January 21, 2014

Awfully Overwhelming


Overwhelmed
A mixture of depression and stress. You feel like you want
to cry because you have so much that is on your mind.*
 
 
 
 
 

I know I am not alone in feeling overwhelmed recently. The first week of school just ended. Of course you're feeling overwhelmed. Each of your teachers handed you a syllabus and said, "Here is what YOU have to do this semester!" Oh, great. Some of you are taking 13 hours, some 18, but I think it's safe to say the first week of school is always overwhelming. To tell you the truth, I have felt quite overwhelmed. And it didn't just start last week. Maybe some of you have family things going on. Maybe some of you have friendships that are on the rocks. Maybe some of you are dreading being back on campus with that one roommate who never cleans. I don't know, but chances are, you've got a lot on your plate.

I must confess something related to going to Colorado the last week of Christmas break. Of course, I was happy as can be while I was there. I saw old friends, I re-visited old stomping grounds, and I had my favorite guy there to do it all with me. However, after I got back, I immediately started feeling overwhelmed. Little things were annoying me that normally wouldn't have. If any of you know me, you know I worry more than is probably good for my health. Anyway, I started worrying and thinking too much and I was just unhappy. I thought maybe I was PMSing; if I was honest with myself, though, I knew I wasn't. Despite my efforts to appear normal, I couldn't hide it. Maybe it was because I was not in Colorado anymore, maybe it was the intimidating start of a new semester, maybe I was just overwhelmed with everything happening all at once. And, I must admit, it had been going on through last week... quite possibly a little bit this week as well. When I feel overwhelmed for a long while, I start getting unfriendly, and I'm not that kind of person. So, you can imagine me wanting to fix it.

So. What do I do with that? What do we do with that? I can tell you to lift it up in prayer until I am blue in the face. But, the truth is, I'm not the best at that myself. I can pray, and praying is always good, but I find that I worry anyway. And it is completely draining to worry. I find myself tired of everything already at about 7:00pm. Well, if you're anything like me, something I say here won't necessarily make you feel better. So, I'm going to list some Scripture that may be helpful to you. And not just those verses you always hear when you're stressed (even though those are still good), but scripture that I hope will actually bring you some relief. Sometimes I need more than just a kind word to relieve emotional stress. I need some sort of power behind it. The Bible can give that to you. Some of these verses may have some history behind them that I'm not completely aware of, but I think no matter the circumstance in which these words were written, we can all learn from it. And, if you need anyone to talk to, find someone you trust to talk it all out. That can always lift some heavy weights off as well. I hope you start to feel a little lighter this week. :)






"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. G=Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things..."
-Philippians 3:12-15
 
"Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident."
-Psalm 27:3
 
"All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you."
-Psalm 38:9
 
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you...And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
-2 Peter 5:6-7,10
 
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
-Matthew 10:29-31
 
*courtesy of www.urbandictionary.com

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