Overwhelmed? Cling to the Rock!

Anyone feeling overwhelmed today?  Most of the time, at least in my life, when I’m feeling overwhelmed I have procrastinated or wasted time.  I have worked my hardest, trying to focus on what is important and still I find myself well, stressed.

Anyone with me?

We have too many things to do and not enough time to do them. We know our family is important, so we make time for them.  We know work is important, so we make time for it.  The important things are a priority in life and still there is just not enough time in the day.  So what do we do when we are focusing on the BIG things and we still feel overwhelmed?

Life is full of situations that can overwhelm us. First of all, let us look at how the dictionary defines the word “overwhelm”:

• to overcome completely in mind or feeling: overwhelmed by remorse.
  
• to overpower or overcome, esp. with superior forces; destroy; 
• crush to cover or bury beneath a mass of something, as floodwaters, debris, or anavalanche; submerge
• to overthrow.
  

Have you ever felt any of these things. I have. And we are not the only ones that have felt overwhelmed. We can look in the scriptures at David, a man after God's own heart. Yes, even godly people like David experienced times in their lives when they lacked courage, motivation, or was fearful and had a general lack of strength. We can find his cry in Psalms. It reads:

“From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!” Psalm 61:2-4 (NIV)

The Contemporary English Version of Psalm 61:2-4 says, "I feel hopeless, and I cry out to you from a faraway land. Lead me to the mighty rock high above me. You are a strong tower, where I am safe from my enemies. Let me live with you forever and find protection under your wings, my God."

David needed a rock of protection, one that was higher than his troubles, a divine protection. He was physically and emotionally drained, so he cried out to the "rock that is higher than I", knowing this was a place of safety with God. David was not literally at the end of the earth, but he was in a place where safety and deliverance seemed obscure.

We've all walked, or will walk, through days of despair. During those days, weeks, or years, we must cling to God or sink further into desperation. Just like David, we must learn to “encourage ourselves in the Lord” (1 Samuel. 30:6).

The next time you’re at the end of your rope, or your circumstances seem to be swallowing you up, or life is overwhelming you, be sure to run to Him in prayer… no amount of wishing and hoping and positive thinking will rescue you. Cling to the Rock through your days of trouble and He will grant you peace. When you feel overwhelmed, when you begin to feel hopeless, when you lose heart, cry out to the Lord. He is your Rock, your Strong Tower, your Safe Refuge from the storms of life. 

If you cling to the Rock, you will be on top of your problems and see your circumstances from a far different perspective as you will be standing on the Rock who is higher than I. 

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