How to Overcome Overwhelm By Accepting God’s Help

This devotional is part of a tutorial on applying a faux finish to furniture: Easy Restoration Hardware Finish with Paint

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with all that’s on your to-do list?  Does it seem that as soon as one item is knocked off, five other tasks rear their ugly head?

It’s like being on a hamster wheel of frustration – always moving but never making true progress.

As I walked into my office from the living room, my thoughts were filled with overwhelm. As I did, my eye caught a glimpse of a magazine on the coffee table entitled “DIY…something”. 

For some reason, it hit me.  The concept of “do it yourself” is one that is highly esteemed as a very American, ‘pull yourself up by the bootstraps’ way to live in today’s world of hustle. 

But as someone that loves to DIY home projects and writes a DIY blog, I became starkly aware of the contrast in this concept and God’s ideal for how we are to live.

When we become a Christian, not only are we forgiven of our sin, have an eternal home with Him and the Holy Spirit indwells us for all eternity, but you no longer have to “Do It Yourself.”

As a child of God, we are never alone and never have to manage anything on our own ever again.  He is forever by our side waiting to lead, guide, and direct us in the big decisions of life and even the most minute.

I get so preoccupied with “doing all the things” that I forget that He has freed me from the burden of the performance trap.  Because I have been washed over with the grace of Christ’s sacrifice on the Christ, I’m no longer “in it to win it.”  I no longer have to perform for myself or others because His death on the cross was the ultimate work done on my behalf – He has fulfilled the ultimate performance with a once-for-all sacrifice.

What does that mean for you and me?  We now have the freedom to know that we are not defined by our failures or even our accomplishments.  We are defined by His work on the cross, which has already been accomplished.  And we can work in our earthly jobs as a form of worship to Him knowing that He is with it to carry our burdens – not just lend a helping hand – but to bear the full weight of them.

We no longer have to shoulder the weight of the world’s burdens on our backs because we have the king of the universe carrying them for us.  Our only job is to hand our to-do lists to Him, knowing He will help us every step of the way.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am Gentle and Lowly in Heart and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

What burdens are you trying to carry on your own?  Look to your Savior who anxious awaits to take them off your hands if you let Him.

To find out more about what it means for God to carry your burdens, click here: Why You Struggle to Rest & What To Do About It

For more spiritual encouragement, click here for the rest of my project posts that also include Renovate Your Faith devotionals.