It’s spring! And I’m glad.
But suddenly there is so much to do!
My husband and I tilled the garden, which, my muscles kicked back the next day, so I didn’t get it planted. Then it began to rain.
And rain.
And rain.
Our region has been hit with flooding. And we personally had three days of flooding in our basement that took time and energy.
But somehow or other, the weeds decided to have a mega growth spurt. And they aren’t offering to pull themselves. So now the dilemma: do I pull the weeds that are screaming at me every time I see them, or plant the garden before it’s too late.
Well, even though this should be a no-brainer, I pulled a bunch of weeds yesterday, and ended up so exhausted today that I couldn’t concentrate on the sermon in church, and I needed to take a nap when I got home.
And all of the above does not take into account the need for spring cleaning, the taxiing of two teenagers to and from school every day, plus all the other things that are involved in the parenting of teens. It also doesn’t take into account the care that my parents need, as my dad doesn’t drive anymore at age 88, and my mom has dementia, and I am the only sibling that lives in the same town as them.
Okay, I’ll stop there. I think you get the picture. Plus, the reason for my writing this is not to bog you down with my problems but to lift you up with the hope that God is still with us in the nitty-gritty and in the overwhelming situations of life.
Sometimes we just have to do life one day at a time. And that’s okay.
That actually reminds me of something Jesus said when He was on this earth, living in the nitty-gritty of an overwhelming life, surrounded by crowds that constantly demanded His attention.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33,34 NKJV
Something interesting I just found in looking for this verse is that in Young’s Literal Translation, the first part of verse 33 is rendered “seek ye first the reign of God”.
The reign of God? Where? In what way? What does that look like?
I believe that in our place of being overwhelmed, it starts by our humbling ourselves before our almighty God, and saying a prayer that goes something like this:
“Lord God, You are the King of all. You are strong and powerful. But You are not some impersonal force out there. Rather, You care about everyone. You care about me.
You care about all the things that are going on in my life. You care that I just can’t do it all. I believe it, Lord. I believe You want to help me, that You are just waiting for me to acknowledge my need for You and for Your help.
Lord, HELP me! Please. I need You. I need Your strength and guidance and wisdom. I need You to remind me to put You first in everything. I need You to wake me up earlier in the morning with a desire to spend more time with You. I want You to be the Ruler of my life, too. I need Your direction for each day. What should I do first? What can wait till later? Show me the way, Lord. Please. I surrender to You.
You are God alone. My King. My God. Please help me and hold me and give me peace as things swirl around me. Carry me when I can’t walk anymore. Hold my hand in the darkness, and keep me from stumbling and falling. Fill me with Your Spirit and renew my strength. Remind me of the hope I have in You and of all I have to be grateful for. You have been so good to me.
Thank You, Lord.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.”
I hope that if you are walking through overwhelming situations in your life, you will be able to pray this as well. Add your own particulars, and just cast all your burdens before Him.
God is good. Even in the overwhelming times. Even when darkness surrounds us.
God loves us. Even when we’ve gotten ourselves in deeper by making wrong decisions.
God is all-wise. He knows how to guide us around or over the roadblocks in our lives.
Do you believe it? Tell Him you do.
If you feel comfortable doing so, please leave a comment below letting me know how this spoke to you. I’d love to hear from you! 🙂
And if you know someone else who might be helped by it, please share this with them using the share buttons below.
Thanks so much for taking the time to visit this blog. I know your time is valuable. I hope that this has been an encouragement to you. The Lord bless you.
Linking up with fellow bloggers at:
Spiritual Sundays, Dance with Jesus
Faith ‘n Friends, Grace & Truth, Faith on Fire
Tune In Thursday, Warriors of the Word
Grace Moments, Heart Encouragement, Chasing Community
Coffee for your Heart, Writer Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends
A precious mighty reminder of Who our God is; that He is the Mighty Personal Everlasting God and that He cares deeply for His children. The prayer you wrote was so full of worship and adoration; so thankful for this reminder on a Monday morning.
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Hi, Emily! Thank you for your comment! I’m praising God with you that we can mutually encourage one another!
Have a blessed week! 🙂
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I wrote something similar recently about how even when we are overwhelmed and in pain that God is still with us. I pray that we will remember to go to Him rather than trying to go it on our own.
Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at #Glimpses.
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Thank you, Gayl, for hopping over from Glimpses for a visit!
You are right that we need to go to Him for help instead of trying to do it ourselves. I think that’s part of the reason He sends trials, to get us to realize or remember that we need Him, so that we can walk in a closer relationship with Him.
Blessings on your week! 🙂
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So true – Richard Swenson wrote: Nowhere does it say in Scripture that we are to be all things to all people all the time, all by ourselves.
One at a time, as the saying goes. Funny how the weeds do not offer to pull themselves up! Hrumpf! Great post and blessings!
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I know, right, Sue? (about the weeds – wouldn’t that be nice, though, if they would? 😀 )
Thank you for your encouraging comment. You’re right, one at a time, and one day at a time.
Have a great week!
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I’ve been catching up on my “party” rounds and yours is the 3rd or 4th post that has reminded me to seek Him first over the demands and failures, etc. of this life. Thank you for speaking Truth to me today, Ruth, despite your own trials. God bless you. May you be able to take your own words to heart, as well!
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You’re right, June. Sometimes I forget what God has taught me, and I go back and read over a post, and He reminds me all over again.
May the Lord bless you, as well! Thanks for taking the time to leave a few encouraging words!
Have a great week! 🙂
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Good timing. Why does it seem we feel this need to do everything? Then we feel overwhelmed. Been there. Done that. It is comforting to remember that God is with us and there for us. Always. His peace be ours.
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Thank you, Theresa, for your encouragement. ☺
May the Lord help us to surrender it all to Him. He is able and willing to help us.
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In the past few weeks God keeps bringing me back to the verses Seek first the kingdom of God – and here again in your post. I had been feeling overwhelmed with decisions but He keeps reminding me to trust Him- just seek His kingdom – trust Him just as you said.
Thanks for sharing – visiting you from testimony tuesday
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Hi, Naomi! I’m glad to have been another mouthpiece of God’s Word for you! Thank you for visiting and for letting me know!
Your fellow princess in His Kingdom. May we both rest in His blessings. 🙂
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I’m sorry your basement got flooded, Ruth. That is overwhelming in itself. I hope you were able to get it dried out before black mold set in. Then you have all the other stuff, too. Yes, one day at a time. I love the verse and your thoughts about the reign of God. Also your heartfelt prayer. Love and hugs to you!
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Thanks so much, Trudy! You are such a sweet person. I’m not sure about the black mold; there is black on the cement walls in the room that floods the worst, but it’s been there from past flooding, and it never seems to spread to other parts of the house. This time the water came up one day then went down and came up again because of continued rain and didn’t go back down for a couple of days. Right now the floor is damp, and we have fans blowing and a dehumidifier going, trying to dry it out, but at least we don’t have to be down there long periods of time taking care of it. I would appreciate it if you would keep me and my family in your prayers. Thanks!
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I’ve been feeling quite overwhelmed these past few weeks, thanks for the insight and encouragement. Hoping your basement dries out quickly.
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Thanks, Sarah, that’s really sweet. 🙂
I pray that your feelings of being overwhelmed will subside and that peace and joy will again return and take up residence in your innermost being. May His kingdom come and His will be done in our hearts, circumstances, and schedules as it is in Heaven.
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“Sometimes we just have to do life one day at a time. And that’s okay.” So true! I get overwhelmed often and this is what I come back to. Focus on Jesus and just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
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Amen, Heather! That’s the way to do it!
Thanks for your visit! Have a great day focusing on Jesus! 🙂
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Beautiful prayer, Ruth. What an instant comfort prayer is. I have my own “particulars,” but I pray these prayers often. I take such a great comfort in knowing that He *knows.* Not because I told Him. But, He knows the heartache and the pain. He’s with me through it and the only one who can put things in order — His order. Thank you for sharing this, friend. (And, prayers for you as well.) ((xoxo))
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Amen, Brenda! I’m so glad He knows, also, and that He wants me to talk with Him about it because He loves me.
And yes, His order is the best. Anything less than His order is disorder.
And thanks so much for your prayers! (xoxo)
The Lord bless you as you walk day by day with Him.
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Sometimes we have to do life one day at a time – yes that! I’m such a plan ahead kind of gal, but God has been reminding me that being present in the moment is precious. I’m trying to focus more on what He’s doing now vs. wondering what He’ll do next week. Great confirmation!
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That’s great, Tiffany! I wonder how much time and energy we squander on the wondering about the future instead of focusing on His presence in the moment and what He is telling us to do right now? Not that we should never make plans for anything, but I think most of us could stand to leave a lot more “cush” room in our schedules for the Lord to lead us in the moment.
May the Lord give you success in this worthy endeavor.
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Very good post! I am practicing inviting the Lord in to all areas of my life. Seeking him for the little things like what to do first. This spoke to me because it was a reminder of what my priorities need to be everyday!
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Hi, Lenae! I praise the Lord that this spoke to you! I visited your blog, and it looks like the Lord is speaking to us both about some of the same things. Thanks for visiting mine as well! Welcome!
Keep up the good work! 🙂
Blessings!
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What a gem, Ruth! Seeking first the “reign of God” in our lives! Thank you for sharing this and what it looks like in the nitty gritty.
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Hi, Dianne! God’s Word is a treasure, isn’t it?! When I read your comment, a verse from Psalm 97 came to mind (vs. 1): “The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice.” I wonder if it would be too farfetched to surmise from that that if we will let Him reign in our lives, we will be able to rejoice as well?
May He bless you, Dianne, as you walk through the nitty-gritty of your life seeking first His reign! 🙂
Amen
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I’m so grateful for the example of manna which confirms your advice too: take one day at a time. God provides enough grace for this day. And when tomorrow comes, he’ll give us a new supply for that day! Blessings to you in this busy season of your life.
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Good example, Lisa! I haven’t thought of that for quite some time, so thanks for the reminder! Manna for today.
Thank you, also, for your blessing. May the Lord bless you, as well. 🙂
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Amen! God is so good.
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Yes, He is, MareeDee! Thank you for your visit!
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.
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Yes, this definitely spoke to me this morning: an aging parent, gardening that needs to be done, the family coming for Mother’s Day (a blessing, but work to prepare for it), and so it goes. And I wish you hadn’t brought up those muscles and the reminder that I need to get in better shape! My husband likes to say about that passage “seek first the kingdom of God” that it’s living like God is King and, of course, He is! Thanks for sharing!
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Hi, Donna! Thank you for your visit! Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
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The way you stopped your thought process was amazing. Almost as if in mid thought, you said to yourself, let me shift my focus from my aggravations to my God. Let me not focus on what’s around me but Who’s above me. Love it!
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Thank you, sweet sister! 🙂 God knows I’m still a work in progress, as are we all.
May we walk each day closer to the LORD our God, dwelling in Him, and listening to His still small voice, as He reminds us of His promises to help us and lead us in the right way, no matter what our circumstances may be.
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Those roadblocks can so often be blessings, if we just trust what God is doing through them!
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Amen, Christa. Sometimes God puts them there to show us that we should go a different way, or sometimes He just wants us to ask for His help because He wants a deeper relationship with us. Whatever reason He puts them there, He definitely does it for our good, to bless us, not to curse us.
Thanks for your wise comment! 🙂
God’s continued blessings be on you.
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