Feeling Overwhelmed With Life?

Many times we wear an identity label that someone else placed on us. Maybe a parent spoke something over our life and decades later we still wear that label. Some of us experienced a major event (good or bad) in our life and we identify ourselves based on that event. And, many times people identify us based on our background, family, or some other factor we really had nothing to do with. 

 

Feeling overwhelmed is different. Because of choices that we make, we actually choose 

to wear the overwhelmed label. Maybe not directly, but indirectly, our choices overload our lives.

 

Please understand that I write not to bring condemnation but awareness. Awareness brings with it the potential to change. When we don’t see things for what they are, we usually have no reason or motivation to change things.  So, I want to give you a quick evaluation to determine what level of overwhelm you are experiencing. 

 

Which one of the following four categories do you most identify with? 

 

1)    You don’t ever feel overwhelmed with life. 

2)    Feeling overwhelmed with life is not your problem, just in certain circumstances. 

3)    Feeling overwhelmed with life is not your problem, just around certain people. 

4)    Feeling overwhelmed with life is your life!  

 

Find your category below. Take the practical steps and allow God to transform what needs to be transformed. 

 

1)    You don’t ever feel overwhelmed with life.

 

Congratulations! You are not trying to be Super Woman and the overwhelmed label does not fit you. You have learned how to manage your life circumstances, people, and roles. I encourage you to keep it up and encourage others who feel overwhelmed. You clearly have a gift to share in how you live free and clear of overwhelm. 

 

The Lord has given Me the tongue of disciples,

that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.

He awakens me morning by morning,

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

Isaiah 50:4

 

In other words, take the gift you have been given and share it with those you know or meet who are feeling overwhelmed. Your encouragement and guidance may be the very thing someone else needs. 

 

2)    Feeling overwhelmed with life is not your problem, just in certain circumstances.

 

If you identify the cause of your feeling overwhelmed, you have the first step in making positive changes. If not, take a few minutes to pray and think through when you feel overwhelmed. Ask God to reveal the true root or source of these consuming feelings. 

 

A practical exercise is to keep a notepad with you (or use a notepad in your electronic device). Every time you feel overwhelmed, write down what is happening. Not only will this help you identify the root of the feeling, it can help you step away from the feeling. When you step away, you open an opportunity to focus on Jesus and let him take your burdens. 

 

Do this practical exercise for at least one week to see some consistencies. Take those consistencies to God and ask Him how to make appropriate adjustments to relieve excessive pressures from your life. Always ask Him to do abundantly more than you can ask or think according to the power at work in you. (Ephesians 3:20)

 

 

3)    Feeling overwhelmed with life is not your problem, just around certain people.

 

If you only feel overwhelmed when around certain people, you probably don’t need to go through a process of identifying them. They are probably prominent on your radar. Somehow people who overwhelm us stick out like a sore thumb in our mind. That is a good thing, because you already have the first step behind you. 

 

For you the question is, “Does this person have to be a part of my life?” If the person is in your immediate family, you know the answer to the question is “Yes.” So as much as you may not want to hear this, this one rests on you, not them. 

 

Sometimes God allows us to face difficult people to grow us in our character and teach us. Maybe God is using this person to expose something in you that needs to be changed. I only say this because I have faced this a few too many times in my life. 

 

Use these two verses below as prayers. Replace the generic terms, “all people” in Hebrews 12:14 and “all men” in Romans 12:18 with the names of those who seem to make you feel overwhelmed.

 

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Hebrews 12:14

 

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Romans 12:18

 

If we ask God in the midst of feeling frustration and overwhelmed what He wants us to learn, He will be faithful to show us. Our maturity to ask and accept what He shows us honors God. And, He delights in growing us in our ability to handle those difficult people. The reality is, He may not change them, but He will definitely change you and your ability to find peace in life with them. 

 

 

4)     Feeling overwhelmed with life is your life!  

 

If this is your story, you are probably wearing the Super Woman label and trying to be everything to everybody. You are probably a perfectionist, and possibly a procrastinator. The two seem to go against one another, but in reality, they fit quite well with an overwhelmed super woman who doesn’t want to fail so she procrastinates rather than take a chance at failure. 

 

What is the problem? Your unrealistic expectation of yourself.  You are not God. God is God. You are not meant to be able to do everything and be successful at everything. However, God has created you to be successful at some things. 

 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

 

Seek God to find your specific area of uniqueness, calling, and giftedness. Also Henry Cloud’s book, Boundaries, will help anyone feeling overwhelmed with life, with certain circumstances, or with certain people.  Also, the Boundaries Books website has some great, free resources available as well.

If you try out any of these resources, I would love to hear what resources you used and how it helped you!