It is so easy to be overwhelmed by our everyday lives. It is so easy to be sick and just tired of our seemingly endless to-do-list. From work deadlines, to house chores, to ministry duties. And I’m not talking about a burn-out here. I’m talking about that phase where we are drown in our busyness, unable to retrace why we begin in the first place, but not yet quite reach a burn-out (which we will get to if we don’t do something about it).

For me, I often feel like teaching kids and cleaning the house every single day were overwhelming. I have wanted to call it quits so many times, but I never did; because God graciously reminds me over and over again that all I had to do was ask God to move and take over.

Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

So what I did to go through seasons where I am overwhelmed was very simple: I prayed. A lot.

I asked God to change my desires and motivations, so that I will be able to do what I needed to do joyfully, without feeling a heavy burden on my shoulder. I asked God to help me mop the floor. I asked God’s joy to overcome me when I teach. I asked for Him to show Himself true and grow contentment in me. I asked God for a fresh point of view of what these mundane things were all about.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that the world uses the “half-full-half-empty glass” analogy to describe the way our minds work. I don’t think it is much different when we think about our lives and spiritual walk. When we look at our lives and circumstances from our own lens, we are always half empty. Either we are not enough or we are too much, never enough and never just content. But when we shift our focus on Jesus, we will soon realize that our cups are no longer half full nor half empty. Our cups are overflowing with unfailing love, mercy, favor, wisdom and so much more. The burdens are taken off our shoulders because we realize it’s not about us, it is all by His grace and for His glory.

So, the next time life is being life, throwing “lemons” at us, let’s ask God:
to put our focus on Him,
to move within us,
to change us from the inside out,
to make us see things we have never seen before.

And whenever we seem to encounter a difficult challenge ahead of us, let us:
fight it with the truths of God,
surrender through worship,
believe in prayer,
speak life and faith, not doubt and complains and anger.

Let’s live our lives ready and available to follow His leading and calling, with the understanding that He has found us and loved us first. God is available to us and He has said it for us to understand this: when we invite Him and look for Him wholeheartedly, we will find Him.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
-Jeremiah 29:13