Overwhelm is a verb. One meaning is “to bury or drown beneath a huge mass.” Another meaning is “to give too much of a thing to (someone).”
So when we say we’re overwhelmed, it’s basically saying that we’re drowning. We’ve been given too much of something.
I’ve felt that way about emails lately.
I had gotten my inbox down to zero and was keeping it that way for a while, but then all of these amazing offers started appearing on Facebook and other places. Free ebooks! Free webinars! Free video series!
I started handing out my email address to get all of these free things and now I’m overwhelmed.
Drowning in emails. The offers I signed up for were all good, but they led to more and more communication and hopes that I’d join their latest online course or program.
And as I peruse all of these emails and videos and ebooks, I’m using precious time that could better be spent writing or doing something else that will move me farther along in the goals I have for myself.
Once again, I’ve lost my focus.
Not completely, though. I have been reading the Bible each morning and talking to God throughout the day. Because I’m doing that, I think God is showing me that it’s time to get out from under the overwhelm. It’s time to unsubscribe from the majority of people sending me emails and just stick to the ones that really help me in my goals, instead of just introducing me to more and more possibilities.
We only have so much time.
Let’s be wise about what we allow into our lives.
That might mean turning off the TV at times, or putting a limit on our social media usage, or unsubscribing from some email lists.
If we do that, then we can focus on the overwhelming love and grace of God in our lives. It’s amazing that “too much” of those things doesn’t bury us or drown us at all.
Instead, overwhelming love and grace lift us up and give us peace.
“I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God!” (Isaiah 61:10a NLT)
Are you overwhelmed by too many things going on around you? How can focusing on God help you to let go of some of those things so you can experience His overwhelming love and grace instead?