Overwhelmed On My Own Strength

Overwhelmed? Yes, that seems to define me lately. I'm trying to figure out if this is a good thing or not. I guess it's all based on perspective and if anything is being neglected. Or, as I'm thinking about this, doing it all on my own strength. How can one person do so much without feeling guilty about something that isn't being accomplished on the long list of things-to-do? I know that I need to do this and that and so much more. How can it all be done, I'm always asking myself? Well, that's when things aren't done for me. I get overwhelmed, so nothing seems to fully get accomplished. It's either all or nothing for me and this is a terrible fault of mine. I'm in constant prayer about this and need help with obedience in the most important priorities. It's also all the little things that adds up and I just don't know where to begin! I look way ahead of myself and get easily overwhelmed just at the thought of it all. I know that I need to just take it day-by-day and this is not natural for me as I am very much a future thinker. As I'm torn with all the responsibilites I have, I want to define what it means to be overwhelmed and ask the Lord to show me how to handle it all.

The 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary defines the word overwhelm as this:

1. To overspread or crush beneath something violent and weighty, that covers or encompasses the

whole; as, to overwhelm with waves.

2. To immerse and bear down; in a figurative sense; as, to be overwhelmed with cares, afflictions or

business.

3. To overlook gloomily.

From that, the term immerse also means "to involve" or "to engage deeply". The term overlook also means "to oversee; implying care and watchfulness", "to pass by indulgently; to excuse" or even "to neglect".

There's a great balance that needs to be understood from being overwhelmed. How to handle it is another thing; on our own strength or with God's help. I don't want to miss out on anything that God has planned for me if I continue to struggle and focus on this state of being overwhelmed in a negative (gloomy) manner. So, I desperately seek God's help in this area of my life right now and pray that His mercy will help me through this! I pray that the important things will not be neglected over all the little things that don't matter when it comes to the hearts of my children and their relationship with the Lord. We need to seek the Lord's help in all things, especially when we're feeling overwhelmed with the pressures of this life and to not do it all in our own strength. Psalm 61 is a beautiful passage for this!

^"1Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

 ²From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

 ³For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

 ⁴I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

 ⁵For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

 ⁶Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.

 ⁷He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

 ⁸So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows."