Two summers ago. I was dealing with a lot of mental/physical health problems (anxiety, depression, panic attacks, a swollen lymph node that we thought might be cancer), and I’ve never in my life felt so completely burdened and overwhelmed. Of course, here I am today, which means I got through it.:)
last year. jobless, kicked out of house (lived w/ inlaw’s), wife having severe anxiety attacks.
I praise God for the journey though. He is faithful. I’m now working! My wife’s back into healthy patterns, even working at her own job. we’re now struggling to have children, but because of what we’ve been through, I don’t feel overwhelmed.
In 2004 our second child was born. Four weeks later my mom was in a coma, I was four weeks postpartum (obviously), and my four-week-old son was diagnosed with RSV.
I was caring for my two-year-old. I was caring for my sick newborn. I was visiting my mom in the ICU. I was crying out to God that my mom would live, and I was simultaneously crying out to God that my son would live. At that very moment, I was VERY overwhelmed.
But, my God heals and He delivers. He delivered my mom from her coma and He healed my son. Praise His holy name!
Last year at our VBS program. My wife and I were in charge that year and volunteers were hard to come by. Seems that most people in the church nowadays aren’t interested in helping out. They’ve got their vacations and other sports and really, seems most people just feel like showing up on Sunday mornings. I don’t want to guilt people into helping, so I ended up doing most of the “behind the scenes” stuff by myself while my wife led the program. I love it, don’t get me wrong, but the 16 hours days makes me wonder if I will do it again this year. All for the glory of God…
Good word – overwhelmed! So many times in my life I think I could use it in a negative context – like being overwhelmed at work during Easter or being overwhelmed with grief when my friend passed away. Through them all God was/is faithful.
But the overwhelmed I long to be is when I am truly in His presence. I feel it envelop me on all sides and I don’t ever want to leave. I have been there before and I get there as often as I can, but still not often enough.
When my husband lost his job in Detroit in 2003, and we moved back to our tiny condo with three kids in B.C., Canada with no job, my husband having anxiety attacks, and running out of money.
The story of how God provided food, money, a job, and unexplainable peace in the midst of it is one we tell friends and family often. God is faithful!
Now. Trying to make ends meet and not even coming close. Husband’s job pays him only a little more than unemployment did (he didn’t realize that was the case when he took the job). I haven’t found a job. We are worrying about losing our home and while my family has said they won’t let that happen, I don’t want anything to happen where they need the money they’ve loaned us and don’t have it. I trust that God will work things out the way they are meant to work out but hope that includes keeping the house.
There are people in worse spots than us, though. I pray that things come right side up for all of us soon.
The day I realized my husband of almost 14 years was having an affair. Our oldest son had just turned 9 and we were in the process of adopting our younger 3 kids. I had no idea what was going to happen. It’s been almost 2 years. I still don’t know what’s going to happen, do any of us? But I know who holds me in His hands. I really mean that. It’s not just sweet Christian-talk.
Right now…
-leaving my job
-moving in 24 days to plant a church in South Africa
-just the thought of moving to South Africa! : )
-training people who will take over my jobs/leadership roles at church
-having my house on the market while packing things for storage and other things to bring with me
-and raising more funds for my move!
Praying for ya! I grew up as an MK in South Africa and wish daily that i could go back even to just visit. It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people. Be open to God in all that he shows you!
About 11.5 years ago. My (now) husband Paul and I drove from PA to AL to pick up a bed that was being painted for us by his mother as a wedding gift. This was 6 weeks before our wedding; it was the first time I’d seen her home – a home which could very easily have been featured on the A&E show Hoarders because of the enormity of the clutter.
Moments after we arrived, Paul came to me and said, “She’s dead.” It was as if I was being buried under all that mess. In an instant, I knew life as I knew it was forever changed, and I was overwhelmed at the enormity of the chaos we were facing.
The first year of our marriage was one giant year of feeling overwhelmed as we began a 6 year process of cleaning out her home and other properties.
hmmm… i would say now, cuz my hubby just got some not so great news, but am feeling strangely peaceful… soooo
October 4, 2001 – 11am – divorce final; 2pm – laid off from my job (not a good day). Came off the exit to my house and felt God whisper in my heart “This is not an ending, but a beginning” … that day my devotional scripture was Psalm 18:30, as for God His way is PERFECT.
Now… each year on October 4 I celebrate God taking me through that really difficult time and for the incredible ways He carried me in that season…
Wow! I have an eerily similar story. 10/18/01 – 11am Divorce final… 6pm Laid off from job! And I also felt the Lord tell me that this was not the end, but the beginning! Almost 9 years later, I’m extremely happy and serving the Lord with my wife of now 7 years!
Right now. Mom had two forms of cancer. Finances are tight. Made some bad choices and am paying for them. On top of it all, God is challenging me to move 1500 miles away to start something new with some friends. It feels like the first line of A Tale of Two Cities. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
I’m sorry, J. I have walking in your shoes, only I had 1 baby. It was hard. Do you have support around you? Friends? I will pray for you. Let me know if you’d like to be in touch. I don’t have all or any answers, but would love to walk through this time with you if you need it.
My family is similar. My dad passed away in Oct. 2005, and my mom was left to raise me and my sister. I was a senior in HS (17), and my sister was in 7th grade (12). Big difference though: we had our family to support us through it.
Now. I’m sure I’ll get a negative response, because I’m sure people are going through harder things. Honestly, my life is pretty good. I just bought my first house, I have a good job, money in the bank. I’ve been to hell and back to get where I am, but nothing has ever hurt as much as being alone. I think that right now is the toughest thing I’ll ever face.
I get angry at God, and He listens. I know that I’ll see deliverance from this too. I’m confident that He’ll answer my prayers in due time. It’s just surviving each day until then that’s hardest.
I understand. I’ll share a paraphrase of a quote that I recently heard from Graham Cooke: Don’t focus on whether it’s a good day or a bad day; instead, focus on the grace given. Some days grace lets you enjoy life; some days grace lets you survive life. Don’t focus on the type; focus on the grace.
Early 1990s. In my 20s. Single mother, two kids, no child support, three jobs, actively drinking/drugging, frequently depressed. Rabidly atheistic. Confident I could do anything I put my mind to but not quite able to put my mind to anything…
In late 1999, my brother was diagnosed with leukemia. Two months later, I lost my job. The year 2000 was full of highs and lows and it kicked off the next four years as the most stressfilled I’ve ever been through. My brother passed away in January, 2001. He was 35 and left behind a wife and two children. The next year was the time that God decided I needed to begin to deal with being sexually abused as a child. Mom died in January 2003 from cancer. I still didn’t have a full time job by then. I had to juggle the criticism from people I thought were my friends because I was always cents away from being homeless. My life was chaos and I was so overwhelmed and stressed I lost the ability to form complete sentences for a time. I don’t know how I lived through it all, save for the grace of God.
In counseling, I had to pick a life word, and I chose, “hope.” That word has been a mainstay in my life ever since.
I am still waiting to see how God will use all of that for my good, but God restored my sanity, I got a job, and He put my life back together piece by piece. I am not as I once was, but looking back, I realize what a blessing that truly is.
Right now. Ministry job is falling apart. Trying to figure out what to do to replace it. Trying to make sure my family is supported in every way – especially emotionally and financially.
The semester where I was taking 20 credits (5 classes+2 labs), spending 40 hrs a week at the gym/field for sports, coaching my softball team because we didn’t have a coach, working 10 hours a week, and dealing with some crazy family problems. Throughout all that fatigue and burnout, I learned to appreciate the small things. Even today, the simple act of eating dinner with friends/family, or sitting outside in the sun is extremely enjoyable, even though all that happened 4 years ago. Appreciating what you have as opposed to focusing on what you are missing out on is one of my major mantras in life.
Los,
I heard you this morning on 104.7 The Fish. Loved the song “God of Second Chances”! I Googled you and found my way to your Youtube video with Brother Danny. All I can say is AWESOME! How awesome is God’s timing? Also, how awesome is that song with the addition of Brother Danny! I’ve been jamming to that Youtube video for the last hour. You should let Brother Danny make cameo appearances with you on tour. Good luck to you as you move to Chicago. God bless you and your family!
One Jah, One Creator yessa One Father, bidda bye, bidda bye bye bye!
When my father-figure (who stepped up with his wife and, taking the place of my abusive alcoholic dad, took the chance to take care of my broken hurting bitter self) and I were accused of sleeping together by the leadership of our church. It was so twisted, so far from the truth, and OVERWHELMING, and it broke me.
The other hand of that…through all of the manipulation and deceit and the fact that we were run out of the church…we have become a lot closer, a LOT closer to God. I’m overwhelmed by how much God watches out for his children and keeps a place for us. Every ounce of bitterness I had towards my old church has been replaced by gratefulness towards my Savior. I haven’t been this spiritually healthy ever. That side of it is just as overwhelming.
Now, unfortunately. My husbands out of work, I’ve had a drop in pay since June of last year yet I work more hours. My health is declining daily, yet I am terrified to go to the Dr. for fear she will find yet another thing I need to take medication for or have a surgery for that will put me out of work. I’m paying nearly $400 per month on a car that takes an additional $150+ a month in repairs just to keep it on the road, but I have to beacause it’s our only car since we sold our other one to pay bills that were past due. Ugggggggggg…Overwhelmed dosen’t even touch the surface of what I feel…. But, through it all, I maintain my faith, because HE HAS, IS and WILL always pull me through!
summer of 08. i was working at a christian inner city camp 6 hours away from home in the quad cities. on the weekends i stayed with the foundations director and family. the summer as a whole challenged me in ways i can’t describe but one week i got really sick and lost my voice for the first time ever.
i had to stay home from camp for the first 4 days due to a 102 fever. the director and his son were in Europe on a mission trip, the oldest daughter was on a mission trip in the Caribbean and the mom and youngest daughter went to michigan to visit family. this left me housesitting while super sick for a little over 6 days. the second night there was a terrible storm that moved in so fast no one had time to prepare and it caused a city wide black out. there were 60mph straight winds and a tree fell on the house. live wires were down everywhere. it was pitch-black and i had no clue where any candles or flashlights were cause mine was in my bag at camp. i used my phone to go around and shut windows and see the damage as best i could. the winds nocked everything over so there was bird food and water and potting soil all over. i had to catch the bird and clean up as best i could before sunrise. as the sun came up i realized there was a tree on the house and that the majority had crashed between the two houses. i called my dad at 4 am, he knew something was wrong but between not being able to talk and the thunder all i could do was cry. he freaked me out more and more asking if i was hurt or if something happened and i needed him there. i finally squeaked out storm tree and house. he filled in the holes and told me what to do.
over the next 24 hours i had to call the power company, insurance company and figure out what to do with all the stuff in the refrigerator and freezers.
i was on over load, being 19 and all of a sudden being responsible for a strangers house and knowing that at any moment there could be a fire or something worse. the trip back from Michigan was only supposed to take about 7 hours. it took 11 because of the traffic and down power-lines/trees in all the surrounding cities.
God spared me that night. the majority of the tree fell about 7 feet from the house. if it would have landed on the house it would have landed on the bedroom i was sleeping in.
2 days later i was back at camp, even with the stressful things that happened at camp that week i was thankful for a slowed pace.
Our first year of marriage. We cut our engagement in half in order to get married over the summer rather than in December. My wife was still in school and I had recently graduated with no jobs on the horizon. A school called on our honeymoon to offer me a job. I took it in August and was let go in September due to all of the educational budget cuts. With her in school, God provided for our needs through leading worship on the weekends and picking up random substitute jobs during the week. I as blessed to get hired on at a school later that next March. Finished out that school year and received a call in late May saying they would not be able to have me back the next year. The entire way God had a plan and took care of us but it was quite stressful and overwhelming.
My sense of being overwhelmed is nothing compared to what some of the others that have commented have gone through. I guess I’m feeling overwhelmed right now by reading so many of these life situations and wondering how I can keep these folks all in my prayers!
First of all, I am praying for all of you who have posted before me.
Three-way Tie:
2001 – the son we had fostered since six months of age and hoped to adopt: his birthfather got out of prison early, and tried to care for him. Months of visits, helping the young man be a father to the child I thought I would adopt, right up to the night before his 90-day trial home placement. End of story: we got to adopt him, but there were so many tears.
2002 – we lost the baby girl my husband and I fostered (fost-adopt) since birth. Adoption was almost final, as she had been with us the required six months. Her paternal grandmother showed up and sued for custody. She won, as the social worker originally on the case had not documented her original denial.
2004 – Three months after the adoption of our daughter (who came to us just four months after losing our first daughter), my husband told me he didn’t want to be married anymore. No job, two young children, complete devastation.
The most overwhelmed I’ve ever been was a few months after I got kicked out of home and had moved into the church house, which was big and empty apart from me and the few pieces of furniture I had. I borrowed an air mattress from a friend and was lying there every night in the dark wondering how the hell things had gotten this bad.
tonight. One year anniversary of my fathers suicide/murder. (We aren’t sure)… and everyone is noticeably absent from my life. I’m alone. I don’t understand why God would take my children, then take my only family and leave me alone. No family, no heritage.
I have a hard time seeing people surrounded by family talking about loneliness. YOU DONT GET IT. No siblings, no family, no children.
Sometimes I just hold on with my fingernails… today is one of those days.
Praying for you Ronni, and that you will really feel God and the love of strangers and know you are never alone. Praying for Jesus with skin on to show up in your life.
When my husband was in ICU and they talked about putting him on a permanent ventilator and his possible death. So scary.
However, I went home and declared in the name of the LORD that he was healed. He didn’t die. He wasn’t put on a ventilator. He does still have Muscular Dystrophy and is in a wheelchair and we still pray for his miraculous healing of that. But he’s still here, a testimony of God.
When God called me to children’s ministry. My dad looked me in the eye and told me God didn’t call me to that, and that I will never get a job in any God-following church. I was doubting what God called me to do, and was trying to avoid it if all possible. Finally God sent encouragers to me, and took the doubt and overwhelming feeling away. And now I’m a teacher, doing children’s ministry in my local church!
Right now. I left an abusive marriage last summer but because of all the bills i have to pay i have not been able to afford filing for divorce. My “husband” doesn’t believe that anything’s wrong and continues to torment me even when i’ve asked him to leave me alone. I just want the pain and fear to stop.
On top of that i hurt my knee REALLY bad and am finally starting to be able to walk on it after a month of no real mobility. It’s been unbelievably frustrating to have to just sit and be quiet when i’m generally a very active person.
That’s the bad overwhelming… but there’s good too… i potentially have a better job coming to me in the next week, i’m an artist on the side and God is providing some amazing opportunities for me to use that gift,other ministry opportunities that God knows restore and encourage me continue to be laid at my feet, and through all the financial stress God has continued to miraculously provide. I am overwhelmed at how hard God is trying to romance me back to his heart and show me the kind of love he thinks i deserve.
I’m afraid to say now because four years ago I would have said then, but I’m realizing life only gets more intense. At that time I was 21, a junior in college, had just been diagnosed with a muscle disease the doctors didn’t have a whole lot of answers for, could hardly walk, and was in severe pain. At that point in life it was by far the most overwhelmed I’d been. But, I’m going to say now feels more overwhelming. I just quit my job at my church because I feel God calling me elsewhere…though I don’t yet know where or what that is exactly. By August I will Lord willing know because ready or not that’s moving day. The fear can be overwhelming if I let it, but the grace is more overwhelming – in a good way. Surrendering to Him and trusting brings an overwhelming sense of peace and excitement. He used the overwhelming situation of four years ago to prepare me for this one. And I have no doubt He’s using this one to prepare me for one I can’t even imagine right now.
When I was a single mom. My relationship with my daughter is so rich now, but the first several months, first few years – they were hard. Sad that I was the only one there to celebrate her first words & steps, hard that I didn’t get a break and had to figure out how to be mom & dad. I was forced to learn how to deal with that stress and not act so frustrated, and I’m better for it. I’m so grateful for my girl and that God has allowed me to be her mom!
My life seems to always feel overwhelming, a lot of stress going on and it’s hard to handle it all…Feels like there’s so much on my plate right now even though it doesn’t seem like a lot. I officially don’t have health insurance and I’ve been dealing with a bunch of health issues for months! Praying for healing and that I feel normal soon.
Last week, when my special needs son sprained his knee and had a massive toileting disaster at school, my husband worked 80 hours, I had three papers due for school, and I was researching e-commerce solutions for my sister in law’s and mine new business. Plus, I had a massive cold. It was fun.
Tonight, when I stood on the property of my first home…looking out at a breathtaking view of the full moon spilling across country fields …. after decades of wandering from place to place, poverty, addictions, divorce, and so many heartbreaks and let downs I could never count them all…
Tonight I was overwhelmed with the Faithfulness of God and the magnitude of his wisdom and the awesomeness of his creation…
right now… 2 boys, 1 on the way, full=time grad school, finals week, full-time @ Church Plant, just lost 3 staff members in 1 month, old pastor just got DQ-ed from ministry, etc., etc., etc…
Romans 5:3-5 “Rejoice in your trials and tribulations for they bring about perseverance and perseverance brings about character and character brings about hope, and that hope does not disappoint us because it’s poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”
I think my point of feeling the most overwhelmed was the first time I ever held my son. Realizing that God had given me and my wife total responsibility for another life was overwhelming, considering how irresponsible I am with my own life…
being 8000 miles away from my family, leaving work, coming to my 8 x 8 room, and feeling so completely alone…hoping a rocket doesn’t come speeding from beyond the fenceline…
I’m gathering that you are serving in our military. Thank you, from this grateful American. We may be 8000 miles apart, but you are thought of every day. God bless you and keep you.
* just got an 8 week old puppy
* about to have my fourth child in a week
* husband lost his job
* have guests currently staying at our house
* loads of laundry, toilets to scrub, etc.
I am overwhelmed by the awesomeness of God. I am overwhelmed by what “I” perceive is my constant struggle to trust Him when things “look” bad. How can I acknowledge such an awesome God yet have such doubt? maybe I should change my name to Thomas…
I was 29 and and had changed jobs, moved to another state, I was married and a had a 4 year old, a pregnant wife, a house payment in the prior state, a car payment and a rental payment, my outgo was more thatn my ingo!!!
…when I realized how much and how deeply my wife loves me. It was a beautiful sense of being overwhelmed by that realization. I spontaneously laughed and cried at the same time.
The first time I can clearly recall was when I had been married for three years and had three babies under the age of 3. And a stepson (who was 7), whose mom thought I was free childcare.
The second time was when I had a newborn in the house along with a 2 yo, a 3 yo, a 5 yo, a 7 yo AND an 8 yo. And my mom had to leave me and go back to work. I do believe I cried for days.
And right now. This economy is killing us. We just can’t make it on one income, no matter how much of the budget we trim. As I sit here and type this, I wonder how I’m gonna make it to the end of this week.
RAIN IT DOWN
Now. Thankfully it is not my strength I am leaning on…
My Twitter wall the day your record released.
oh snap!
Good one. You beat me to it.
Two summers ago. I was dealing with a lot of mental/physical health problems (anxiety, depression, panic attacks, a swollen lymph node that we thought might be cancer), and I’ve never in my life felt so completely burdened and overwhelmed. Of course, here I am today, which means I got through it.:)
when I am consumed by “self” and what I need to “do” ..
It’s my nature to want to control things..
living in the beauty of “surrender” is moment by moment for me.
last year. jobless, kicked out of house (lived w/ inlaw’s), wife having severe anxiety attacks.
I praise God for the journey though. He is faithful. I’m now working! My wife’s back into healthy patterns, even working at her own job. we’re now struggling to have children, but because of what we’ve been through, I don’t feel overwhelmed.
I know He will continue to be faithful.
when our son passed away at his orphanage before we could get to him…
Thank God for God…
Thank God for God. God is good all the time, All the time God is good. Look what your sons little life has brought!
Oh, man…hugs to you.
Mary Anne, mom of 2 beautiful Korean babies…
In 2004 our second child was born. Four weeks later my mom was in a coma, I was four weeks postpartum (obviously), and my four-week-old son was diagnosed with RSV.
I was caring for my two-year-old. I was caring for my sick newborn. I was visiting my mom in the ICU. I was crying out to God that my mom would live, and I was simultaneously crying out to God that my son would live. At that very moment, I was VERY overwhelmed.
But, my God heals and He delivers. He delivered my mom from her coma and He healed my son. Praise His holy name!
Last year at our VBS program. My wife and I were in charge that year and volunteers were hard to come by. Seems that most people in the church nowadays aren’t interested in helping out. They’ve got their vacations and other sports and really, seems most people just feel like showing up on Sunday mornings. I don’t want to guilt people into helping, so I ended up doing most of the “behind the scenes” stuff by myself while my wife led the program. I love it, don’t get me wrong, but the 16 hours days makes me wonder if I will do it again this year. All for the glory of God…
Good word – overwhelmed! So many times in my life I think I could use it in a negative context – like being overwhelmed at work during Easter or being overwhelmed with grief when my friend passed away. Through them all God was/is faithful.
But the overwhelmed I long to be is when I am truly in His presence. I feel it envelop me on all sides and I don’t ever want to leave. I have been there before and I get there as often as I can, but still not often enough.
Right now… trying to quit an addiction to save my marriage
Praying for you, Kevin.
Praying that you will be more than a conqueror through Christ!
Praying that you will find a home in the rooms of recovery that have saved so many millions of marriages, so many lives…
right now…four kids (age 5 & under)…three jobs (worship pastor, local missions pastor, church planter)…lovely wife that needs her man.
When my husband lost his job in Detroit in 2003, and we moved back to our tiny condo with three kids in B.C., Canada with no job, my husband having anxiety attacks, and running out of money.
The story of how God provided food, money, a job, and unexplainable peace in the midst of it is one we tell friends and family often. God is faithful!
Now. Trying to make ends meet and not even coming close. Husband’s job pays him only a little more than unemployment did (he didn’t realize that was the case when he took the job). I haven’t found a job. We are worrying about losing our home and while my family has said they won’t let that happen, I don’t want anything to happen where they need the money they’ve loaned us and don’t have it. I trust that God will work things out the way they are meant to work out but hope that includes keeping the house.
There are people in worse spots than us, though. I pray that things come right side up for all of us soon.
On Tom’s Shoes Wesbsite… so many choices… and not enough money..
The day I realized my husband of almost 14 years was having an affair. Our oldest son had just turned 9 and we were in the process of adopting our younger 3 kids. I had no idea what was going to happen. It’s been almost 2 years. I still don’t know what’s going to happen, do any of us? But I know who holds me in His hands. I really mean that. It’s not just sweet Christian-talk.
Right now…
-leaving my job
-moving in 24 days to plant a church in South Africa
-just the thought of moving to South Africa! : )
-training people who will take over my jobs/leadership roles at church
-having my house on the market while packing things for storage and other things to bring with me
-and raising more funds for my move!
Praying for ya! I grew up as an MK in South Africa and wish daily that i could go back even to just visit. It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people. Be open to God in all that he shows you!
Right now, mom recently diagnosed with dementia, so lots of stuff to do. I am blessed though to be able to be here for her.
Right now… Our adoption fell through after 2 years of looking at his picture.
About 11.5 years ago. My (now) husband Paul and I drove from PA to AL to pick up a bed that was being painted for us by his mother as a wedding gift. This was 6 weeks before our wedding; it was the first time I’d seen her home – a home which could very easily have been featured on the A&E show Hoarders because of the enormity of the clutter.
Moments after we arrived, Paul came to me and said, “She’s dead.” It was as if I was being buried under all that mess. In an instant, I knew life as I knew it was forever changed, and I was overwhelmed at the enormity of the chaos we were facing.
The first year of our marriage was one giant year of feeling overwhelmed as we began a 6 year process of cleaning out her home and other properties.
Wow. That must have just been… wow.
today, when I miserably failed my last test of my first 2 years of medical school and found out I also have to remediate 2 subjects. Yeah. Good times.
hmmm… i would say now, cuz my hubby just got some not so great news, but am feeling strangely peaceful… soooo
October 4, 2001 – 11am – divorce final; 2pm – laid off from my job (not a good day). Came off the exit to my house and felt God whisper in my heart “This is not an ending, but a beginning” … that day my devotional scripture was Psalm 18:30, as for God His way is PERFECT.
Now… each year on October 4 I celebrate God taking me through that really difficult time and for the incredible ways He carried me in that season…
hmmm… maybe why I have peace today
Wow! I have an eerily similar story. 10/18/01 – 11am Divorce final… 6pm Laid off from job! And I also felt the Lord tell me that this was not the end, but the beginning! Almost 9 years later, I’m extremely happy and serving the Lord with my wife of now 7 years!
Praise God!
When I flew out of Texas for the last time.
Right now. Mom had two forms of cancer. Finances are tight. Made some bad choices and am paying for them. On top of it all, God is challenging me to move 1500 miles away to start something new with some friends. It feels like the first line of A Tale of Two Cities. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
This recent February – my husband passed away. When everyone left, including my parents, I was left on my own to raise two children.
I’m sorry, J. I have walking in your shoes, only I had 1 baby. It was hard. Do you have support around you? Friends? I will pray for you. Let me know if you’d like to be in touch. I don’t have all or any answers, but would love to walk through this time with you if you need it.
My family is similar. My dad passed away in Oct. 2005, and my mom was left to raise me and my sister. I was a senior in HS (17), and my sister was in 7th grade (12). Big difference though: we had our family to support us through it.
But alleluia: God provides.
First trip to west africa. adopting all three of my kids…a great overwhelming..
In moments of grace!
Feeling overwhelmed by some of the comments here.
Praying for complete strangers because i’m on another strangers blog . . . Grace Eh?
Going through a divorce with my 5 kiddos while moving for the 4th time in 3 years. EEP UBER Stressful and at the same time there are moments of peace!
Now. I’m sure I’ll get a negative response, because I’m sure people are going through harder things. Honestly, my life is pretty good. I just bought my first house, I have a good job, money in the bank. I’ve been to hell and back to get where I am, but nothing has ever hurt as much as being alone. I think that right now is the toughest thing I’ll ever face.
I get angry at God, and He listens. I know that I’ll see deliverance from this too. I’m confident that He’ll answer my prayers in due time. It’s just surviving each day until then that’s hardest.
I understand. I’ll share a paraphrase of a quote that I recently heard from Graham Cooke: Don’t focus on whether it’s a good day or a bad day; instead, focus on the grace given. Some days grace lets you enjoy life; some days grace lets you survive life. Don’t focus on the type; focus on the grace.
Early 1990s. In my 20s. Single mother, two kids, no child support, three jobs, actively drinking/drugging, frequently depressed. Rabidly atheistic. Confident I could do anything I put my mind to but not quite able to put my mind to anything…
Good times…
In late 1999, my brother was diagnosed with leukemia. Two months later, I lost my job. The year 2000 was full of highs and lows and it kicked off the next four years as the most stressfilled I’ve ever been through. My brother passed away in January, 2001. He was 35 and left behind a wife and two children. The next year was the time that God decided I needed to begin to deal with being sexually abused as a child. Mom died in January 2003 from cancer. I still didn’t have a full time job by then. I had to juggle the criticism from people I thought were my friends because I was always cents away from being homeless. My life was chaos and I was so overwhelmed and stressed I lost the ability to form complete sentences for a time. I don’t know how I lived through it all, save for the grace of God.
In counseling, I had to pick a life word, and I chose, “hope.” That word has been a mainstay in my life ever since.
I am still waiting to see how God will use all of that for my good, but God restored my sanity, I got a job, and He put my life back together piece by piece. I am not as I once was, but looking back, I realize what a blessing that truly is.
Right now. Ministry job is falling apart. Trying to figure out what to do to replace it. Trying to make sure my family is supported in every way – especially emotionally and financially.
The semester where I was taking 20 credits (5 classes+2 labs), spending 40 hrs a week at the gym/field for sports, coaching my softball team because we didn’t have a coach, working 10 hours a week, and dealing with some crazy family problems. Throughout all that fatigue and burnout, I learned to appreciate the small things. Even today, the simple act of eating dinner with friends/family, or sitting outside in the sun is extremely enjoyable, even though all that happened 4 years ago. Appreciating what you have as opposed to focusing on what you are missing out on is one of my major mantras in life.
Los,
I heard you this morning on 104.7 The Fish. Loved the song “God of Second Chances”! I Googled you and found my way to your Youtube video with Brother Danny. All I can say is AWESOME! How awesome is God’s timing? Also, how awesome is that song with the addition of Brother Danny! I’ve been jamming to that Youtube video for the last hour. You should let Brother Danny make cameo appearances with you on tour. Good luck to you as you move to Chicago. God bless you and your family!
One Jah, One Creator yessa One Father, bidda bye, bidda bye bye bye!
right now.
Wow, intense needs. I’ll pray too. I’ve been through the tube before.
it’s one of those two-fold things.
When my father-figure (who stepped up with his wife and, taking the place of my abusive alcoholic dad, took the chance to take care of my broken hurting bitter self) and I were accused of sleeping together by the leadership of our church. It was so twisted, so far from the truth, and OVERWHELMING, and it broke me.
The other hand of that…through all of the manipulation and deceit and the fact that we were run out of the church…we have become a lot closer, a LOT closer to God. I’m overwhelmed by how much God watches out for his children and keeps a place for us. Every ounce of bitterness I had towards my old church has been replaced by gratefulness towards my Savior. I haven’t been this spiritually healthy ever. That side of it is just as overwhelming.
Now, unfortunately. My husbands out of work, I’ve had a drop in pay since June of last year yet I work more hours. My health is declining daily, yet I am terrified to go to the Dr. for fear she will find yet another thing I need to take medication for or have a surgery for that will put me out of work. I’m paying nearly $400 per month on a car that takes an additional $150+ a month in repairs just to keep it on the road, but I have to beacause it’s our only car since we sold our other one to pay bills that were past due. Ugggggggggg…Overwhelmed dosen’t even touch the surface of what I feel…. But, through it all, I maintain my faith, because HE HAS, IS and WILL always pull me through!
Came over to get in on the “right now” prayers. Thanks for that.
summer of 08. i was working at a christian inner city camp 6 hours away from home in the quad cities. on the weekends i stayed with the foundations director and family. the summer as a whole challenged me in ways i can’t describe but one week i got really sick and lost my voice for the first time ever.
i had to stay home from camp for the first 4 days due to a 102 fever. the director and his son were in Europe on a mission trip, the oldest daughter was on a mission trip in the Caribbean and the mom and youngest daughter went to michigan to visit family. this left me housesitting while super sick for a little over 6 days. the second night there was a terrible storm that moved in so fast no one had time to prepare and it caused a city wide black out. there were 60mph straight winds and a tree fell on the house. live wires were down everywhere. it was pitch-black and i had no clue where any candles or flashlights were cause mine was in my bag at camp. i used my phone to go around and shut windows and see the damage as best i could. the winds nocked everything over so there was bird food and water and potting soil all over. i had to catch the bird and clean up as best i could before sunrise. as the sun came up i realized there was a tree on the house and that the majority had crashed between the two houses. i called my dad at 4 am, he knew something was wrong but between not being able to talk and the thunder all i could do was cry. he freaked me out more and more asking if i was hurt or if something happened and i needed him there. i finally squeaked out storm tree and house. he filled in the holes and told me what to do.
over the next 24 hours i had to call the power company, insurance company and figure out what to do with all the stuff in the refrigerator and freezers.
i was on over load, being 19 and all of a sudden being responsible for a strangers house and knowing that at any moment there could be a fire or something worse. the trip back from Michigan was only supposed to take about 7 hours. it took 11 because of the traffic and down power-lines/trees in all the surrounding cities.
God spared me that night. the majority of the tree fell about 7 feet from the house. if it would have landed on the house it would have landed on the bedroom i was sleeping in.
2 days later i was back at camp, even with the stressful things that happened at camp that week i was thankful for a slowed pace.
Our first year of marriage. We cut our engagement in half in order to get married over the summer rather than in December. My wife was still in school and I had recently graduated with no jobs on the horizon. A school called on our honeymoon to offer me a job. I took it in August and was let go in September due to all of the educational budget cuts. With her in school, God provided for our needs through leading worship on the weekends and picking up random substitute jobs during the week. I as blessed to get hired on at a school later that next March. Finished out that school year and received a call in late May saying they would not be able to have me back the next year. The entire way God had a plan and took care of us but it was quite stressful and overwhelming.
My sense of being overwhelmed is nothing compared to what some of the others that have commented have gone through. I guess I’m feeling overwhelmed right now by reading so many of these life situations and wondering how I can keep these folks all in my prayers!
Now. I’m now doing the work of three people at my church.
First of all, I am praying for all of you who have posted before me.
Three-way Tie:
2001 – the son we had fostered since six months of age and hoped to adopt: his birthfather got out of prison early, and tried to care for him. Months of visits, helping the young man be a father to the child I thought I would adopt, right up to the night before his 90-day trial home placement. End of story: we got to adopt him, but there were so many tears.
2002 – we lost the baby girl my husband and I fostered (fost-adopt) since birth. Adoption was almost final, as she had been with us the required six months. Her paternal grandmother showed up and sued for custody. She won, as the social worker originally on the case had not documented her original denial.
2004 – Three months after the adoption of our daughter (who came to us just four months after losing our first daughter), my husband told me he didn’t want to be married anymore. No job, two young children, complete devastation.
And God was always there.
Recently, I have friends going through hard times, and I can’t help but hurt with them…
The most overwhelmed I’ve ever been was a few months after I got kicked out of home and had moved into the church house, which was big and empty apart from me and the few pieces of furniture I had. I borrowed an air mattress from a friend and was lying there every night in the dark wondering how the hell things had gotten this bad.
tonight. One year anniversary of my fathers suicide/murder. (We aren’t sure)… and everyone is noticeably absent from my life. I’m alone. I don’t understand why God would take my children, then take my only family and leave me alone. No family, no heritage.
I have a hard time seeing people surrounded by family talking about loneliness. YOU DONT GET IT. No siblings, no family, no children.
Sometimes I just hold on with my fingernails… today is one of those days.
Praying for you Ronni, and that you will really feel God and the love of strangers and know you are never alone. Praying for Jesus with skin on to show up in your life.
When my husband was in ICU and they talked about putting him on a permanent ventilator and his possible death. So scary.
However, I went home and declared in the name of the LORD that he was healed. He didn’t die. He wasn’t put on a ventilator. He does still have Muscular Dystrophy and is in a wheelchair and we still pray for his miraculous healing of that. But he’s still here, a testimony of God.
When God called me to children’s ministry. My dad looked me in the eye and told me God didn’t call me to that, and that I will never get a job in any God-following church. I was doubting what God called me to do, and was trying to avoid it if all possible. Finally God sent encouragers to me, and took the doubt and overwhelming feeling away. And now I’m a teacher, doing children’s ministry in my local church!
Right now. I left an abusive marriage last summer but because of all the bills i have to pay i have not been able to afford filing for divorce. My “husband” doesn’t believe that anything’s wrong and continues to torment me even when i’ve asked him to leave me alone. I just want the pain and fear to stop.
On top of that i hurt my knee REALLY bad and am finally starting to be able to walk on it after a month of no real mobility. It’s been unbelievably frustrating to have to just sit and be quiet when i’m generally a very active person.
That’s the bad overwhelming… but there’s good too… i potentially have a better job coming to me in the next week, i’m an artist on the side and God is providing some amazing opportunities for me to use that gift,other ministry opportunities that God knows restore and encourage me continue to be laid at my feet, and through all the financial stress God has continued to miraculously provide. I am overwhelmed at how hard God is trying to romance me back to his heart and show me the kind of love he thinks i deserve.
I’m afraid to say now because four years ago I would have said then, but I’m realizing life only gets more intense. At that time I was 21, a junior in college, had just been diagnosed with a muscle disease the doctors didn’t have a whole lot of answers for, could hardly walk, and was in severe pain. At that point in life it was by far the most overwhelmed I’d been. But, I’m going to say now feels more overwhelming. I just quit my job at my church because I feel God calling me elsewhere…though I don’t yet know where or what that is exactly. By August I will Lord willing know because ready or not that’s moving day. The fear can be overwhelming if I let it, but the grace is more overwhelming – in a good way. Surrendering to Him and trusting brings an overwhelming sense of peace and excitement. He used the overwhelming situation of four years ago to prepare me for this one. And I have no doubt He’s using this one to prepare me for one I can’t even imagine right now.
When I was a single mom. My relationship with my daughter is so rich now, but the first several months, first few years – they were hard. Sad that I was the only one there to celebrate her first words & steps, hard that I didn’t get a break and had to figure out how to be mom & dad. I was forced to learn how to deal with that stress and not act so frustrated, and I’m better for it. I’m so grateful for my girl and that God has allowed me to be her mom!
Depression plus school plus church upheval plus home stress plus friend stress plus feeling unbearably alone…
Somehow (with God’s help and the help of people around me praying for me and being there for me), I made it through.
My life seems to always feel overwhelming, a lot of stress going on and it’s hard to handle it all…Feels like there’s so much on my plate right now even though it doesn’t seem like a lot. I officially don’t have health insurance and I’ve been dealing with a bunch of health issues for months! Praying for healing and that I feel normal soon.
Last week, when my special needs son sprained his knee and had a massive toileting disaster at school, my husband worked 80 hours, I had three papers due for school, and I was researching e-commerce solutions for my sister in law’s and mine new business. Plus, I had a massive cold. It was fun.
Tonight, when I stood on the property of my first home…looking out at a breathtaking view of the full moon spilling across country fields …. after decades of wandering from place to place, poverty, addictions, divorce, and so many heartbreaks and let downs I could never count them all…
Tonight I was overwhelmed with the Faithfulness of God and the magnitude of his wisdom and the awesomeness of his creation…
Alleluia. Alleluia.
right now… 2 boys, 1 on the way, full=time grad school, finals week, full-time @ Church Plant, just lost 3 staff members in 1 month, old pastor just got DQ-ed from ministry, etc., etc., etc…
Romans 5:3-5 “Rejoice in your trials and tribulations for they bring about perseverance and perseverance brings about character and character brings about hope, and that hope does not disappoint us because it’s poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”
I think my point of feeling the most overwhelmed was the first time I ever held my son. Realizing that God had given me and my wife total responsibility for another life was overwhelming, considering how irresponsible I am with my own life…
right now…wife just lost her job, insurance, and our baby is due tomorrow.
being 8000 miles away from my family, leaving work, coming to my 8 x 8 room, and feeling so completely alone…hoping a rocket doesn’t come speeding from beyond the fenceline…
I’m gathering that you are serving in our military. Thank you, from this grateful American. We may be 8000 miles apart, but you are thought of every day. God bless you and keep you.
Now…
* just got an 8 week old puppy
* about to have my fourth child in a week
* husband lost his job
* have guests currently staying at our house
* loads of laundry, toilets to scrub, etc.
Sigh.
glad I stopped by…praying for the needs and the joys shared here today…
Mary Anne
I am overwhelmed by the awesomeness of God. I am overwhelmed by what “I” perceive is my constant struggle to trust Him when things “look” bad. How can I acknowledge such an awesome God yet have such doubt? maybe I should change my name to Thomas…
I was 29 and and had changed jobs, moved to another state, I was married and a had a 4 year old, a pregnant wife, a house payment in the prior state, a car payment and a rental payment, my outgo was more thatn my ingo!!!
2004. My boyfriend broke up with me, my parents separated (and later divorced in 2005), my college roommate wanted to switch roommates.
But I look back now and realize that God never left me, even though those who were closest to me did.
There is HOPE. Don’t know if you’re feeling overwhelmed, but you will get through it.
Matthew 6.25-34.
Either…
a) When my dad died in 2005. I was a senior in high school at the time.
or…
b) Last April-October. I dealt with six months of almost constant depression, and it felt like it would never, ever go away. Thank God for medicine.
Right now.
Now . . . and the last 5 years . . .
…when I realized how much and how deeply my wife loves me. It was a beautiful sense of being overwhelmed by that realization. I spontaneously laughed and cried at the same time.
The first time I can clearly recall was when I had been married for three years and had three babies under the age of 3. And a stepson (who was 7), whose mom thought I was free childcare.
The second time was when I had a newborn in the house along with a 2 yo, a 3 yo, a 5 yo, a 7 yo AND an 8 yo. And my mom had to leave me and go back to work. I do believe I cried for days.
And right now. This economy is killing us. We just can’t make it on one income, no matter how much of the budget we trim. As I sit here and type this, I wonder how I’m gonna make it to the end of this week.