Blindsided

You’d think I’d be more aware by now. You’d think I’d learn to be on the look out. But since it happens in a realm I don’t see, I still wander off into complacency and forget that there is a very real battle with a very real enemy, who really doesn’t want me to live a godly life. But here it is – spiritual warfare – right smack in my face.

The signs were there, too. We just wrapped up Ephesians chapter 6 and the armor of God this past weekend at church. Our little group just started the Daniel Bible study last Friday. I’m diligently trying to keep homeschool on track. The ladies’ retreat is coming up. But did I recognize all the signs? Oh no. I just went skipping on down the trail, oblivious as could be, right into the big, dark forest.

Until last night.

I was getting very edgy and irritable. Generally annoyed with everything and nothing. Clutter in the house was screaming at me. My brain was flying around like a tilt-a-whirl, each seat filled with images of what I ought to be doing.

I finally had to escape to the bedroom, sit on the floor, and cry out to God. He quietly reminded me that the attack level had become elevated over the past couple of days. The enemy knows full well how and where to get me derailed. When things seem to spin wildly out of control and threaten to overwhelm me, I have a couple of “instinctive” coping mechanisms. Neither one works, by the way.

First, I just want to take a break for the next week. Nobody talk to me, no one get in my way, no homeschool, just leave me alone so that I am free to regain alleged control of my life. You can already see why this one doesn’t pan out. I never did have any control anyway – that’s God’s thing, not mine. Mine is to take my burdens to Him, trust Him, and rest in Him. His is to control this life He’s given me.

Second, I want to run away from it all. Yeah, escapism at its finest. The problem there is that it will all be there when I return. Only messier. That plan is equally unsuccessful.

For whatever reason, I seem to feel the need to run things through those first two silly and useless filters. Then I get to the place I should’ve come to. Or the person, I should say.

He is the only one who can lead me successfully through the minefield of distractions and irritations. He is the only one big and powerful enough to alleviate my anxieties. He is the only one who is completely capable of handling everything that comes my way. Not only that, He knew it was coming. WAY before I saw it.

So. Time to lay each burden, frustration, concern, and problem down. Time to let Him take over. The only job He gives me in return?

Seek Him

Listen to Him

Trust Him

His burden truly is light. I just have to make the choice to lay mine down in order to take on His.

Doesn’t “rest for your souls” sound absolutely wonderful?

Tagged as: devotional, overwhelmed