Overcoming Overwhelm
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March, 2024
Explore how divine revelation from the Holy Spirit can help you manage responsibilities effectively and discover true peace amidst chaos. Delving into the biblical story of Mary and Martha, we see the transformative power of prioritizing time with Jesus over tasks and how it will help us find freedom from stress and focus on what truly matters.
O God, Listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
Psalm 61:1-4 NLT
An SOS Call
“It’s time to eat!” The prayer meeting concluded our week-long fast. I texted my friends earlier in the day, asking them to pray for me after the meeting. I could feel my blood pressure rising and my emotions boiling, about to erupt like a hundred-year-old dormant volcano that suddenly became active. So, to keep myself from having relational collateral damage, I called in reinforcements - friends to pray me off the ledge of “going off” on anyone. My friends had barely gathered around when the tears involuntarily rolled down my face. “Please, pray for me; I feel so overwhelmed!”
The week had been exceptionally intense. Two of my three children were starting a new school. I had incredible amounts of forms to complete and new schedules to learn. Coupled with the new school routine, was juggling multiple other logistics with barely any time to think, let alone plan. Demands kept piling, and three additional tasks were added right when I crossed one item off on my to-do list. Deadlines seemed almost impossible to meet; I was beginning to miss appointments and meetings. I was exhausted and frustrated, and I heard the sound of resentment in my language - “God, why is this happening? Are you even listening? This feels like a lot, and I don’t know where I am wrong”. Parenting, ministry, running a small business, overseeing a non-profit, and other responsibilities and expectations suddenly seemed to pile on me like a heap of guest coats on a guest bed, muting my joy. I had prayed for weeks, in tears, asking God to show me what to let go of or how to manage everything in my care. I heard nothing. It seemed God was silent. It seemed everything was coming to a head and feeling all too much.
My loving friends rallied around and prayed. They prayed for God to send help where needed, lift unnecessary burdens, and for my heart to see God’s provision for my responsibilities. Their words comforted my desperate heart and reminded me I was not alone. But it was about a few weeks later, after my friends graciously covered me in prayer, that God brought about a breakthrough that transformed me - an answer to their prayer and mine.
Something about Mary.
I had been studying John 11, looking at the resurrection of Lazarus for six months, reading it multiple times over. But something piqued my interest this time despite reading the chapter repeatedly. Something about Mary demanded close attention, and although I couldn’t immediately put my finger on it, it seemed too gnawing to ignore. I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to pause, dig deeper, and pay attention to the dynamics between Mary and Martha. I observed Mary’s posture, Martha’s disposition, Jesus’ response, and Mary’s interactions with Jesus. Whatever it was with Mary, it moved Jesus and moved people to follow her to Jesus. What was IT? Whatever IT was, it kept Mary from being overwhelmed compared to her sister, Martha. And Jesus thought it helped Mary choose wisely. What was it? Perhaps it could be the key to helping me when I feel overwhelmed.
Discovering what IT is
In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus visits Mary and her sister, Martha. Martha, being so loving to show hospitality, gets into hosting mode. She works hard to prepare a feast for their special guest and his friends. Running up and down to get every detail perfect, Martha notices her sister sitting down with focused attention stuck on Jesus like velcro. Martha, seemingly exasperated, lets Jesus know that Mary needs to be corrected for not helping (and truth be told, I would be too if I were in Martha’s shoes). What Martha was doing was noble. After all, it was for Jesus, her special guest. But Jesus, surprisingly, validates Mary’s choice. He proceeds to tell Martha in verse 41,
“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! there is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 41-42
Hebrews 12:1 NLT
How can that be fair or even right? After all, Martha was serving Jesus. I felt for Martha, and I thought her humble request was justified. But not Jesus. And that is when it hit me. Martha worried about many things, but only one was most valuable for that moment, and Mary discovered it and chose it. Mary decided to sit at the feet of Jesus, and Jesus said it was the most valuable. But how did Mary know to choose the right thing and shut down every other need or activity that seemed noble but was not as important, like preparing for Jesus in this case?
When I feel overwhelmed, I am usually worried about many things. "How would this turn out?" "Do I have enough time or money for this?" "What would happen if I don't show up?" "How can I be at two places at the same time?" I was worried and concerned about many things, much of which was beyond my control. Can you relate? How often have you said to yourself, "This is too much," or "I need a break"? Are you juggling so many things that you find yourself in tears as you watch one or two plates of life's responsibilities fall and shatter?
I realized I was carrying burdens that I wasn't supposed to be lifting and I had been majoring in the minors, worried about details I had no business even entertaining. How did Mary discover and know to choose the better option? What was the better choice? In other words, how did she know to major in the majors? How did she settle in comfortably without allowing her tasks to swirl over her head? How did she effectively ignore visible and invisible notifications that likely bombarded her mind every second? How did she receive approval from Jesus for her decision to sit at His feet instead of preparing and serving Him? That was when the coin dropped. Mary had something that allowed her to choose wisely.
Mary had Divine Revelation.
Divine Revelation.
Divine revelation can be defined as receiving the information you otherwise would not have known or seen supernaturally directly from God. In other words, it is receiving the necessary information from God, something beyond what the normal eye or natural mind perceives, and helps you to make the best choice amidst good things. It is empowered and revealed by God's Spirit and helps us amid the unknown. Mary, at the feet of Jesus, glued to every word He spoke, was invigorated by each syllable that came out of the mouth of Jesus. Each word ignited faith, fueling vision and giving her life, offering revelation. Nothing compared. She knew this was a special moment.
As I read the text and observed Mary's responses to Jesus, I saw how divine revelation from the Lord was what I needed to overcome my feeling of overwhelm. Divine revelation helped Mary discover and choose wisely. Mary's yes to sitting at Jesus' feet afforded her the divine revelation she needed to say no to other activities that were less important for the moment, activities that promised peace but never delivered on it.
Divine revelation and decision-making.
Divine revelation from the Holy Spirit (supernatural insight from God) allows us to make informed decisions despite limited information. It also helps us to view chaos as an opportunity to invite God's order. Knowing I needed God's Divine Revelation into my space and pace, I prayed and asked God to help me. I asked the Holy Spirit to please give me His divine revelation into my day and all that was before me. I prayed for supernatural insight into what I needed to say yes to, what needed to be on hold, and what needed an absolute no.
“Divine revelation allows us to make informed decisions despite limited information”
As I sat still, the Lord began sharing what was important, but not before He started helping me unpack the overwhelm that had burdened my soul for weeks. The next blog post will discuss steps to help us when we feel overwhelmed. But before I do, here are some things to consider now in the middle of your overwhelm.
Prioritize sitting still and listening in prayer.
We often think doing things for God is the same as having devoted time with God. Both are necessary for our walk with HIM, but having dedicated time fosters our intimate relationship with Him. Sitting at Jesus' feet, praying, worshipping, and listening affords us peace amid Chaos and allows us to receive His vision for what He has called us to steward. We have to learn to prioritize sitting still and listening to Jesus. When you pray today, take a few minutes to be still and listen.
When you pray, ask for divine revelation for your schedule.
Ask for God's divine revelation in everything you do. Seeing life from God's view and gaining His insight offers us an advantage in ordering our days and activities in a manner that will bring peace and help us be fruitful. His supernatural revelation helps us say yes to the right things and no to the other things that seem right but are not for the moment.
Personalize This!
How does this resonate with you?
Where and in what areas do you experience the most overwhelm?
Have you ever asked God for His divine revelation to help you with your schedule?
Ask God to give you divine revelation by His Holy Spirit for everything He has placed before you to steward, especially your schedule.
In the next post, we will discuss what we can practically do to help ourselves when we start to feel overwhelmed.