Counselor's Corner: Projecting the Future Will Cause You to Feel Overwhelmed

Are you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, burdened or anxious? When you project what may happen in the future you forfeit your daily grace and lose strength.

Recently, I started feeling quite overwhelmed and experienced unusual exhaustion. I realized during my morning time with God that I had begun to project scenarios that may or not happen in the future. I had begun to figure out what may happen or could happen in the future. I was not even doing this intentionally but it came as a result of trying to figure out problems and situations for a loved one.

I am a problem-solver and fixer by nature. You present me with a problem and I will have twenty different ways for you to overcome your problem. Being a problem-solver can be a good thing, but it can also hinder the work of the Holy Spirit hat tmay want to do in our lives or the lives of others.

If the Holy Spirit directs you to do something, you will know what to do and what way to go. If Holy Spirit is not leading but you are leading with your emotions and feelings you will begin to figure out how to solve problems.

Figuring out your problems or others problems will lead to feeling overwhelmed and burdened.

If you are concerned about future events, pray, and then be still and wait on God to direct your move. The Holy Spirit never leads in fear or anxiousness. Taking life one day at a time, one step at a time can alleviate the need to project future outcomes of situations.

Living in the past or living in the future will steal your peace, joy and daily strength.

When faced with tough decisions and you just don’t know what to do and feel to get a sense of relief you have to project what may or could happen, stop, and be still. The enemy magnifies situations to keep you focused and distracted on all what may go wrong, or if you don’t step in and do something there will be disaster.

Hold your peace. Most of what we worry about never happens, in fact 85% of what we worry about never happens and 15% of what does happen we can handle better than we thought we could.

Sufficient for this day is its own troubles (Matthew 6:34) Why go projecting “future troubles” you don’t even know that will happen?

Counselor's Corner: Confusion, is Not Coming From God

For God is not a God of confusion but peace. I Corinthians 14:33, ESV.

What are you perplexed about?

Is there something that keeps you up at night? Is there something you can’t seem to quiet your mind about? Have you been trying to figure out a problem and you just can’t seem to find the answers? Do you seem to get more confused if you try and figure out the problem?

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10, NKJV.

Is your mind at rest or is it in turmoil? The enemy loves to distract us from what God has for us so the enemy sends deceivers in our paths to disrupt the plan of God. You begin to lose focus and perspective and get off track. You know longer know God’s plan; you become confused and perplexed. You then become restless and agitated and lose your sense of purpose. Whatever came into your path seemed so innocent, but it got you off track and distracted. Your mind is like a war-zone; a battlefield. The enemy would love to entangle you and drag you back into the “pit.”

You may have a real desire to help those that come to you in need, but if God has not given you a clear direction then you are trying to fix something or someone rather than waiting on God’s leading. You must never step out of God’s leading in a situation, no matter how great the need is. The enemy will use devastating circumstances to try and lure you into their entangled web. You might say, “but this is family, I have to help.” If you feel overwhelmed, unsure, confused, burdened or guilty, then the motivation is not coming from God but satan. Check the source before intervening in a situation.

The problem is not understanding we are in warfare and we do have a real enemy, and he does come disguised to take us off guard. Don’t follow the crowds because you most likely will be misled, but follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. If God remains quiet for a time, then it is not time to get impatient and decide to step out of God’s leading.

God is a God of peace and order, God brings order and an easy flow. GOD DOES NOT BRING CHAOS AND CONFUSION. If God is in something you will know it, and you will not have to try and figure out what to do. If you have been interceding in a situation that God had not directed then you could be falling in a snare of the enemy to keep you in bondage.

The enemy wants to set a trap to ensnare you with, and he will use the people closet in your life to do so. The enemy will entice you with their problems, needs, and threats. The enemy will show you their situations and magnify them. You will get the sense you have to act now and immediately because they are in danger.

The enemy will use manipulative and controlling tactics to get you into his scheme. WHY DO WE BELIEVE God can’t step in and intervene in the most horrific of situations? The best help you can truly give someone is intercession prayer. Without satan and his cohorts being bound first in their lives, the enemies’ tricks and plans will try and infiltrate your life. There is a lack of understanding about spiritual warfare and so many Christians are getting themselves in situations that could put them in the line of fire for the enemy. We must never fear the enemy but we must know him and we must guard and be aware of his schemes to take us out.

If you have been in a cycle of fixing and controlling people and situations then it is time to step back and let God have His way. God may not want you to intervene other than prayer. As Christians we believe every need and hurt is our cause, when in reality God may be having His way in that person’s life and we must step out of the way.

Confusion comes when we are in the way, and we hate to see people hurt and we try and figure out solutions to their problems. Get out of the way and the confusion will leave and when Christ directs you to do something you will not have to try and figure it out because Jesus will give you the answer. Be still and KNOW that He is God. Psalm 46:10.

Counselor's Corner: Feeling Overwhelmed?

What are you chasing after more? Time with God, money, people, or possessions? When you begin to experience stress, fatigue, and a feeling of being burdened, it’s time to pull back and reevaluate why.

Oftentimes, we take on too much that God has not called us to, and we take on the responsibilities of others; this is called a false sense of responsibility. When we are living in God’s Divine plan, there is peace and order. When we don’t place God first, our lives become unmanageable. We have a sense that we cannot handle all of life’s problems. Let’s face it, life is tough and without spending time with God to hear His voice and direction; we will get burdened.

The enemy has a plan to create as much havoc and chaos is our lives, and keep us distracted.

Just because something seems good, does not mean it is good for us. We are not to copy what others are doing either. So many times, people get frustrated and overwhelmed because they are trying to mimic what someone else is doing.

You are not meant to do everything and be everything to everybody, this can lead to people-pleasing. If you please man more and not God, you are going to be weighed down.

God has specific tasks for each one of us, but you will not know what those are unless you spend time with God. Our busyness, is not Godly or Holy, but a tactic of the enemy to wear us out.

Don’t try and follow what the crowd does, but know what your unique plan is from God.

Other people will not like it when you tell them, “No,” be prepared for this. You must know what YOU are supposed to do. Stop looking around at everyone else for direction. God has not called you to be a copycat. You will find that others will want you to do what they are doing, but you must step away from the desire to please man.

To get your life back in order and free from the pressures and demands of people and life, pull away and be with God alone, especially when you are exhausted. Being tired and overworked is not God’s plan for you. It does not matter what other’s expect from you, but what God desires for you.

Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-30

Some questions to reflect on:

1.      What do you need to cut back on or cut out of your life to be free from over-responsibility?

2.      What do you crave and desire most from your life? Are you pursuing God first?

3.      Are you a people-pleaser? How do you know? What can you do differently?

4.      Do you feel overwhelmed, burdened? If yes, why? Do you believe this is God’s plan for you?

Counselor's Corner: Getting Motivated After a Setback

After you have gone through a trial or setback, do you find it difficult to get motivated? You could lack the motivation to get up in the morning, be productive at work, start and/or complete daily tasks, or build relationships.

→Reflect: One of the first questions you should ask yourself is, “Do you know the reason(s) behind lacking motivation?

 

Are you lacking in motivation?

There could be many reasons you lack motivation:

·         A recent difficult trial, setback, or circumstance

·         Someone close to you betrayed, lied or took advantage of you

·         Chronic stressors in your life.

·         Hormonal imbalances for women

·         Don’t feel you are making progress

·         Feel every time you move forward, you have a setback

·         Feel overwhelmed-physically, mentally, or relationally

·         Not getting proper sleep and/or tiredness during the day

There may need to be some changes to make first to increase your motivation, such as getting at least 8-9 hours of sleep nightly. Visiting a nutritionist/doctor for hormonal balance issues as well as having blood work done to test proper levels. If you don’t feel physically well, it will be most challenging to motivate yourself.

After assessing your health and getting the proper treatments, the following are ways to get motivated again:

1.      Start small and make one or two goals for yourself each day.

2.      Take off your plate what is draining you and wasting time.

3.      Get inspired through a movie, a book or reading about a success story.

4.      Recognize that motivation ebbs and flows, some days you will have lots of motivation and other days not so much. Just keep going anyhow on the days you don’t feel motivated, knowing you will have motivational days ahead.

5.      Stop the negative self-talk about why you are not getting more accomplished.

6.      Go out in nature and let the beauty of nature inspire you.

Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner: Feeling Overwhelmed?

What are you chasing after more? Time with God, money, people, or possessions? When you begin to experience stress, fatigue, and a feeling of being burdened, it’s time to pull back and reevaluate why.

Oftentimes, we take on too much that God has not called us to, and we take on the responsibilities of others; this is called a false sense of responsibility. When we are living in God’s Divine plan, there is peace and order. When we don’t place God first, our lives become unmanageable. We have a sense that we cannot handle all of life’s problems. Let’s face it, life is tough and without spending time with God to hear His voice and direction; we will get burdened.

The enemy has a plan to create as much havoc and chaos is our lives, and keep us distracted.

Just because something seems good, does not mean it is good for us. We are not to copy what others are doing either. So many times, people get frustrated and overwhelmed because they are trying to mimic what someone else is doing.

You are not meant to do everything and be everything to everybody, this can lead to people-pleasing. If you please man more and not God, you are going to be weighed down.

God has specific tasks for each one of us, but you will not know what those are unless you spend time with God. Our busyness, is not Godly or Holy, but a tactic of the enemy to wear us out.

Don’t try and follow what the crowd does, but know what your unique plan is from God.

Other people will not like it when you tell them, “No,” be prepared for this. You must know what YOU are supposed to do. Stop looking around at everyone else for direction. God has not called you to be a copycat. You will find that others will want you to do what they are doing, but you must step away from the desire to please man.

To get your life back in order and free from the pressures and demands of people and life, pull away and be with God alone, especially when you are exhausted. Being tired and overworked is not God’s plan for you. It does not matter what other’s expect from you, but what God desires for you.

Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-30

Some questions to reflect on:

1.      What do you need to cut back on or cut out of your life to be free from over-responsibility?

2.      What do you crave and desire most from your life? Are you pursuing God first?

3.      Are you a people-pleaser? How do you know? What can you do differently?

4.      Do you feel overwhelmed, burdened? If yes, why? Do you believe this is God’s plan for you?