The Origins of Overload

I don’t know about you, but emerging from the strange season we’ve been in for much of the past year has been a challenge. While I’m very excited to be living life and resuming normal activities, I’ve found that I need to ration energy as I pick up the pace and move ahead. Something about being totally slowed down and then going forward at full steam has been a struggle. In fact, it reminds me afresh of the incredibly fast pace of our 21st century world, and how it can take its toll on our souls if we’re not careful. You see, I believe our minds are like computer batteries, and when we have too many programs operating beneath the surface, they strip our gears and we run out of juice. Whether it’s feeling the pressure to respond to everyone on social media, crafting perfect replies to text messages, or making sure we guard our image with co-workers and stakeholders, we frequently fail to recognize how much energy we’re pouring into managing our reputation or hustling for worthiness — that is, until we’re too burned out to care. Once we give more than we have, we’re forced to slow down and re-evaluate how we invest our time. Knowing this, the key to maintaining physical, emotional, and spiritual health is to find balance through periods of rest, and most importantly, to let go of reputation management. When we stop caring about what other people think, we have more of ourselves to give to the relationships and activities that really matter!

My friend, quit spreading yourself thin trying to make everyone else happy, and start doing what’s best for your relationship with Jesus and those He’s called you to care for. You are precious in your Savior’s sight, and He wants you to live abundantly, peacefully, and full of the fruit of His Spirit, but it’s only possible when you walk in His footsteps. His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and He invites you to seek His presence first, knowing that as you do, everything else you need will be added to you!