Too Much

I think we’ve all said it. I think we’ve all felt it, especially this year. “God, this is too much!” I know I have felt that way more often than not. I have questioned if my lot was more than I can bear. I have questioned my own strength and God’s sovereignty. I have questioned God. It seems like everything is coming full force all at once with no breathing room. I’ve got more complaints than praise reports. Everything seems like doom and gloom. Headlines are straight out of Revelations. I don’t think I can take anymore. Guess what? I do. I take it one hour at a time. One day at a time. One week at a time. I threw my expectations out of the window. I revamp my “to do" list. I re-prioritize my day. I realize that some things can actually wait. The house isn’t that dirty. I have more clothes to wear, if everything doesn’t get washed. We will still eat if I don’t cook. And finally, I’m stronger than I thought. I’m not in control of anything. God is my source. Some lessons are harder than others. Some days are easier than others. Sometimes, God reminds us that our too much is not too much for Him.

Overflow

Every time I hear the the word overflow, I think about the prophet Elisha and the widow’s oil. The story is found in 2 Kings Chapter 4. What I love about this story is that the prophet didn’t ask her to go buy anything to make the miraculous happen. He used what she had in her house….that was empty no less. What do you already have? What are you not using? What are you not maximizing? Your miracle lies in what you already possess. What’s in your hand? What is your talent? What are you good at? That’ s where the overflow lies. Overflow is excess. It’s more than enough. Overflow supplies your needs and puts you in position to be a blessing. This is the year God will use what you have, what you have ignored, what you have dismissed to bless you and others. This is the year of the overflow.

Too Much

1 Corinthians 10:13- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I think we have all had moments when we have questioned God. We felt like the walls were closing in on us, and it was all getting to be too much. We find ourselves in test after test with no room to breathe. We feel pressured. We get tired. We feel depressed. We feel like giving up, or maybe that’s just me. In these moments, I’ve learned to encourage myself. I remind myself that God will not put more on me than I can bear. I tell myself that God is faithful. I meditate on God’s word. Does it change my immediate situation? No, put it does change me. It helps me to stop operating out of my own strength and rely on God’s. So, when life feels like too much, remember there is always a way of escape.

Worthy

I'm not sure exactly when it happens. I don't know when we begin to doubt ourselves, but it happens. We remember a past failure. We reflect on a situation that didn't work out the way we thought. Before we know it, those seeds of doubt have taken root in our heart. We don't believe. We distrust. We second guess. We focus on the negative. We forget. We forget our purpose. We forget to smile. We forget to love. We forget ourselves. We forget our worth. Remember who you were before fear. Remember who you were before the pain. Remember who you were before you stopped believing. Remember your worth. You're worthy of all God has for you. You're worthy of love and respect. You're worthy of kind words and acceptance. You're worthy. 

Capacity

When is enough, enough? When are you officially done? When do you decide you can’t take it anymore? Is it when you’ve run out of energy? Is it when you snap? Is it when your body responds? How do you know you are at capacity?

Most of us think that because we are capable, we have capacity. We have to reprogram ourselves. What does your “yes” cost you? Does it take away from your personal time? Does it take away from your family obligations? Is a “yes” necessary at this very moment? Can it wait? Can you delegate?

I am just beginning to realize that I don’t have to do everything. I’m learning that things will eventually get done, just not on my timeline. Those dishes can wait. The laundry will never be completely done. Your to do list never ends, and guess what? It’s ok. You are only one person and you can’t run on empty.

Glory

“A woman in her glory, a woman of beauty, is a woman who is not striving to become beautiful or worthy or enough. She knows in her quiet center where God dwells that he find her beautiful, has deemed her worthy, and in him, she is enough."- John Eldredge
 

You are enough. I don't know when we stop believing those words. I don't know if somehow we forgot that we were fearfully and wonderfully made. Maybe we got lost in the weight we gained. Maybe we got lost in the dreams we forgot. Maybe we got lost in all the titles. Maybe we got lost when we changed our name. Maybe we got lost when the plans changed. We are enough. We are beautiful just the way we are. We are worthy. We are glorious. We are his creation. We are his glory.