Have you ever noticed how closely overwhelm lingers on the fringe of something new? Sort of like a vulture hovering over a wounded animal. At first hesitant at stepping into a new year, the excitement of resting in the God of new beginnings, inspired me. Briefly. Then the usual overwhelm questions kicked in. After much wrestling, the key to overcoming overwhelm opened the door of 2023 without all the anxiety.
When overwhelm weasels its way into your thoughts, it paralyzes any forward progress, and instead wraps you in a blanket of hopelessness.
Welcome to Mindfulness Monday! Where we learn some easy ways to be more present “in the moment” at our jobs, in our homes, with our families and friends.
Learning to recognize God and what He has for us in each divine moment He offers. We acknowledge the belief that God is with us always.
We confess His presence is available to us, lifting our spirit and helping us with power and grace. Learning the art of “stillness” so we can hear His voice and view ourselves, others and our surroundings through His eyes.
overwhelm origins
After a challenging day at pre-school, a colleague’s five-year-old son concluded, “Life is Hard.” Truth. Out of the mouth of babes.
Only he has yet to learn just how “hard” life really is.
Having origins in truth presents the biggest problem with defeating overwhelm. Many of the questions racing through my mind creating my present overwhelm have their source in fact.
“Are you guarding against over commitment?” My past overwhelm resulted from over commitment.
“Are you fully prepared to move forward on that project?” Certainly, I felt overwhelmed in the past due to my haste in moving ahead unprepared.
Add in all of the “what if” questions, lay memories of past failures, and trials from last year; stir, pour, and bake, and there you have it: Overwhelm, with a capital “O”.
Losing sight of the Lord is perhaps overwhelm’s trump card. When submerged in overwhelm, we lose awareness of God’s Presence.
“The waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to perish. I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.” You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”
Finding the key to overcoming overwhelm becomes crucial if we want to confidently move forward, embracing all God has for us in the new year.
overcome or overwhelm?
Sitting with these two words revealed similarities nuanced in the action they perform.
Overwhelm, as we know from experience and the example in Lamentations 3:54-57, submerges or covers us over with the troubles of our situation. Consistent with Webster’s 1828 Dictionary definition of “to crush, or immerse”.
While Overcome, gives the picture of victory, superiority, or conquering our problems. Also consistent with Webster’s 1828 Dictionary definition of “vanquish, surmount, or prevail.”
Both seemingly capture their enemy, subduing and vanquishing them, rendering them defenseless and ineffective.
Yet I noticed an interesting vibe about both words. Overwhelm radiates negativity and hopelessness, while overcome streams forth positivity and Hope.
Entering a new year with confidence and delight in embracing God’s purpose for us requires not that we allow overwhelm to immerse us in outcome anxiety, but that we lean into the Hope offered through overcoming.
the key to overcoming overwhelm
Leaning into Hope positions me to face the uncertainty of the year ahead with confidence. But not the kind of hope which foolishly crosses its fingers for a desired outcome.
Wishful hoping only fuels overwhelm.
“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.“
As Andy Andrews says in his book, The Final Summit: “Hope is the captain of courage and the author of success. Hope sees what’s invisible, feels what is intangible, and achieves what most consider impossible.”
When the Lord becomes my Hope and confidence, I no longer fear the future from a place of overwhelm.
Relinquishing the need to manipulate a desired outcome, I avoid poor decisions, loss of focus, and stubbornly clinging to “my way.” Instead, I rest in God’s sovereignty and ultimate goodness.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world“
Jesus reminds us He has overcome the world; which means He has [already] overcome everything we fear encountering in the new year.
Why the reminder?
So, we might “take heart”, or face the future with Hope fueled confidence in Him.
Overcoming with Hope
When overwhelm has me fretful and distracted, mindfulness stops the unending spiral, allowing me once again to re-center my scattered senses in stillness before God.
If you feel overwhelm has hijacked your peace, try the following exercise for leaning into Hope as your anchor in the midst of anxious thoughts.
As always, I recommend you intentionally secure a time and place without interruption, fostering a calm stillness in God’s Presence. Begin with slow, deep, mindful breathing, easing into prayer or meditating perhaps on one of the verses above.
When ready, grab a journal, tablet, or a few sheets of blank paper, and write out the statement below filling in the blanks as appropriate.
“Lord, _____________ overwhelms me again today. Thank you, Jesus, for reminding me you have already overcome, conquered, surmounted, and prevailed over what troubles me now. I choose instead to focus on this thought/verse: _____________________… I surrender this situation to you again right now and place my trust in you, choosing submission to allowing Your Hope to overwhelm me completely today.”
overcoming overwhelm with hope
The key to overcoming overwhelm rests in an unshakeable Hope found only through complete trust in God’s ultimate sovereignty and unfailing goodness and love.
Jesus has overcome the world, (John 16:33), providing us with relentless Hope for all which awaits us in the new year.
While I may still encounter moments of overwhelm as I move through the challenges of a new year, Hope will always open the door to Peace and Rest in God’s perfect plan.
Ah, yes–overwhelm diffuses in the Overcomer’s presence. If only I remembered and relied upon Him all of the time. Thank you for this beautiful reminder to cling to the truth, friend, even when life is hard.
Blessings,
Tammy
So true, Tammy, the lie of performance and achievement often pushes me into overwhelm. Oh, to trust Him more!
Donna, this encouraged me deeply today. Overcome or overwhelm. “Jesus reminds us He has overcome the world; which means He has [already] overcome everything we fear encountering in the new year.” I needed to be reminded that He has overcome everything I will encounter today! Bless you, my friend, for reminding me!
Praise God, Joanne, these words encouraged you today. I find I need to revisit this idea of overcoming overwhelm often!
Thank you Donna for the key to overcoming overwhelm. I started to feel overwhelmed just the other day and this certainly helps me.
Deborah, overwhelm can be so paralyzing. I am thankful God shows us a way out.
Overcome or overwhelmed. I love Paul’s words at the end of Romans 8. I want to be an overcomer.
I’m with you Debbie! We are definitely more than conquerors through Him that loved us!
We ca overcome! My overwhelm comes from time pressures. Thanks for the reminder today that I can lean into God as He knows and to surrender the overwhelm letting in His peace.
Lynn, my overwhelm comes from time pressures too, and my incessant need to perform/accomplish to feel worthy. I’m so glad God desires I lean into Him and trust Him to order my steps each day and I will always be on time!! LOL