Overcommitted....
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Yesterday I was in Walmart and ran into a precious friend.
We chatted for about 2 seconds and her eyes welled up with tears. She suddenly lost her voice as the tears came pouring down her cheeks.
She leaned over to hug me.
I had no idea what was wrong except that my dear friend was hurting and seemed to need a big fat hug.
When she could speak clearly without tear lumps in her throat, she began to tell me how her life was just overwhelming.
She had recently bit off way more than she could do in this season of her life.
My heart immediately knew that feeling.
The feeling of nausea. Another day. Another commitment.
The feeling of the walls closing in on you because of a deadline and people's expectations.
The feeling of feeling like a failure as a wife, as a mom, as a friend, as a volunteer...
Because it was all just.....too much.
Oh, how I knew.
I clumsily recited the verse, "let your yes be yes, and your no be no." Matthew 5:37.
I reminded her that saying no is not a bad thing, in fact it leads to the better things that God has for us.
Her words to follow I will not soon forget...
She said, "Just because I can do something...doesn't mean I should, right?"
Right.
That was it.
She knew the answer to her dilemma.
It was implementing it that would be the hard part.
Raise your hand if you have been in this place?
Now, raise your hand if you LIVE in this place?
Ok, so I can't see you, but I bet you have your hand up.
Why do we do this? Why do we overcommit?
I think of Jesus and all He had to do. People pulling at Him from every direction
He had one goal. One focus.
The will of His Father.
Jesus often stopped...and prayed.
He got up early so that He knew exactly where His feet needed to walk that day. He needed directions from His Father.
Oh, y'all.
Why can't we stop, pause, and ask for directions?
How about the next time something is asked of us, we stop, pause, and pray about it.
I have seen the faces of my children when I overcommit. I have seen the annoyance on my husband's face when I spread myself too thin and neglect my duties at home. When I choose to not let someone down and commit to something I have not prayed about, something or someone will always suffer.
Usually, it is our families.
This world has made us believe that we do not have an identity unless we are involved in EVERYTHING. We must go to every function, every bible study, every party, every event, every whatever....
Maybe we are afraid of being forgotten?
We want to prove to others and ourselves that we can do it all. With a cute lipglossy smile on our lips.
Meanwhile, our hearts are shattered with guilt and regret of saying "yes" once again.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.. Ecclesiastes 3:1
For each and every season of life there is a purpose. Let's ask the Father for our purpose here and now. Let's be present and not spread ourselves so thin that we miss the season we are in.
There will be someone else that can help. Or fill in. Or volunteer. Or take the position.
In fact, if we do things that are out of our assigned place, we deprive someone else of the opportunity to fill that spot.
We don't have to be overcommitted.
We can stop, pause, and ask God for directions.
The seasons will be fuller, more enjoyable if we do this. We will soak in the joy of each opportunity, knowing that this is our assignment for such a time.
"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup, You have made my lot secure." Psalm 16:5
over being over committed,
jill
SHINE Reading Plan: Here.
Follow us on Instagram: @shinegirlsshine
Yesterday I was in Walmart and ran into a precious friend.
We chatted for about 2 seconds and her eyes welled up with tears. She suddenly lost her voice as the tears came pouring down her cheeks.
She leaned over to hug me.
I had no idea what was wrong except that my dear friend was hurting and seemed to need a big fat hug.
When she could speak clearly without tear lumps in her throat, she began to tell me how her life was just overwhelming.
She had recently bit off way more than she could do in this season of her life.
My heart immediately knew that feeling.
The feeling of nausea. Another day. Another commitment.
The feeling of the walls closing in on you because of a deadline and people's expectations.
The feeling of feeling like a failure as a wife, as a mom, as a friend, as a volunteer...
Because it was all just.....too much.
Oh, how I knew.
I clumsily recited the verse, "let your yes be yes, and your no be no." Matthew 5:37.
I reminded her that saying no is not a bad thing, in fact it leads to the better things that God has for us.
Her words to follow I will not soon forget...
She said, "Just because I can do something...doesn't mean I should, right?"
Right.
That was it.
She knew the answer to her dilemma.
It was implementing it that would be the hard part.
Raise your hand if you have been in this place?
Now, raise your hand if you LIVE in this place?
Ok, so I can't see you, but I bet you have your hand up.
Why do we do this? Why do we overcommit?
I think of Jesus and all He had to do. People pulling at Him from every direction
He had one goal. One focus.
The will of His Father.
Jesus often stopped...and prayed.
He got up early so that He knew exactly where His feet needed to walk that day. He needed directions from His Father.
Oh, y'all.
Why can't we stop, pause, and ask for directions?
How about the next time something is asked of us, we stop, pause, and pray about it.
I have seen the faces of my children when I overcommit. I have seen the annoyance on my husband's face when I spread myself too thin and neglect my duties at home. When I choose to not let someone down and commit to something I have not prayed about, something or someone will always suffer.
Usually, it is our families.
This world has made us believe that we do not have an identity unless we are involved in EVERYTHING. We must go to every function, every bible study, every party, every event, every whatever....
Maybe we are afraid of being forgotten?
We want to prove to others and ourselves that we can do it all. With a cute lipglossy smile on our lips.
Meanwhile, our hearts are shattered with guilt and regret of saying "yes" once again.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.. Ecclesiastes 3:1
For each and every season of life there is a purpose. Let's ask the Father for our purpose here and now. Let's be present and not spread ourselves so thin that we miss the season we are in.
There will be someone else that can help. Or fill in. Or volunteer. Or take the position.
In fact, if we do things that are out of our assigned place, we deprive someone else of the opportunity to fill that spot.
We don't have to be overcommitted.
We can stop, pause, and ask God for directions.
The seasons will be fuller, more enjoyable if we do this. We will soak in the joy of each opportunity, knowing that this is our assignment for such a time.
"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup, You have made my lot secure." Psalm 16:5
over being over committed,
jill
