At the beginning of this year, I told you that my three words for the year were: Prayer, purpose and passion.

I wanted a greater connection with Jesus. I wanted to be clear on my purpose and not sway left and right.

I also said that I was going to leave behind: Complaining, control and compromise.

I wanted to put an end to mental negativity, having to know what’s going to happen and I didn’t want to compromise on what Jesus was asking me to do.

I would love to sit here and tell you that, less than halfway through the year, I have a renewed passion for Jesus and that I am full of energy and faith… 

The truth is: I am still struggling to:

1. Think positive, 
2. Trust God’s leadership and,
3. Not have everything my own way!

So I sit here and ask myself, how can I get unstuck? 

I think my key problem is overwhelm. 

For instance: I just listened to a leadership podcast about the power of positive thinking. I took away at least five key practices from that one podcast… 

Will I implement them? Nope! 

Why? Overwhelm! Five is way too much!

Just to paint a real-life picture for you now: 

• I am a wife. 
• I am a full-time stay-at-home mum of two little people; neither one yet attends school or nursery. 
• I am also 21 weeks pregnant with my third child. 
• And, I have a small digital marketing job for the fringe hours! 

Life is full, which isn’t a bad thing. But, if I’m honest, it has started to feel overwhelming. That is a warning sign.

Maybe if you take a glimpse back over the year you can see signs that you are also getting a little lost in a sea of overwhelm?

What are you and I going to do about it? 

There’s a story in the bible about Jesus calming a storm:

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Mark 4: 35: 41, NIV.

Let’s recap: There is a storm that threatens to overwhelm the disciples and this is Jesus’ response:

1. He stops the storm.
2. He asks His disciples two questions: “Why are you so afraid? Do you sill have no faith?” (v40).

Maybe this is our starting point in overwhelm recovery:

1. Weather the storm, knowing Jesus will end it.

When Jesus spoke to the storm, it became quiet. He stopped this huge storm, at just the right time. 

Overwhelming seasons come to an end. And Jesus is the one who stops them. 

As I read this bible story, I know that part of my overwhelm occurs because I have been trying to stop the storm, rather than simply trust it is just a season. 

Thinking this way helps me to slow down: If it is just a season, how can I weather this one well? 

What are the key things I need, through this busy time? 

I don’t need to think big because this won’t last forever. I need to think short-term.

Daily – I could take 15 minutes to read my bible and journal thoughts.

Weekly – I could make sure I write for an hour.

Monthly – I could book in a couple of longer afternoons to myself, or do something that I consider a real (affordable) treat. Something that I genuinely enjoy.

When I can – I have been maintaining a very s…l…o…w practice of reading, ever since I wrote this habits blog. I am currently reading my third book of the year! That is life-giving to me.

What short-term, small practices will help you stay sane, in the midst of your current circumstances? 

• Maybe you are a new mum and you need to sign up for a short, and weekly video-based bible study?
• Maybe you’ve started a new job and you need to prioritize alone-time one evening a week?
• Maybe you are busy taking care of loved ones and you need to do one small thing that gives you life – A weekly gym class, a monthly book club or a regular class, learning a new craft?

2. Take note of what comes out of your heart

Here’s the hard truth about this storm-stopping bible story: Jesus is God, so He could have woken earlier. But He didn’t.

As a result of Jesus’ timing, an overwhelming storm revealed what was in the disciples’ hearts.

Jesus was then able to settle the woes that came out of their inmost beings.

In the middle of chaos: It is time to be honest about your fears. 

• Ask yourself: “Why am I so afraid? 

Personally, I am afraid that I am not good enough. 

That I am not:

• Doing enough, 
• Earning enough, 
• Changing quickly enough, 
• Parenting well enough, 
• Eating healthy enough,
• Exercising enough,
• Praying enough,
• Cleaning enough.

It is like I have this list of requirements that I have to fulfill in order to get God’s approval. 

But that is a lie.

Grace is the truth. Because I am saved by Jesus’ grace He makes me enough.

What fears do you hold? Is there a storm in your life that is revealing something in your heart?

Write those fears down and share them with close friends that will pray for you. This overwhelm can’t win, when it’s brought to light.

• Secondly, ask: Do I still have no faith?”

The thing that settles fear is faith. 

For me: I can have faith that Jesus has and will come through for me, just as I am. He is the one who makes me righteous:

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV.

I can meditate on this verse – shout it when things don’t seem to be working out.

I don’t think Jesus was angrily scolding the disciples when he questioned their faith on that stormy boat.

I think He was reminding them of what they had:

• They had authority in Him; the name of Jesus. 
• They had faith in Him. 
• They had the word of God; More powerful than any storm. 

I wonder if this question was supposed to help us search our hearts? 

Maybe it is time that we remind our souls of what we have, right now: 

• We have faith in one who can do what we cannot.
• We have His word, which is truer than any fear.
• We have His presence to comfort us; We can seek His face and counsel even through the most mentally overwhelming days.

Don’t let the feelings of overwhelm stop you from remembering the truth that God loves you and He can get you through any season. 

He can help you in brain fog and tiredness.

He can certainly hold your hand as you walk through a hectic season.

Final thoughts

Maybe month six of 2023 isn’t what you imagined it would be.

Maybe, like me, you are also tired and overwhelmed.

Let the bible story of Jesus stopping the storm speak to you. The Holy Spirit inside you knows exactly what you need. Ask yourself the big questions:

• Am I overwhelmed?
• Am I trying to settle my own storm?
• Am I afraid?
• What is being revealed in my heart, as I weather this storm? 
• Can I give my feelings and fears over to Jesus?

Hope this helps today.