Overwhelmed

 Have you ever felt overwhelmed? The trials hit in such rapid succession you can barely keep your footing and catch your breath. That is how I feel watching many parishioners getting pounded by the trials of life in recent days. Multiple families are getting pummeled by health issues, grief, financial set backs, and family members suffering. There seems no end in sight. 

Many have endured such seasons. In the middle of them, you cry out to God and instead of things getting better they actually get worse. That happened to Moses. He obeyed God in going to Pharaoh to ask him to let Israel go. Pharaoh got angry and had the taskmasters afflict the Israelites with harsher treatment. The Israelites turned on Moses. Overwhelmed, Moses cried out to God. 

What none of them could see at the time, is God was still at work and in control behind the scenes. It did not lessen the pain for those slaves working to meet impossible quotas. Moses felt confused by God's lack of delivering Israel. He knew at that moment the task was too big for him to accomplish in human effort. He needed God. Just like we need God in our circumstances. 

We also need God. In the overwhelming seasons of life we need God. We need Him to strengthen us. To sustain us. To help us. To comfort us. To empower us. To inspire us. To work for us. 

Many years ago I stumbled across a passage I found in an overwhelming season. I have returned to it many times for comfort and help. I hope God might use it in your life today to provide some peace, hope and resolve to not lose heart. Read it prayerfully and let it minister to your soul. 

Psalm 27:13-14 (NASB)
¹³  I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
¹⁴  Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.