OVERWHELMED

I Was Just Thinking About – BEING OVERWHELMED.

Earlier today, I was reading a devotional that spoke about God’s Training Manual. It mentioned some ordinary people in the Old Testament who faced extra-ordinary challenges and moments where they could’ve been easily overwhelmed. There was Joseph, David, Esther, Moses and Elijah who had decisive moments that measured whether or not they would trust God through the storm in their life or be overwhelmed by it. God constantly uses the lives of Bible characters to teach us, to encourage us, to warn us.

Paul reminded us: "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Roman's 15:4). The devotional added: “It's impossible to leave truth in the theoretical realm when you see it revealed in the lives of real-life men and women. That is what these divinely inspired biographies do; they distill truth and weave it into the fabric of everyday living. God's training manual is full of lives that inspire and instruct.”

In the midst of catastrophe and loss of his business, fortune and family, Horatio G. Spafford (1876) wrote: “Though Satan should buffet,  though trials should come; Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well with my soul...” 

How do we respond when facing those situations that can be overwhelming? I was made aware of an overwhelming situation where a woman whose husband had died years ago had received word several months ago of her only son dying suddenly. And now, word was received last week of her only daughter also suddenly dying. I inquired about the Mother and how my wife and I could contact her or visit her. The overwhelmed factor is a reality for this dear soul. Why? Even though she had been living with her daughter, the Mother was unable to comprehend that her daughter was more than just away. The reality of her death had not yet been comprehended. Some may feel or be inclined to say: “That’s a blessing in disguise.” Is it? Is that true? Is that an escape mechanism?

If anyone has ever read Second Corinthians 1:1-9, it will be discovered that Paul mentions the word “comfort” nine times. The question one should ponder is: Why is comfort mentioned so often? The broader and better question would be: Why is the comfort of God forgotten and ignored so often? What does God want one to do with His comfort? Simply, share it with those who need to be comforted. 

Read and know Second Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Our comfort from God is to be shared with the one or with those who are overwhelmed by their momentary sorrows, injuries, losses and heartbrokenness. 

Do you know anyone – someone – who is passing through the valley of the shadow of death or loss? Make known to them the comfort available in God through Jesus Christ.

Prayerfully – Consider these things with me.