• Trading Overwhelmed For Living In The Right Now

    By: Kristen L. McNulty

    Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.

    Part of the human experience seems to be going through days, weeks, months or even seasons when the pressures of life leave us feeling completely overwhelmed. As in, I can't do this. It's all too much. I'm drowning. I can't see my way out. That kind of overwhelmed.

    When you're feeling overwhelmed it can be hard to get your perspective and if you're anything like me, in that place no matter how hard you try, it can be hard to see God's hand in it all. But what I've learned and have been learning is that a big part of the problem for me is that I look at my problems and circumstances like I'm standing on a step ladder and instead of just seeing today's circumstances right in front of me, I look down the road to what I think tomorrow is going to be like and the next day and the day after that. Take it from me: there's no quicker way to feel in over your head than combining today's worries with what you think tomorrow might hold. 

    There Is A Better Way


    This isn't a new problem. But in Matthew chapter 6, when talking about worry, Jesus shows us that there is a better way. He said:

    "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Matthew 6:34 The Message


    Isn't that so profound? An instruction to give our entire attention to what God is doing and what's going on today, choosing to ignore what our minds try to convince us awaits for us tomorrow.

    Making It A Daily Practice


    This practice has become a huge part of my life and I can't express loudly enough what a difference it's made, especially during this last season of my life. A season where I've had so much on my plate that I literally couldn't cope if I tried to deal with more than than immediacy of what was today. While I was forced to do it then, simply as a way to get through, it's become a life saving practice since. Why? Because I can look back and see how many days, weeks and months I wasted to worrying about things that never did end up coming my way or they did, but God took care of them and me in such a spectacular way that it wasn't at all what I was making it out to be.

    A Richer Life Awaits


    So in that place I learned to trade overwhelmed living projecting my future for living in the right now. And my life has been so much richer as a result.

    My trust in God had gone deeper, my prayer life has been altered, even how I choose to spend my time has been shifted as I've been learning to appreciate the moment that is right in front of me instead of looking forwards or backwards.

    Keep Your Eyes On Today


    Tomorrow will come on it's own, and like Jesus taught God will help us deal with whatever hard things come our way, when the time comes (Matthew 6:34). So get off the step ladder and learn to keep your eyes on today. It's not always easy to do, but practice does make perfect. And when we do, instead of finding reasons to be overwhelmed, you just might get a glimpse of God at work today in ways you couldn't see if your vision was still focused on tomorrow.

    "So don't worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:31-34 NLT


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