As soon as my eyes flew open this morning I was on the hunt for the time. Removed from the wall was my trusty clock, and I searched blindly for my cell phone to tell me just how late I might have slept. I had things to do, things to complete, worries to worry about, and problems-a-plenty to remedy. I needed to get up, get on with it, and get going on my list of to-do’s.
Coffee. But first, coffee.
So as I sat sipping my steaming brew I longed for more of you. I knew. Even in the face of my anxiety trying to mount against me, I knew. You, oh God, your presence was what I needed right then and there, and the rest could just fade away as far as I was concerned.
The fact was that I was feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of this world. My December schedule was crammed full, and I seriously needed to figure out how to master my time. Responsibilities, requirements, and really hard decisions were on the docket for the day. And the next day. And the next. It never stopped spinning, this crazy world in which I existed, but this month it seemed even heavier than usual.
But I didn’t want to feel overwhelmed by life. I wanted to feel overwhelmed by you.
I needed to feel overwhelmed by you.
Every day I needed it.
How easy it was to forget your presence, your ever faithful hand weaving the tapestry of my day. I wanted to open my eyes to your sovereignty, fall face first in your glory, and praise your Holy name. I needed to be overwhelmed by you.
I needed to take my distractions and set them to the side in favor of the one who makes my paths straight. I needed the joy of your love to be my strength, for it to make the way when I could not see. I needed to be overwhelmed by you.
I needed to find my laughter and wrap it around myself like a warm blanket, those deep bellyaching bellows that can only be found when I see my children as the gifts they are. It’s the same sight that finds happiness like a needle in the haystack of the daily grind, that weird wisdom that makes standing in a long line a great way to talk to a stranger who’s having a bad day. Your presence does that!
It makes the mundane magical, and it finds reason in the unreasonable circumstances. Like maybe all those red lights came like divine slow-me-downs before I made a mistake in this fast-paced life I lead. Maybe accidents aren’t so random, and perhaps your rod and staff are always there. Thank you, God.
I need to be overwhelmed by your goodness, to see it even when life tries to turn my eye. Cause only in your truth do I see the light of goodness in this life. I need to be overcome by your mercy, swept away by your passion for me, and cradled in your perfect embrace. You’re so good to me; may I ever see, and not forget your tender mercies that are new each and every morning.
So that even when I fall, I get back up again. And even when I fail, you kiss away my tears. Your love never leaves me; it only grows stronger with every passing day.
This December I pray my schedule will not overtake me. I pray it won’t separate me from the reason I run to stores purchasing packages, or rush to parties with my Savior’s name in the title.
Christmas. Might I be overwhelmed by Christ. Might I be overwhelmed by the best gift of all. And might that truth make the rest settle into the periphery of my vision.
Dave says
My wife and I often look at each and wonder where the r & r is that’s supposed to come with retirement! I don’t know how both of us took care of the daily grind at home when we were both spending upwards of 12 hours a day each at the Mouse House for many years! It somehow got done but r & r is supposed to be plentiful now that we’re both drawing our rocking chair money but our rocking chairs sit empty most days as our plates are full! I do thank God though for the ability to do most things that others our age haven’t been able to do for some years now! I often scold younger people who insist I shouldn’t be doing this or that! I like you Brie want to be overwhelmed in His love and especially at these special times when we celebrate God’s gift to us and wow, what a gift! Friends with our Creator! A Friend that sticks closer than a brother or even the most loving mother! Thank you for reminding us of how He wants to be so close to us! He enjoys hearing us talk to Him and open our hearts to His direction in our lives! Oh that all who have ears to hear will listen to the story of Christmas and let Him overwhelm them with His love! Merry Christmas!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
Lisa Pierce says
I love this. I pray for all to feel the overwhelming presence of God this Christmas season. Thank you for this beautiful blog. I shared to facebook. Have a wonderful Christmas.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you! You too.