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"Lord, I'm so tired today. I'm overwhelmed. I have no strength or motivation. I'm frustrated. My emotions are on edge. I'm evaluating everyone around me and it's left me very unsettled. Evaluating myself has caused confusion. I'm drowning and I need a lifeline. But then, I haven't sat down with You, to listen to You, to share my thoughts with You. I say that 'I trust You, Lord,' but I haven't actually done that with my whole heart. I've been too wrapped up in the world, too busy to make time for You and me. It's no wonder I feel so tired. I'm finding it so hard to take time to be quiet. I long for – solitude, stillness, no interruptions, quietness… a place where I can 'cease striving' and know you are God. Lord, will you please help me?"

Have you ever felt this way?

Lately I've been so busy. I've been carrying my Bible in the car with me just so I can read it whenever I have a few minute… like perhaps waiting in the parking lot to meet a friend for dinner. I've been reaching out to others in need, encouraging friends in need of hope, serving at my church, doing repairs around the house, seeing people I haven't seen in a while, starting a new job. It seems the list is endless. Some days I'm so overwhelmed and I'm not sure how much more I can take. I literally fall asleep from exhaustion except that when I wake up I feel like I've not slept a wink. It's in the midst of this merry-go-round, I realize I'm trying to do all of it on my own.

I realize I can't handle all of these things apart from God. Lately, that's what I've been trying to do. I spend a lot of time in prayer throughout the day– but I haven't spent a lot of time alone with God. Prayer alone is not enough. I need time alone with Him. No wonder I feel like I'm drowning.

Have you ever tried to rescue someone who is drowning? It's extremely difficult. As the person panics, their arms are flailing about them, they are struggling and grabbing, trying desperately to save themselves – which is impossible under the circumstances. It makes it all the more difficult for you to help them because they are struggling so much.

I read the verse above and realized the Lord wants me to stop trying so hard. I'm struggling too much.

cease: to come to an end

striving: to devote serious effort or energy; to struggle in opposition

know: to have understanding of; to be acquainted or familiar with; to be aware of the truth or factuality of: be convinced or certain of

God is telling us – you and me - to stop trying so hard, stop struggling against Him. We are trying to do things in our own power, apart from Him and it's like trying to save a drowning person who is fighting against you… it's useless.

God is in control. He is powerful. He has strength we can't even begin to comprehend. In His hands we can overcome any situation. But in order to do that, we must wait for Him. He is our lifeline. We must cease striving and know He is God.

I went through my Bible and found the following scriptures reminding me of this. I'd like to share them with you. Maybe you can print this out or write the verses on index cards to read throughout the day when you are tired and overwhelmed. Meditate on these words. Let them permeate your heart and your mind. Rest in Him and let Him be your lifeline. He wants to rescue you and me from drowning in despair.

I wonder just how excited the watchman was to see the morning come. He's been up all night, alert, at attention, ready, watching in case the city comes under attack. He has an awesome responsibility – to keep watch on the city and the people that live there.

I've tried to stay up all night… it's tough. Our bodies are trained to sleep when it gets dark. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to be the one who kept watch during the night. He was probably very eager to see the sun rise in the east giving way to light.

This is exactly how we are to wait for the Lord. Excited, eager, alert and ready.

And just like the watchman, we must wait. It's not a passive act of waiting, but an active form of waiting. Instead of flailing our arms about as if we are drowning without any hope of help or a lifeline, we should wait patiently, trust Him, rest in Him and simply know… He is God!

"Bible verse and quote" from Jan Couns

Bible and Quote - March 4-8