“People Who Love Jesus Never Get Overwhelmed!”

"Food from Taco Bell is good for you," she said.  

She could tell by the look on my face I did not believe her, so she went on to explain, "No, seriously, it is - think about it, it's made with meat, cheese and bread--all things we need in our daily diet; in fact, I think you could actually lose weight by eating at Taco Bell for every meal!"  

(YES - this is an actual conversation I REALLY DID HAVE!)

We debated this issue for quite a while until I could see there was no convincing her otherwise.  She really did believe what she was saying - and I knew if she followed through on her belief and put it into practice--well--let's just say she would have never achieved her weight loss goals!  

All of us have been in conversations where people have said things we simply cannot believe...

...and...

..."People Who Love Jesus Do Not Get Overwhelmed" is one I've heard many people say - and they could not be more wrong!  

The funny thing is - I used to believe this.  I really did think if a person read their Bible, prayed, attended church and served they would never get overwhelmed--and that being overwhelmed was merely a sign of spiritual immaturity.  

And then I began to experience being overwhelmed in nearly every aspect of my life (so much so that it actually led to depression and all out anxiety attacks!)  

This was SO discouraging for me as I thought I was a spiritual failure - so I would read the Bible more, pray longer - heck, I even started journaling--and my feelings of being overwhelmed didn't get better--they actually grew worse.  

Pause - maybe some of you are experiencing the feeling of being overwhelmed right now.  

Life has thrown you a series of curveballs and you find yourself staring at situations you never dreamed in a million years you would be in.  
You don't know whether to cry, scream, throw things or simply give up...

...you are overwhelmed and feel like a failure.  

However - being overwhelmed doesn't mean you are a failure - OR that you don't love Jesus, it means you are human!  

Take Elijah for example.  Here was a man who heard from God, who followed Him with all his heart, who faced incredible odds and went toe to toe with the most powerful and influential leaders in Israel at the time--AND WON!  And who called fire down from heaven.  

And yet the Bible does not hide the fact that he became so overwhelmed that he actually prayed for God to take his life...check it out in I Kings 19:1-5a... 
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

And then there is the Apostle Paul.  

I don't think ANYONE on the planet would argue that Paul had Jesus at the center of his life.  He was one of the most passionate and influential men of his time (I would argue of all time.)  And yet we see him say...

II Corinthians 1:8
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.

If Elijah was overwhelmed, if Paul was overwhelmed - then we will experience it as well.  So, if you are overwhelmed, don't take it as a sign of spiritual immaturity but rather as an opportunity to lean in to the Lord.  In both of the texts I mentioned above - the Lord used the circumstances these men were in to teach them.  

When I am experiencing feelings of being overwhelmed I ask myself two questions...

#1 - What is the Lord trying to teach me about Himself?  

#2 - What is the Lord trying to teach me about me?  

Often times the answers are not immediate; however, over time there is always a lesson because God never wastes anything--including our overwhelming circumstances.  

AND...for those who are feeling overwhelmed and have no hope--I get it--I completely understand--however, let me encourage you with a verse the Lord reminded me of this morning...

Psalm 30:5
For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.

The Bible does say we will weep in the night - but - it also promises us joy will come in the morning.  So...hold on...it may be so dark you feel as if you soul is being crushed--but, the morning is coming - don't give up--God's got this and God's got you!