All Puttered Out

                    

Ever have those times when you feel all puttered out? For me, it can happen at any time with no warning at all. I can be rocking along, getting things done, and BAM! It seems like all of a sudden, my emotions are spent. I'm mentally drained, and I need a lifelong nap. It feels like I am living Psalm 62:3...

So many enemies against one person! And all of them are trying to kill me! (My loose translation!)

Overwhelm is real for caregivers. Sometimes, it feels like it's mid-afternoon before we can take a deep breath. Just caregiving can be overwhelming, but then there are the dishes, the laundry, meal prep, and daily household tasks that take an extra toll, besides taking care of another whole human being. And then if the caregiver works at another job, even if it's at home...it all stacks up. Until we are all puttered out.

I'm glad for this description David gives us in Psalm 62. He had physical enemies. Although our enemies are not other human beings chasing us down, our enemies are still many, and they have the capacity to take us out on any given day. 

David started this psalm with an important phrase. I wait quietly before God. He also says it again in verse 5. He explains that God is his hope, period. David also reminds himself in these two verses that God is his rock, his fortress, and his salvation. 

I don't know which struggle David was facing, but when life squished him, trust in God popped out! 

We can understand that our enemies are many. They are on so many levels. Emotionally. Physically. Finanically. Spiritually. But no matter what level they are on, or how our unseen enemies come at us, we can trust that God is our rock and fortress and we don't have to be shaken. We can declare that we will trust God.

But if I am totally honest with you and myself - I cannot do it quietly. At least, not without a lot of effort. Waiting on God is one thing, and I'm pretty sure it's a daily thing for caregivers. But waiting quietly is not always our strong suit. LOL. (Maybe it's just me!) I mean, I have some really good ideas for God to work with. Right? 

So, it becomes my task to quiet my soul before the God I trust. Waiting quietly makes a strong statement. It says, I know You've got this. I know You've got me. I will trust You in the waiting. And in the moment when we quiet our raging souls, He steps in. His entry may be without fanfare. It may be quiet, too. But He is there. He is in the moment with us. And that's where peace comes, even if just for a moment in time.

Today, I will remind myself to quiet my soul before the One I trust. I will not give Him all my (very good) ideas, I will silently watch Him work on my behalf. My meditations will be on how my Salvation, my Rock, my Fortress, my God is working on my behalf, even if I cannot see it yet. When I am overwhelmed, I will pour out my heart to Him. (V8) And then, I will let Him console and carry me. I will 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!