Do you ever feel mentally fractured? Like you can’t focus on just one thing, but that there are so many situations and assignments coming at you that you can give none of them the time or the thought they need?
And when you pray, even that is a fractured event. Where do I start? And what do I really want, think, desire, need?
Don’t worry. You are not alone. There are many who are experiencing that same mental overload that you are. In fact, its almost epidemic. The situations may be oh, so different, but know this, that the afflictions that you are experiencing are also afflicting your friends.
Last week, I wrote about cleaning out my clothes and reversing them; putting away the summer and taking out the winter, trying them on, seeing what I want to keep and what to wear. I have heard from some of you. Thank you so much for taking time to tell me what you think. Because, many of you feel the same way that I do.
Thank you. Thank you.
Here’s some of my examples of what might be causing people to stress. And what some of the leading stimuli are that muddle our minds. These factors are not listed in order of importance, because all of them can cause the same overload.
1. Politics. Enough said.
2. The state of our nation. Morals, violence, political correctness, etc.
3. The clothes in the dryer that need to be folded, the pans soaking in the sink that need to be scrubbed.
4. Overwhelming work loads, both at the job and at home.
5. The cost of groceries. Lack of money
6. Friends and family who have cancer and other illnesses..
7. The hole in the front of our car from hitting a deer and the slow response of the insurance people to get it taken care of. Nothing seems to get done quickly these days. (1)
8. Our internet provider who doesn’t seem to get their billing and their different promises to correct, in sync. Nothing seems to get done quickly these days.(2)
9. No insurance so you cannot go to the doctor or the hospital for needed treatment.
10. Legal problems from a multitude of issues. Nothing seems to get done quickly these days. (3)
11. Time squeezes
12. ISIS
13. Suffering in the world. Needy families who live in our town.
14. Abused children; sometimes our own! (Or they think they are)
15. No job
16. Marital problems
17. Kids on drugs, in trouble, sneaking out, being disrespectful, causing disharmony in the home.
We can volunteer, put our hands to work, give generously, and get involved. But, we cannot solve the problems. We can only offer our hands to help. We can only encourage.
But, how can we encourage if we also are suffering with overload?
Since God is the only one who can untangle it all, let me give you a few scriptures just to let you focus for a bit, relax, and refuel.
Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 , “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden. (yes, that’s us!) 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”.
Isn’t that refreshing? And it’s true. We got ourselves into this, and He can show us the way out.
My, I feel better already.
Judy Tabler is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune and her views don’t necessarily reflect those of the paper. She can be reached at bluegrasses@gmail.com