How To Accomplish The Overwhelming Will Of God

Life can be very overwhelming at times.  And those times aren’t fun.

God places many callings upon our lives and many times we find ourselves in way over our heads.  It can, and often is, overwhelming to juggle each of those callings and feel that we are fulfilling each one with our best efforts.

God has called me to be a wife, a mother, a homemaker, a soul-winner, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a women’s ministry leader and Bible teacher.

And then…He led me to start a Bible study blog!

Wait…what?!  Me?!

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Has God ever led you to something to do for Him, and you wondered if your hearing was off?  I mean surely ANYONE else would be a better choice, right?

Moses felt the same overwhelming feelings of inadequacy that you and I struggle with.  And told God all about it in Exodus chapter 3.

But God never makes a mistake.  If God called you…He wants you.

And guess what?  He really can do the impossible and use even you!  And even me!

Has God called you to some task that has you overwhelmed right now?

Maybe God has called you to be a mama, or to home schooling, or to being a care-giver, or to a new job, or to a move away from all you’ve known, or to teach a Sunday school class.  And you are nervous, unsure, overwhelmed.

Or, perhaps He has called you to trust Him financially because of a job loss or unexpected medical bills, etc. etc.

No matter what our lives look like right now, any little thing can happen.  And suddenly, even if God isn’t calling us to something new, even the familiar becomes overwhelming.

So how do you fight those feelings of defeat and doubt and move forward to accomplish the next step in God’s overwhelming will for your life?

In our reading this past week in Exodus 30-35, I see 5 things that helped Moses when he was overwhelmed by God’s call on his life.

 

5 things we need when life becomes overwhelming—

#1  Wisdom

God had called Moses to build a tabernacle for worship as the children of Israel journeyed to the Promised Land.  But what an overwhelming task!  Moses couldn’t do it alone.And God didn’t expect him to.

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,  Exodus 31:3

God prepared others to help Moses fulfill this calling.  He filled Bezaleel with the wisdom, knowledge, and ability he would need to build the tabernacle from Moses’ instructions.

God knows we cannot accomplish His will without help and resources.  Whatever God is calling you to do in life, He will provide the help you need, the wisdom you need.  The people you need.It is by God’s Spirit, His wisdom, creativity, and ability that we are able to accomplish anything…to create, to build, to be artistic.

 

#2  Prayer

I cannot imagine the weight of responsibility Moses felt in being tasked with being Israel’s leader.  He loved them, but they were a constant source of frustration for Moses.

In chapter 32 we read of God’s wrath against Israel for their creation and worship of the golden calf.  Moses, overwhelmed with love for the people and a desire that God spare them, prays—

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thyservants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.  Exodus 32:13

And God hears and grants Moses’ request.

Are you feeling overwhelmed about something in your life right now?

Pray.  Seek out promises from God’s Word and remind Him of what He has said, promises He has made to you.

This is powerful praying, praying that gets results, as God cannot lie and must keep His Word.

Praying refocuses us off of our problems and turns our eyes back to the One who loves us so and never intended for us to isolate ourselves from Him and His help.

 

#3  Surrender

The people had Aaron make an idol, a golden calf to worship.  Moses has returned from meeting with God on Mount Sinai.  And it’s decision time.

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.  Exodus 32:26

Life isn’t meant to be overwhelming.  Rather, God wants abundant life for us His daughters.  And has given us the means whereby to have that abundant life.

Surrender.

Surrender is a decision to be fully on the Lord’s side.

Trusting Him completely.  For.  Every.  Thing.

If life is overwhelming right now, you can be sure it is because you need to seek God in prayer and once again surrender all to Him.

His rest will follow.  How do I know?  Because Jesus said so.  (Matthew 11:28-30)  And His strength will lift you up. And empower you to take that next step in following God’s will for you.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

Ask God to show you what is causing you to feel overwhelmed.  Is it fear of failure, exhaustion, time management, public opinion, fear of the unknown future?  Surrender it to God.  And move on!  Out of overwhelm and into God’s rest and power!

 

#4  Godly stubbornness

Moses didn’t want to go anywhere without God.  That should be the cry of our hearts, too.  Moses tells God…

If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.  Exodus 33:15

I call this godly stubbornness.  Refusal to go one more step unless we are sure that God goes with us.

This kind of stubbornness will keep us close to our God, the Source of our strength, our hope, our help.  And resting in God’s providence and presence instead of being overwhelmed by what we see in our way.

 

#5  Willing obedience

The Lord commands Moses to come back up to Mount Sinai to receive His laws and instructions.  That would be an overwhelming call of God, wouldn’t it?

And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.  Exodus 34:2

 

God doesn’t want us overwhelmed by His will for us, by our lives.  He wants us to stay close to Him and simply let Him live His will through us. 

All He requires of us is to be ready, to exhibit willing obedience.  A willingness to do the next right thing He shows us in any area of life and ministry.  (Galatians 2:20)

Are you feeling overwhelmed?  It’s no fun.  But it’s ultimately a good thing.  For then we cry out to God, acknowledging our utter helplessness and dependence upon the God who made all things and can do the impossible.  Every.  Time.

Whatever is making you feel overwhelmed right now, let God have it.  And… 

 

Draw nigh to Him,

Teresa

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

What is it that has you stressed and overwhelmed right now?  Is it something new God is asking of you?  Or is it the daily stresses of life?  How are you coping?  How has watching Moses deal with his overwhelming stresses helped you?

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Abundant Life…Let Go, And Let God!

I Can’t…I’m Not Enough.

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