Life Overwhelmed

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”John 16:33

I can admit that I am easily overwhelmed. There are a lot of days that I spend wishing life was over. Praying for Christ’s return. I put my head down and push through the day and not always with a good attitude. I know I’m not alone in feeling overwhelmed. I have had almost every friend share with me that they often feel the same way.

This last weekend I was truly blessed to get away to an amazing home at the beach with four girlfriends. The house had an amazing view of the ocean. We could see the rolling waves, hear them crash on the rocks, smell the salty ocean air, and feel calm wash over our weary spirits.

There is something so magnificent in watching the ocean. Each wave pulls in and calms the soul. It’s like watching the hand of God. Slowly moving in, gifting the beach, and then retreating, sometimes taking with it. Other times it crashes ferociously, leaving visual marks behind to remind of it’s power and might. All the while there are secrets hidden among the depths of the water; delicate and strong. We can’t see them from the shore but they are there and they are His.

You see, God’s in the business of changing hearts just as He changes the seashores with every wave. There will be times that we experience the ferocious tidal waves and even tsunamis in life but it’s still God. There will be other times where the waves barely lap at our feet and cool us off but it is still God.

We’ve been promised a life with hope and foretold of a life that will also have troubles. Grief will come and cover us in it’s fog. When we least expect it God will send a love note of hope. It may be in the form of a gray whale breaching the ocean surface to show off or a breath taking sunset kissing the sea waters.

If the Lord has told us that we’ll have trouble so that we can have peace, we need to trust in that promise. He shared it with us so that we’d know ahead of time and so that we could be comforted by His mighty hands.

Let His creation soothe the aches in your heart. Nature has a graceful way of calming the spirit. Take advantage of it.

What are some ways God has used nature to speak to your heart?

12 Comments

  1. I needed this today…thank you! I am going through some major depression and all I can do is cry today…reading that gives me hope. Thanks again for sharing!
    Tammy recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Well Kind Of

    • Tammy, I am praying for you. Depression is such a thief and a liar. What you are feeling is normal but what you hold is POWER. Don’t let the enemy have your mind, fight. I know that’s easier said than done but sometimes when we push back on it a little bit, we realize how much power we have in Christ and we can move that mountain. Hugs girl. I know how much it sucks!

  2. I love the ocean analogy. There is something magical about being at the beach and watching the power of the sea. It’s amazing to watch something so powerful also be so constrained and controlled by our God. Thanks for encouraging me today. I need some time away at the beach!

  3. Loved this. What comforting truths tied in with the beauty of His creation. Your question at the end brought me right back to a profound day in my earlier years as a new believer. I had been (overwhelmed) with just piercing sadness, I asked desperately for The Lord to speak to me, I was told by other friends that they hear from the Lord all the time. That fall day was crystal clear bright blue not ONE cloud in the sky I know because right before my little breakdown, I had just gone out to check the mailbox there was not so much as a breeze to disturb the trees. Our weather is definitely unpredictable (FL) but not so much when your a long time resident, we have thunder showers every day for an hour in the summer just randomly that’s expected.
    So you can imagine my utter shock when I was sitting there in front of my bedroom window tears just streaming uncontrollably, I look up and it is pouring like a tornado is about come through! I just felt at that moment that I couldn’t (hear) the Lord but I could (feel) his compassion for me, and just as my eyes were drying that same exact clear blue sky returned. I learned about the storms of life that day and God’s unfailing love for me which has never changed.

  4. Carole in the UK

    Melinds, you are quite right, you are not alone and it is so encouraging when we hear that we are not the only child of God, experiencing the same challenge of overwhelm. As we face this challenge, we know it too shall pass and that we can draw from God, all that we need.

    Whenever I am experiencing overwhelm, I venture into my garden. As no matter what season it is, God always whispers to me, as I carry out some activity, whether it is planting, pruning, pulling out weeds or just simply standing still, taking in the beautiful formation of a flower.

    God Bless
    Carole in the UK recently posted..Diverse Sundays Are My Refreshing Days

    • It is always good to know we’re not alone. There is something comforting about that. To me, nature is like a slight glimpse of heaven!

  5. I loved this post, there is something calming about the ocean. I love to just sit and watch the waves or listen to a sound track, Thanks for writing this, There are days I’d love to “Go Home” take heart we’ll be there soon.
    Debi recently posted..Where my heart is

  6. Beautiful post. Glad you were able to get away for a while.

  7. Thanks for this- I needed it desperately yesterday. My adult son is struggling with major depression and has completely rejected my husband and I this week in yet another battle against very dark forces. The hurt, ache and pain I felt yesterday was overwhelming and threatened to consume me. But I love what you wrote here and it really spoke to me. The troubles are here now, but the peace will come again. Thank you for sharing these great truths from our God.

    • Oh Beth, my heart goes out to you and your son. Depression is so awful. I am praying with you and your husband right now! Please keep me posted.
      He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

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