” (Maschil of David; A prayer when he was in the cave) I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication,

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed (showed) before him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knoewest my path…” Psalms 142:1,2, first line verse 3

We all have moments of feeling completely overwhelmed and I will be the first to admit that I have these moments and actually have to stop take a moment and ask myself why I feel so overwhelmed.

Sometimes we know why we feel just feel frazzled, worn out by holidays or unexpected events that have taken much more out of us than we had in us to give.

Whatever stage in life we find ourselves, working too much while trying to balance household chores, raising children or being caregivers and for some people all these events can happening simultaneously.

As we age and our health and stamina aren’t quite what it used be and our caregiver roles usually increase it can be even more of a challenge to overcome feeling overwhelmed.

I had my own moment a while back when a family had been exceptionally ill with just a couple of different things going on and having battled illness myself, I was exhausted and after I had finished doing all that needed done for them that day I came home took my shower, washed my hair, put it up on my head still wet, as had been the custom for far too long.  

Looking like a wild woman, I just went outside sat down and started crying, to which my husband came and all I could muster was that at the end of it all, I just wanted to style my hair, feel something like human, because I was mentally and physically exhausted to the point that I had nothing left, even basic self-care.

And it wasn’t about the hair, it was the reflection staring back at me in the mirror, with the undereye bags, the frizzy piled up hair that desperately needed a good dye job, the dehydration sagging skin and the aching back and throbbing knees and the realization that if something didn’t give, I would find myself in an early grave. 

And the knowledge that it would still be some time before the situation would be back to “normal” which is to say just a tad more relaxed.

Millions of people experience that same overwhelming exhaustion every day and most suffer through it alone.

We have times of being so rushed in that same way, when we feel like there is not enough hours in the day to do all that needs to be done. 

I truly believe many people go through that battle every day.

People have to work, raise their children, feed their children, clean their houses and be chauffer to all the family as needs be.

I can never think of this without thinking of my niece. I love her and respect her so much and she reminds me so much of my mother, in her determination and her drive.

Our new societal normal is anything but normal.

Our economy has gotten so bad that the lifestyles of previous generations with work during the day and family time of the evening and free time to rest and relax on weekends are now impossible and with that there is no time for many to find a moment for themselves, much less actually relax.

I think as we are forced to function at this high speed out of necessity that as time progresses and circumstance change, we have become so used to keeping the pace that we fail to realize that we need to put on the brakes and slow down a bit and not only do we need to but that we actually can. 

I included the beginning line in our passage to give a little background.

David was actually hiding in a cave as he wrote this, the Psalms are songs that he would write as an outlet and he would sing them as praise to God as he did this, he felt comfort and peace. 

God literally inhabits the praise of his people, and his songs would bring that nearness.

David was a master at self-expression and gave us great instructions as to what we should also do when we feel overwhelmed.

It speaks volumes to the benefit of journaling and keeping a diary or anything that will give us that outlet to express our emotion but also let us use our creativity that is also very therapeutic.

I have been diligently trying to apply this to my own life. I do my best to practice what I preach.

When I feel that overwhelming frazzlement and frenzyfication, (and yes, we are going to make up our own words here, I also added them to my Google dictionary because sometimes you just gotta do that sort of thing)

Enough silliness, back to the point, when I start to feel that tightness, that pressure, and irritability at the fact that I can’t move fast enough I now stop and ask myself why? 

I honestly believe that we just get grooved onto that track out of necessity that we don’t even realize that there is no rush.

And then we must consciously and purposely become aware and the moment we start feeling those overwhelming emotion we must stop and seek God.

Just as David poured his heart out to God.

When he wrote this particular Psalm he was forced to hide from Saul, whom he had been anointed to replace.

Saul was the king who had disobeyed the commands of God and in doing so had lost his divine appointment and had become filled with insane jealousy toward David and was actively seeking to kill him.

Even with these wonderful promises, David still had to survive that season of life, and he remembered his hope in the promise that better days were ahead.

So, if you find yourself battling the days of frenzy, frazzle, and overwhelmed, stop and talk to God, sometimes we know why we are exhausted, but sometimes we don’t even understand it.

Either way please take a moment to talk to God about it.

It’s perfectly okay to pour out your heart with every detail and every emotion.

It is perfectly okay to tell him that you don’t know why you feel that way because he does.

It is perfectly okay to slow down.

It is perfectly okay to only take on extra responsibilities when you can do so without the risk of burning yourself out.

It is also perfectly okay to ask for help and ask others to step up and share the load.

We sometimes just need someone to remind us of those facts.

Think of me as that someone.

It does not make you a bad person and it does not make you selfish.

It ensures that you will be rested and in good mental health to continue on to those better days ahead such as those that awaited David, he become king you know.

I want to give you some verses to pray, and ponder, and recite when you feel those tensions coming on.

1 Peter 5:6,7: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your cares upon him: for he careth for you.”  

Philippians 4:6:”Be careful for nothing (not anxious over anything) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God.” 

John 14:27:“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let your heart not be troubled neither let it be afraid.”

Proverbs 3:24: “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”

Psalms 4:8: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD maketh me dwell in safety.”

Isaiah 26:3: “Thou wilt (will) keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because. he trusted in thee.” 

Psalms 34:7: “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

Psalms 34: 17: ” The righteous cry and the LORD heareth, and deliveeth them out of all their troubles.” 

Deuteronomy 33:27: ” The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms : and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee and shall say Destroy them (destroying the enemy).”

Psalms 18:2:” The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in him will I trust; my buckler, my shield, and the horn of my salvation.”

Psalm 46:1:”…God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalms 91:15: ” He shall call upon me, and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him.” 

Isaiah 40:31:“They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not be faint.”

Psalms 91:1,2: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in whom will I trust.”

Couple of quick things to note, he in reference to us means all of us, male and female, it’s just the generic term. But just think on the wonderful promises and what could be better than sheltering under the Almighty and comforted in the spiritual presence of the everlasting arms of God?

Blessings and Love till next time, I pray this will encourage today!

NBJ 2024/ Rev. N. Brown Johnson