end up being exhausted. And I’m going to be defeated because God didn’t design me to fight my battles alone. I don’t have the power I need to face every problem in my own strength. I need God’s power.

I won’t be able to focus on my problems and focus on God at the same time. I’ve got to shift my focus to who God is and what he’s promised to do for me.

Life is full of experiences that will test, drain, and wipe me out. When I’m worn out, that’s when it’s time to say to God, “I’m sorry. I can’t handle this situation, and I’ve tried everything. I need to give it to you because it’s bigger than me.”

So when I feel overwhelmed, Stand strong versus just wanting to fight back or have someone take it all away from me.

Standing strong is an attitude of quiet confidence in the character of God. I will be successful when I put my trust in what he says to me through his Word and the Holy Spirit. When I get with God, I’ll never have to give up ground because I am standing strong.

When the burden is overwhelming, I may be tempted to cave in under the pressure. God doesn’t want me to back down from difficult situations. He doesn’t want me to sacrifice my integrity. God wants me to trust him through the challenges and learn from them. If I run, I’ll miss out on learning from God. And chances are, I’ll end up needing to repeat that lesson.

God is committed to my success. But I need to focus on and trust him and his Word in order to stand my ground.

“Trust God from the bottom of my heart; don’t try to figure out everything on my own. Listen for God’s voice in everything I do, everywhere I go; he’s the one who will keep me on track. Don’t assume that I know it all” (Proverbs 3:5-7 The Message).

In summary, I am to put my trust in the Lord my God, and I will stand my ground. If I focus on my problems instead of trusting God, I'm going to end up being exhausted and defeated. God didn't design me to find my battles alone. I don't have the power I need to face every problem in my own strength. I need God's power. Shift my focus to who God is and he's promised to do for me. When I get worn out, that's the time to say, "God, sorry, I can't handle this. I need to give it to our because it's bigger than me." I am to stand strong, which is an attitude of quiet confidence in the character of God. When the burden is overwhelming, it's tempting to cave in under the pressure or back down, nor sacrifice my integrity. He wants me to trust him through the challenges and learn from them. If I run, I'll miss out on learning from God. So, "Trust God from the bottom of my heart; don't try to figure out everything on my own. Listen for God's voice in everything I do, for he's the one will keep me on track. Don't assume I know it all."

Because I had been ill, and trying to get a little additional sleep, I had been by-passing my quiet time with God. I believe as a result, when I was working, it seemed to get overwhelming, and that myself and my team were getting dumped on. I see that in missing my time with God, that it was easy for me to miss out on his daily direction and perspective for my day. I’m glad I’m able to get back to this morning, as His Word today has greatly helped with what’s been on my mind and what I have been facing.

I thank you Father for your Word and my time with you. I pray today for me to put my trust in you. When I feel things getting overwhelming, that I can turn to you instead of trying to figure it all out on my own. I will look for and listen for your voice, so that you can help me keep on track. I also ask for your wisdom and guidance for my day, in my work, the work for my team, as well as my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen.