A Perspective Overwhelmed - Truly Devoted to Him

The Everyday Overwhelm

Let’s talk about everyday overwhelm. I have four kids and myself to get ready between 5:45 and 7. I have to have one delivered to basketball before 7:15, one delivered to help at elementary every other week by 7:25, and two more to deliver after that! This morning I delivered our son early…on the wrong week, “lost” the little one at the elementary for about 5 minutes, “found” the boy’s jacket in L&F which turned out not to be his, REALLY found SIX of his jackets in his locker, and returned the jacket that wasn’t his.

Then I get to work…my computer gave me problems and I’m currently trying to figure out how to do two other people’s jobs along with my own. It’s one of those days when the simplest things go wrong and nothing seems to be easy. Needless to say, I can’t get everything done before I’m supposed to leave at 2:30. I can feel my chest tightening up and tears are welling up behind my eyes. Ohhhh anxiety…

Of course, little annoyances are an every day occurrence for moms, aren’t they? The enemy really seems to know how to overwhelm me with little annoyances and turn my perspective negative. Have you ever wondered why it’s so easy to just focus on the stuff going wrong? It takes a LOT of energy to shift our perspectives to the positive…and didn’t we just say we don’t have the time or energy to get everything done?!

per·spec·tive (pərˈspektiv/) noun – a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

This is priority though. I love how David writes in the psalms – he takes the time and makes the effort to turn to God in his overwhelm and in every circumstance AND pours out thanks and praises for God’s goodness in the middle of it all. He’s literally running and hiding for his life and his writings not only cry out to God but he also verbally recognizes God’s provision, power, and blessings. Rather than having an overwhelmingly negative perspective, David’s perspective is overwhelmed by the promises of God. Let’s take a look.

Psalm 3:3 “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head”

While RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE y’all! Seriously!! Soak that in for a sec! Lifting your head in glory while running from death?! Wow! David proclaims the protection of God and attributes a head lifted high to the Lord.

Psalm 7:17 “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High”

David is defending himself against slander and accusations during this psalm. Saying thank you while nasty rumors about you are spreading?! Yup. No matter what anyone else is saying about you, you can give thanks and praise in your innocence and let go of that anxiety.

Psalm 13:5-6 “But I will trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me”

David is crying in despair here. Oh have I been there! Singing and dancing while distraught?! You got it! God wants you to pour out your broken heart to Him AND give Him thanks and praise in the middle of that storm.

Psalm 17:7 “Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.”

Now he is being falsely accused [yet again] and persecuted. Did you see it though?! David runs to God when running away from his persecutors! Wow.

Our Psalm – A Perspective Overwhelmed

We could go on and on (and I just might in another post sometime). David is such a great example of shifting our perspectives from the circumstances, the overwhelm, the anxiety – onto the God who’s right there in the middle of those little annoyances and the majorly overwhelming obstacles in life. The Master, the Protector, the unfailing, everlasting, outloving Father God.

Don’t get me wrong here. You’re going to experience overwhelm, anxiety, annoyances, and heartbreak in this life. Also, why do we as women feel like we’re not supposed to respond to these things emotionally (that’s a whole different subject!)? The thing is, when feeling down we have a God who lifts our heads. Through prayer, we can express our concerns and offer up our thanks and praise to overwhelm our perspective in a good way! In fact, we shift it to our good Father, bringing that peace that passes all understanding.

At the end of a hectic, frustrating day, God shows his splendor in the sunset.
In the midst of a struggling marriage, God reminds us of His perfect love.
In the pain of this broken world, God promises us there is eternal hope.

I hope you will be encouraged today! I hope your perspective is completely overwhelmed by the goodness of our God! Mentally go through some of our biblical ancestors and think about how they made the effort to maintain or shift their perspective and focused ahead on the promises of God. And let’s share with everybody below! Let’s build each other up in positive perspectives!!