"If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear Your voice, I hold on to what is true though I cannot see. If the storms of life they come and the road ahead gets steep, I will lift these hands in faith. I will believe." -Kari Jobe (Love Came Down)
To be honest, I’ve been dragging my feet on writing a new blog post for two reasons. One, I haven’t had time or know what to even write about. I took a mini break from social media because it was so consuming for me and I often left playing the comparison game. And two, I finally had a blog post that I literally felt God saying, “write this down,” and I didn’t. Mainly because I’m 6 months pregnant while chasing around a 17 month old, life has been filled with ups and downs this past month, and because I am way too good at making excuses…anyone else with me on that? Please tell me I’m not the only one. Lol.
Like I said, life has been filled with a lot of ups and downs. We were out of town unexpectedly for 5 weekends in a row and then came the holidays, but now it’s a new year and I’m feeling really expectant to what God has in store. With all of the craziness this past month, I found myself dreading 2018. I listed out all of the commitments I already had made in 2018 and I didn’t even want January to begin, because that would mean all the business would also begin. Here’s a little sneak peak into my commitments for 2018:
January – March I will be coaching 20 kinder-7th graders in cheerleading. Practice & games twice a week, choreographing all routines, + teaching all of the cheers.January – floral event for my side business (@mybelovedflowersandevents)February – I am apart of a committee for a women’s conferenceMarch + April – preparing for our sweet baby boy that will be entering the worldMay – I have 2 weddings bookedJune – I have 2 weddings booked (one 6hrs away)
And between all of that, I am still a full time employee, mama, and wife. Now where’s my pity party cause I’m so overwhelmed?!?!? Lol
This past month, all I could think about was how overwhelmed I am. The word overwhelmed consumed me and I used it more than I should have to describe my upcoming year. All I could think about was how overwhelming this new year would be and how all I wanted to do was focus on my family and enjoy these last months as a family of 3. Then the mom guilt kicked in. There’s never enough time in the day to spend with your kid and you wonder if you’re doing the "right thing". You wonder if you took on too much, or if you find yourself saying, "yes" too much, if you’ll have everything ready for the new baby, if you’re being successful, if you’re taking enough “me” time because it’s necessary to stay sane, and wondering if you are having enough date nights with your husband who puts up with all of this craziness. Then two nights ago, as I was rocking my baby boy to sleep, God really spoke to me. He gave me this verse:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
Why continue to stare at the never-ending list and why not just enjoy every second that you get? I know it sounds so cliche, but it such a good reminder to take it one day at a time. The list will eventually get checked off, time will fly by, and soon enough, you’re going to wish you had these days back.
I remember just about 4-5 yrs ago all I wanted was this exact kind of chaos. A husband that I would get to have endless sleepovers with, to be called "mom" by a tiny human who is the perfect mix of my husband & I, a house to clean, do dishes, laundry, and toys to clean up at least 10x a day. Now I'm living that life and yet, I let myself be consumed with being overwhelmed so much that I didn't want to begin a brand new year. I forgot about how beautiful this crazy life of mine is and how much I love the chaos of life. I love a busy schedule, I love the struggles that come our way because God always teaches us something through it all, and I love that I get to life this life. Maybe I was so consumed with everything around me, that I forgot to appreciate my kind of chaos. It's in these moments of being overwhelmed that maybe God it's teaching me to rely on him more than I currently am and to stop worrying about this next year, for next year will worry about itself. One of my favorite authors says it like this, "Maybe we need to quit letting our circumstances get between us and God and let God get between us and our circumstances. Maybe we need to stop talking to God about our problem and start talking to our problem about God." -Mark Batterson (Draw the Circle)
Maybe you’re just like me, and the long “to-do” list overwhelms you easily. It’s okay, we’re not alone. And it’s okay to feel overwhelmed; it’s a normal emotion. But finding that every day peace is what it’s all about. Learning to be at peace with the long “to-do” list and being confident that you will kick that list right in the butt (or at least try our best). Maybe you’re just like me and you need to pray that verse over your 2018. Take a step back. The more I tell myself I’m overwhelmed, I’ll be overwhelmed. But the more I speak God’s promises over my 2018, (“For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11), the more everyday peace I find.
Don’t let the long “to-do” list of 2018 overwhelm you and distract you for all that God has in store. Learning to speak life over my 2018, to be motivated each day, and to want more out of each day. Wanting to receive all that God has to offer. What if we lived each day overwhelmed by the “to-do” list and missed out on what God wanted us to receive that day? There’s so much more than just going through the motions. Leaning on God’s promises for 2018, motivated to conquer this year, and expecting God’s greatness through all the good that is yet to come, and even the bad.
Expecting to be OVERWHELMED by all that God has to offer in 2018.
Happy New Years everyone!
Brooke