How to Move from an Overwhelmed Woman to a Peaceful Woman

We sat there at the cafe discussing our future.

The future of our children as they grow into young men.

The future of our business.

And the future of the ministry here.

It seems odd to me as a mama who has spent so much of my life pouring into my children that I’m now stepping back ever so lightly as I  watch them grow and become independent young men.

“5 years from now what will our lives look like”, I said to him.

“Well, the boys will be 17 and 19.  You’ll be done homeschooling Seth, and Noah will only have one more year left,” my Beloved responded.

5 years….my mind trails off.  It’s not that far off.

I can’t imagine my life without training, guiding and teaching my sons.  It’s a foreign concept to this mama to think this hands-on parenting thing will end sooner than I think.

And so we talk more about today.  The immediate.  And we try to make wise plans, choices, and decisions that will draw us closer to God, to one another, and to our children.  Decisions that will lead to life.  Decisions that will be spiritually best for our entire family.

And we come back to the topic of this ministry.

I tell him I’m overwhelmed by it.

I’m emotionally overwhelmed because I’m not used to the support and encouragement by others.  Yes, God has placed my man by my side to encourage me and He’s also positioned a few other women who do the same, but the loving response and encouraging words from others leaves this gal utterly speechless.  My heart and emotions are taken aback and I usually don’t know how to handle it.  Sometimes I just want to run and hide from it all.

And then I read all of the emails from so many hurting women and I cry because my heart aches for all that they are going through.  I wish I could just sit with them and encourage them in their journey, but I can’t.

Then of course I look at my reality.  I’m one woman who wears many hats, (probably just like you). And then I gently remind myself and my husband that I’m not in full-time ministry.  It’s not my season to be here in this on-line space all of the time.  Or to be travelling the world speaking and ministering to women on a regular basis.

So he asks me where do I want this ministry to go.  I tell him I don’t know.  This planner is not planning the path here because I don’t want to trust in me.  Instead, I’m positioning myself behind my Lord for Him to show me the way, after all, it’s His ministry.  I just serve here and answer to Him.   And my Lord tells me to stay the course.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  Psalm 118:8

So the two of us talked more.  Prioritized more.  And we’ve come to realize if activities and/or opportunities do not line up with our God-honoring priorities, then we say no.

Life is full of various stages and seasons and no person is exempt from this.  Sometimes the seasons we go through are filled with one storm after another and you feel like you’re going to drown.  Other seasons are comprised of multiple stages within life; from getting married to birthing babies, to shaping the life of a child to guiding teens, to becoming empty nesters, to burying your parents, and everything else in between.

Those life stages require a great amount of flexibility, discernment, wisdom, prayer, and intentionality.  I’ve been in several of these stages and seasons and the Lord has taught me a few things..

How to Move from an Overwhelmed Woman to a Peaceful Woman

• At some point, trials will come to an end, although many times my emotions and my mind don’t believe this. 
• I need to be flexible with God’s plan for my life.
• It’s wise to make sure my priorities and decisions are in line with the Word of God.  When I do this, it gives me the freedom to not feel guilty for not being able to do it all.
• I need to keep my eyes on the Lord, not my circumstances.

Friend, where ever you’re at today, I just want to encourage you in your journey.  If you’re in a storm or living in stages, God’s got a plan and purpose for your life.  Keeping your mind on Christ while you’re walking in His ways will bring you peace.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Isaiah 26:3

It’s so easy for our emotions to naturally cause us to feel overwhelmed but when we turn to God and His Word, and submit our lives to Him, He brings us peace.  He knows what we need to go through in order to draw us closer to Him, in order to refine us, and in order for Him to use us.   It’s all for His glory.

If you’re in a storm, batten down the hatches of your life!  Make sure you’re in the Word as well as in fellowship with other Believers so your soul can be nourished.  This is vital so when the storm is over you’ll turn out better rather than bitter.

 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works.  Psalm 73:28

If you’re in stages, stay the course and learn to be flexible.  Prioritize your life so it’s in-line with the Word of God.  (I’ll share some practical tips on how to do this in an upcoming post.)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Prov. 3:5-6

Live a poured out life for Christ,

Jolene Engle

 

Need some encouragement and guidance in your marriage?  Grab my latest book, Wives of the Bible:  25 Easy Lessons You Can Learn from these Imperfect Women that Will Radically Transform Your Marriage.