I'm Resigning from the I.A.J.S.O Club!

My life has changed. Nothing dramatic. I'm just coming to terms with the fact that it is different than what it used to be...sixteen years ago, 36 months ago, four weeks ago, three days ago, 5 minutes ago. It is different than the life I expected, and yet better. It is more intense that I want it to be, but also rich with life-giving and blessing-receiving opportunities.

Life has changed, and continues to change every single second of the day. The problem is I keep on trying to make it what it used to be or force it into something I think it ought to be. The result is that I am completely and almost constantly overwhelmed. I've shed more tears of desperation to the Lord and my husband this past week, exclaiming "I Am Just So Overwhelmed!" Yes, it is a stressful season, with small children and ministry and illness and a family wedding, etc. My husband, desperately seeking a solution, offers "What can I do?" But the issue isn't him. The issue is within me.

I confess this to you because as I've turned to the Lord in frustration over my repeated overwhelmed tizzy (this has marked my entire life, not just this recent bout of it), He's revealed some truths to me that I think will resonate with others holding membership in I.A.J.S.O. Club. I believe most women suffer from the "feeling overwhelmed" strong-hold. It locks us down and holds us captive, unable to do what we need to do, which is usually simple and right before us. It taints every moment with anxiety and fear. It robs us of the joy Christ died on the cross to provide. Furthermore, if overwhelmed describes the state of existence for us, what message does it send to our families and friends? What does it really say about the state of our lives, and the power of Christ?

Being set free from the stronghold of being overwhelmed requires accepting reality and focusing on Christ-centered living :

1. Life is hard, ever-changing and unpredictable! Therefore, seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. Look for the work of the Father, and join Him in it. Humble ourselves, pray, study God's Word, and do the next thing, without worry of the thing to follow.
   
2. Our expectations of ourselves are usually unrealistic! We need to bring our expectations of ourselves to the Lord, being willing to admit our weakness and practicing the hardest word in the English language: NO. Having healthy limits is good for us and those we love. We can't be all things to all people, but we can be the daughter of a King bestowed with His love and strength.
   
3. Fixing our eyes on Christ is the only way to live! We cannot seek the approval of others OR the self-satisfaction of our own accomplishments, and find any contentment in life. We must instead seek the Lord's approval, finding our joy in serving Him, holding steadfast onto our identity in Christ.
   

If this is all true, then it behooves us to look honestly at our lives and take an overwhelmed inventory. It isn't about trying to squeeze more responsibility into less hours, but rather recognizing that if life is constantly changing, we must change, too. How we functioned 365 days ago may just not work today. Maybe our expectations were unrealistic. Maybe we were cross-eyed on ourselves and others, instead fixed on Christ. The overwhelmed feeling comes because we are trying to make things work out just right, using the same formula that worked yesterday, which no longer functions today. Isn't it the Lord's job for work out all things?

I am convinced that in Christ we can break free from an overwhelmed life. It requires an inventory of our soul and a willingness to change, from the inside out. I don't want to be known as an overwhelmed woman, who tried to love Jesus. I want to be known as a woman that loves Jesus, and found her overflowing joy made entirely complete in Him.

But where do we begin? To start, I am going to announce to my family, and to all of you, that I resign from I.A.J.S.O. Club. And second, I am going to begin my day with the Lord, before the family and furry of life hits me with sleepy lids. Sarah Mae hosts a 5:16 Club, which sounds like a membership much more worthy of my time. (Believe it or not, I stumbled on this blog post after I prayed this morning for the Lord to give me answers on being overwhelmed and after I had the Holy Spirit inspired thought to get up earlier!). Yes, that means I am going to set my alarm and get up everyday at 5:16 am. I'll soak up some java and Jesus before anyone in this house even blinks an open eye. This will be a miracle start for me, as I am a night owl with my hubby. But John Piper explains it best,

“I earnestly recommend that it be in the early morning, unless there are some extenuating circumstances. Entering the day without a serious meeting with God, over his Word and in prayer, is like entering the battle without tending to your weapons. The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart. We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer.”

All the extra motivation needed for this new club membership I can find here. With rising before daybreak, I'm certain I'll get my exercise and shower in long before the day used to begin. Then I ought to be at least a bit more prepared for whatever the Lord brings upon my day, and a whole lot more available to my family and the world around me. Overwhelmed, at least because of the constant struggle of making time for the priority things, ought become a thing of the past as I begin this new, intimidating but exciting schedule. Life is changing, and that it is a good thing.

Would you like to see where the Lord has taken me on this journey?
Click on the days listed on the sidebar under the 5:16 club.