Have you ever exercised, worked out, or played so hard that you were worn out physically and had nothing left in the tank?
Sometimes we collapse emotionally. We are worn out, completely exhausted. Here's some news; even if you're already maxed out, there's no guarantee more stress isn't still coming. You don't want to let anybody down. You want to make your family and friends proud. You want to be strong for everybody. You feel like you're the glue holding everyone else's lives together. No wonder you're so exhausted?
Like so many people (that includes me), you'll never ask for help. You just keep adding increasingly, repeatedly. The load keeps getting heavier, the pressure keeps building, but you don't tell anybody. Sometimes you even wonder why you're carrying all this weight for all these other people. It's easy to start slipping into a negative mindset. You feel alone, depressed, and defeated.
Samson took pride in being self-sufficient and never needing anyone's help. He didn't want to reveal his weaknesses to others, which made it hard for him to admit to himself that he really needed God. Many of us slip into that same mode when we start feeling overwhelmed. We may not say it aloud, but what our actions are communicating to others: "I'm not letting you in. I won't share what's going on with me. Besides, even if I tried, you wouldn't understand."
But even super confident and super strong Samson reached a point of desperation.
Judges 15:18-20 NIV Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi. Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.
Like Samson we want to be self-sufficient. We don't want to have to tell anyone we need help! The problem is that most of us want to be the hero, the main character, the center of the story. We want to make everything about us. We do that and we take on more than we can handle. Let me encourage you. If you'll let your need drive you to God, God will meet your deepest needs. He will take the pressure off you, and because He's God there is no pressure on Him.
Matthew 6:32-33 NIV For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Emphasis mine)
His Spirit will always lead us to confession, to changing direction, to realigning with his Word, to a fresh start, to grace.
Philippians 4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Admit it. You need him. Tell him so. You may be surprised how he responds.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Sometimes we collapse emotionally. We are worn out, completely exhausted. Here's some news; even if you're already maxed out, there's no guarantee more stress isn't still coming. You don't want to let anybody down. You want to make your family and friends proud. You want to be strong for everybody. You feel like you're the glue holding everyone else's lives together. No wonder you're so exhausted?
Like so many people (that includes me), you'll never ask for help. You just keep adding increasingly, repeatedly. The load keeps getting heavier, the pressure keeps building, but you don't tell anybody. Sometimes you even wonder why you're carrying all this weight for all these other people. It's easy to start slipping into a negative mindset. You feel alone, depressed, and defeated.
Samson took pride in being self-sufficient and never needing anyone's help. He didn't want to reveal his weaknesses to others, which made it hard for him to admit to himself that he really needed God. Many of us slip into that same mode when we start feeling overwhelmed. We may not say it aloud, but what our actions are communicating to others: "I'm not letting you in. I won't share what's going on with me. Besides, even if I tried, you wouldn't understand."
But even super confident and super strong Samson reached a point of desperation.
Judges 15:18-20 NIV Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi. Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.
Like Samson we want to be self-sufficient. We don't want to have to tell anyone we need help! The problem is that most of us want to be the hero, the main character, the center of the story. We want to make everything about us. We do that and we take on more than we can handle. Let me encourage you. If you'll let your need drive you to God, God will meet your deepest needs. He will take the pressure off you, and because He's God there is no pressure on Him.
Matthew 6:32-33 NIV For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Emphasis mine)
His Spirit will always lead us to confession, to changing direction, to realigning with his Word, to a fresh start, to grace.
Philippians 4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Admit it. You need him. Tell him so. You may be surprised how he responds.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
RSS Feed