Her dad held her in his arms as Joanie sobbed “It’s been an awful day,” she said in ragged breaths as she cried. “It seems like everything is happening at once. I feel so overwhelmed.” “It’s ok,” her dad whispered, “I am with you. Come with me and I will take you to a better place,” he said as he gently wiped her tears. “Trust me.”

They drove up the steep incline until the road ended. Her dad took her hand and led her up the path to the top of the mountain. Sitting on a large rock, he lovingly wrapped his arms around her.

Speaking from years of wisdom he explained, “When I am overwhelmed, I come up here where it is peaceful. When I look down at the city, it gives me a new perspective on my situation.” Soon they were laughing together as they identified landmarks where the overwhelming events had occurred. From the height of the mountain, things did indeed seem smaller and inconsequential.

Some days, especially in the times we live in,
doesn’t being “overwhelmed” seem to be the definition of our lives?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed? You are not alone. No matter what era we live in, feeling overwhelmed is not new as we see in the Psalms when King David cried out:

“Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth, I will cry to You. When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:1-2

What is a rock that would be higher than I?

Perhaps it is that place that takes us above the fray of the chaos that has overwhelmed us. That place where we can sit in peace and get a new perspective on our situation. Just like Joanie’s dad took her to a rock on a mountain top to help her find peace and get a new perspective, our Heavenly Father is there to do the same for us when we look to Him.

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

In those times when we are overwhelmed, we can have faith that when we cry out to our loving Heavenly Father:

He will be there with us;

“And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

He will comfort us;

“In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19

He will hold our hand and help us to travel the path to peace.

“For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you,
‘Fear not, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

He will give us wisdom and a new perspective.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6.

We can’t walk through this life without facing difficulties. Sometimes we will be strong and sometimes we may get overwhelmed.

When the difficulties come, it is where we set our focus that will get us through.

The next time when you are overwhelmed, look to God and remember His promises. In His great love for us, God will be there for us. He will get us through.

I WAS OVERWHELMED

When I wrote this, I was remembering an overwhelming experience. Someone I respected and trusted, broke my trust.

When it happened, my heart crumbled into a thousand pieces
and I didn’t know how to put it back together again.

Confusing thoughts bombarded my mind so that I couldn’t think straight. I was shattered.

For two weeks, there was no joy or peace in anything, only depression and pain. But through it all, the Lord never left me. He understood what I was feeling, (Psalm 139:1-10).

Then one day it was as though the Lord took me by His loving hand
and led me up a mountain above the situation.

Wrapped in His love l saw things from a different perspective. Looking down from the top of the mountain, everything below became very, very small. People’s words and actions became inconsequential in comparison to God’s truth. God’s truth was that His love for me was greater than anything negative I had or would ever experience,

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us. Ephesians 2:4.

Like the father in the story above, my loving Heavenly Father was with me. Focusing on my Heavenly Father and the truth of His perspective brought me comfort and peace.

In His love, He put my heart back together again and He will do the same thing for you.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

REFLECTION

Does all the stuff happening in our world today, overwhelm you at times? What verse above can you hold onto that will bring you comfort and peace?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, as I pray Psalm 61:1-2, wrap me in Your loving arms and heal my broken heart. Help me to see the truth of Your perspective and give me peace as I focus on You.

“Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth, I will cry to You. When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”. Psalm 61:1-2

WHEN WE ARE OVERWHELMED, IN FAITH WE CAN FOCUS ON GOD
AND HE WILL GET US THROUGH

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Mountain town photo, Jens-Holm, unsplash
Person on rock photo, Manuel Meurisse, unsplash
Lab photo, Jobert Aquino, pixabay
Broken heart photo, Dimitri Witttmann, pixabay

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