A reflection & confession from feeling overwhelmed
I (Grace) have a confession to make.
These past few months, God has been helping me to “reset” and “recalibrate” my relationship with work in a way I’d never even realized was possible before.
I’m definitely not perfect, but I’m so thankful for how God’s graciously helped me come a LONG way. (More on that in a future podcast episode!)
But this morning, I could sense myself starting to feel that all-too-familiar feeling of overwhelm, just looking at all the tasks I had on my to-do list this week.
I also felt growing pressure, since this week would be the first week we’d be sharing about this podcast and projects with the world! (Super exciting, yet now it’s really gettin’ real!)
Thankfully, another lesson that God’s helped me learn to do better over recent years is to pay attention to, rather than ignore, those “yellow flag” feelings.
To bring them to him, instead of trying to “fix them” on my own.
So I basically vented to God. Told him honestly how I was feeling—no filter.
Asked him for his presence, his peace, his perspective.
And I felt him asking me a question that really convicted me—and brought me so much more clarity.
"Why do you feel pressure that you must do all of that? This podcast isn’t yours—it’s mine.”
Dang.
That's when I realized my past habits of being over-responsible were creeping in, even when it came to doing work for and with God!
But I also felt like God was correcting me with compassion. He reminded me that responsibility usually comes from a good desire to faithfully serve!
But responsibility can easily make us go on overdrive when we lose sight of WHO is really leading the ship.
This experience reminded me of how Peter felt like Jesus' “manager” a lot of the time.
In Matthew 16, literally in the passage right after Jesus blesses Peter and names him the “rock” of the future Church, Peter reprimands Jesus for saying he’d suffer and be killed.
And Jesus’ response is pretty severe! He says:
“Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 16:23)
I remember the first time I ever read this. I was like, “Woah. What’s the big deal? Peter’s just trying to look out for you, Jesus!”
But today as I was reminded of this passage, what became clear to me was the important point Jesus was making… firmly, but actually with love for Peter, to teach him a lesson that would be for his good.
A lesson that’d be necessary for him to truly be sustained in his role as the “rock” of the Church!
Peter wanted certain things to happen (or NOT happen) according to what he felt would make more sense based on human logical sense.
But by rebuking Peter, Jesus was pointing out that seeing things from a human perspective of what's best is like opposing God himself.
We are called to see things from GOD’S point of view, which means remembering that HE is in control, HE knows what's best, and HIS will will be accomplished.
We are not the Saviors.
The world teaches us that we're responsible for ALL of it—strategy, execution, logistics, details, outcomes, circumstances, plans, people’s emotions and responses.
This mindset reinforces a normalized hustle culture, where people constantly burn out, lose sleep, carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, sacrifice family for work, and worry all the time.
I saw this firsthand especially back when I worked in tech. But it’s also a common subconscious mode of operating even in Christian spaces… simply based on how we’ve been conditioned by so many people and influences around us.
Maybe you got praised for doing a “good job” or being “responsible” growing up.
Maybe you’ve experienced anger, hurt, or trauma from people being upset at you not doing or achieving certain things they wanted you to.
Maybe you like the way that people like you more when you do more for them.
Maybe you think no one else can do certain things as well or as thoroughly as you… so you always end up being the one to do it.
Maybe people depended on you to comfort them when you growing up… so you constantly feel pressure to go out of your way and take care of people. And when they’re not okay, you aren’t, either.
If of any those things resonate with you, here’s an encouragement:
It’s not your fault that you feel that way.
Most of us don’t even know that there is a different way.
But the truth is this:
Many of the responsibilities we feel like we “need” to carry… aren’t even our responsibilities in the first place.
For me, this meant my to-do list was not going to “guarantee” the success of this podcast.
My human strategies would not ensure that everything would go “well.”
In fact, even if the outcomes turned out “well” according to human terms… if it happened because of my own strength and carrying burdens I wasn’t meant to carry, then I would’ve still missed the boat (pun… maybe intended).
GOD is the one leading the ship. We are simply called to row along according to his directions.
Instead of insisting on our own ways of doing things, we truly need to listen to and trust in his instructions—which means being willing to lay down certain oars he tells us to.
And in this trust, we find actual peace and rest (which is actually supposed to be experienced in the work we do WITH Jesus, like in Matthew 11:28-30).
We also deepen our relationship with God… as we get to see how faithful and how powerful he truly is, without us needing to “do it all.” Without us doing everything the way we’d think we “should” by human standards.
The direction and power of the Holy Spirit can do infinitely more than any human strategy or strength ever could.
So instead of assuming that certain things “need” to get done for things to go “the way they’re supposed to”…
Take a pause.
Remember who’s truly the one driving the car.
Ask God to reveal what loads you’ve been carrying (and why)—and to give you his perspective on them.
(Even if it feels hard… the first step is just recognizing what those things are, and taking steps forward in surrender. Addressing the "why" behind our tendencies to be over-responsible helps us to break from from the same unhealthy cycles.)
Examples: to-do list items, growing your finances, finding a relationship, work promotions or metrics, social obligations, other people’s emotions or reactions, etc.
I pray that this mini-confessional encourages you this week.
Exercise of the Week:
What load are you carrying right now that you sense you're not supposed to be carrying... that God wants you to release to him and truly trust him with?
Take a few minutes each to open your hands in a posture of surrender, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you release it. (The Holy Spirit was sent to be your Helper and Guide. He can empower you to do what you can't on your own!)
Choose to trust that he will make happen what actually needs to happen—vs. what he knows does not "need" to happen.
Praying that this helps you (as it has for me) to trust and submit to God’s leadership this week, friends.
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Can you relate?
We invite you to share your thoughts & reflections below—we’d love to hear them! You never know who else will read this whom you could encourage, too! ❤️
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