Too Much and Not Enough

I think any caregiver could be the poster child for overwhelm. How about you? I'm not even going to start on my list of the things that need to be done every single day because you have a list of your own! One thing I've been trying is making a daily to-do list. I don't have enough paper to write it all down, jk. But I can write down the top things I want to make sure get done in between all the other things that need to be completed, too. It's a real rat race, isn't it?

Just to add to the state of overwhelm and having too much for a human to reasonably get done each day, there are feelings of just not being enough. I have some crazy thoughts like, If I was enough, I could get all these things done and more. Why do we put that kind of pressure on ourselves? (Maybe it's just me!?!) All these crazy emotions swim around in my head and my heart all day long. 

We have to do this and that, but then there are those that are important, too. It all starts to look like it's stacked against us, and we just cannot win - no matter what we do!

This is all the craziness my head was trying to sort through this morning. Finally, I sat back and took a deep breath. I lifted my thoughts to God. Lord, I will never be enough; I just can't do all this. That's when it occurred to me that I don't have to be enough. All the high spots - hot spots will be taken care of, and I'll work in everything else possible, and then I'll go to bed tonight knowing that I did the best I could with what I had. I will not condemn myself for what didn't get done - I'll congratulate myself for what I did get done.

We already live in a world that just doesn't get us. Unless they are caregivers, they can't fathom what our days look like. They have no idea of the hamster wheels our emotions and minds run through day after day. But God does. And He reminds us that we don't have to be enough - He is enough. 

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul provided a list of just some of the things he'd been through. He also prayed for one specific thorn in the flesh to be removed. Personally, it would have been nice of God to take it away, especially after all Paul had faced. (smile) But He didn't. What God did do, though, was assure Paul that he was totally covered by the all-sufficient grace of God no matter what situation he found himself in. Maybe that is why, later in Philippians, Paul was able to say, I can do it all - but only through Him! (My loose translation.) 

We may not be able to realistically tick every single item off our lists. But I bet we get the most important items done, and we'll take care of our loved ones before we take care of ourselves. (You know we all do that...even though many on the outside tell us that's not right - but they offer no help or suggestions!) Our tasks will get done one by one at whatever speed we can move. But no matter what might get left undone - we can rest assured that God won't leave us undone. 

Today, I'll remind myself that even if I don't feel like I'm enough - God's grace will always be enough. I'll think about how many times He has picked me up and carried me when I couldn't move on emotionally. As I look back over the caregiving years, I'll take note that He's never left me yet, not even when I went kicking and screaming into a day or long night. My thoughts will be on His all-sufficient grace, and I'll remind myself that it is indeed enough for me today. I think I can trust Him for one more day - will  you join me?

Today is a good day to peace out! Check out my 31-day devotional on Kindle or in Print!

You can also get the eBook in my shop at BuyMeACoffee!