feeling overwhelmed

Four Steps to Take When You are Feeling Overwhelmed (Part Two)

What do you do when you are feeling overwhelmed? In part one of this post, we saw God’s instruction to His overwhelmed people through Moses was 1) Be not afraid and 2) Stand still. (Exodus 14:13-14).

Here’s the last two steps based on this passage.

3. See the salvation
“…and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14)

If you are going through an impossible situation, how you need to have faith!

Remember that He has saved you? He has saved you.

The Israelites were going to continue to have problems and difficulties and trials, but they were not going to see the Egyptians any more – forever!

I believe that one of the best things that we can do when we are feeling overwhelmed  is to see the salvation of the Lord. Look at your salvation. Look at what God has already done in your life. He hasn’t forgotten you.

I love spring time. We often sleep with our windows open and in the morning you can hear the birds singing. It’s amazing and beautiful! It’s also a reminder that God has not forgotten us. I have never seen a bird pushing a grocery cart in a supermarket. I have never seen a sparrow standing in line at an ABM/ATM.

If God takes care of the flowers, plants, and trees how much more will He take care of you? He loves you more than flowers or trees! He saved you. Trust Him.

I don’t know how the Lord is going to resolve your situation. I don’t know how He is going to get you out of it, I don’t know how long it is going to take, I don’t know the extent of the pain that you are going to go through, but I do know that He will deliver you.

If I turn my eyes to Jesus and look at Him, I will have hope.

You may be worried about your spouse who doesn’t love the Lord. You may be wondering why you didn’t get that job. You may be concerned about your child. You may see no end to your money problems. These are all legitimate and important issues. But your Father created this world! Jesus Christ defeated death. There are scores of godly men and women who are in heaven right now; they made it, they finished their race. The Lord worked in their lives.

May I encourage you today not to focus upon your circumstance, not to look at the army that is raging against you. Focus on Jesus. He will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

It’s through our times of prayer, worship, and being in the word that we are able to set our minds upon Christ and take our eyes off the circumstances. How can you take your eyes off the circumstances if you don’t put them on the Lord?

Lastly, when you are faced with a situation where there is no way out….

4. Go Forward
feeling overwhelmed“And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” (Exodus 14:15)

Depending on your situation, you may be in the “Be not afraid” phase. You may be in the “stand still” phase. You may be setting your mind upon your salvation. But there comes a time when you called to step out in faith.

God gave the Israelites the solution. There was no way out, and God made a way out. But it was going to require faith. It was going to require action. It wasn’t going to happen by everyone take a nap. They had to do something.

Sometimes God works when we don’t do anything. Sometimes God works in spite of what we do. But usually God works when we step out in faith.

The way out of your situation may require you to take a step of faith that you have never taken before.
These Israelites had lived all their life in Egypt. They probably had never been to the Red Sea. Now here they were walking by faith.

There’s a great verse at the end of the book of Colossians: “And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”” (Colossians 4:17)

Take heed, do it, make a move, get ‘er done.

Perhaps God has told you to sit tight. But here’s my question: Has he told you to do anything? Has He told you in anyway to step out in faith? It may be writing a letter, making a phone call, sharing your faith, getting some Biblical counseling, starting a small group, looking for a job, or becoming accountable?

God works when we exercise faith.

The result of their faith was nothing less than a miracle. The sea parts, the Israelites cross over, their enemies are drowned, and then they are finally free.

They worship. They sing to the Lord. They dance. They celebrate. That should be our response as well: worship.

 

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