Grace for the Overwhelming Days

Thoughts for the Overwhelmed Mom

Have you ever had one of those days where your toddler outlasted your last cup of coffee? Or you have so many things coming at you at once that vertigo has you feeling sick? Yeah, me too! Life can be overwhelming sometimes...enough said. Right?

I've had my share of those days. Days where I wished I could just hide under the covers. Would hiding solve any of the challenges for that day, week, month or even some times a year? No, not really. Awhile back I was having one of those days that turned into one of those weeks. I would cry during the day and fall asleep exhausted at night feeling like a failure. By the end of the week I had had enough of it. I was tired of being overwhelmed!!! 

See the problem came in when I kept trying to do everything in my own strength, knowledge, and routine. I kept thinking if this situation was different then maybe things would be better, or if  "this or that" could change then things would be better. I knew deep down in my heart what I should have done the first time those despairing thoughts entered my mind. But I didn't, and instead tried to deal with the feelings of inadequacies on my own. I don't know about you, but for me that is a lonely road to travel. 

Once I said "enough already" and turned to God, He was already there waiting on me to lean on Him.

One of my very favorite passage of verses talks about leaning on Him and not on my own understanding. 

Proverbs 3: 5-6 (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

I have to trust Him, and know that He is working all things together for my good, (Romans 8:28) I have to lean on Him instead of trusting my own understanding. (Isaiah 55:8-9) When I acknowledge Him, then He will direct my steps. (Isaiah 30:21) So when those tough days come, and they will, I have to keep my thoughts on Him and offer up a prayer. Take heart, He is still there for you and me waiting for us to lean on Him. Blessings!

Proverb Wisdom Cookies

Have you ever eaten at a Chinese restaurant? I would imagine most people have, but if you have not here is a little detail. After you have finished eating they will give you fortune cookies. Inside these crunchy cookies is a little slip of paper. On the paper will be a saying of fortune for you to read. There will also be your "lucky numbers or days" on the back. The sayings are sometimes clever, sometimes serious or even sometimes about your romantic future. My husband and I have always just laughed when reading some of them that we have gotten. Just as a side note, I am not the Chinese cuisine lover in the family. The thought hit me this morning as I was reading my Proverb for the day. Why not Proverb wisdom cookies? I love reading the book of Proverbs. I am still trying to absorb all the wisdom that I can from this book. There are just so many ideas of wisdom that are written in this book. So here are just a few that stood out to me that would make good bits of wisdom.

Proverbs 18:10, 12, 13, 19, 22, &24 (NKJV)

10 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

12 "Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility."

13 "He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him."

19 "A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle."

[One of my favorite ones.  :) ]
22 "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD."

24 "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Now to find a fortune cookie recipe.