In Over My Head

I've been thinking a whole lot lately about a saying that I have heard all of my life. You know the one, "God won't ever put on you more than you can handle." This is a nice thought. But it's a simplification. The real truth is a lot more complicated than this.

I've been in over my head all my life. But I heard this statement so many times when I was pregnant with Laney that it started to be a sort of background noise in my head. I clung to this philosophy for a while, until I started to realize that there are millions of people who are trying to do more than they can handle every day just because they believe this. They are stressed out, worried and wondering why the ends just never meet.

There are two things that people don't realize about this statement. First, God doesn't necessarily put any of our responsibilities on us. We make choices. We have been given free will and that means that we have the power to overwhelm ourselves. The power is our own. Humans have an incredible tendency to want to fill up every hour of the day. If we take on too much, it is not because God put it on us, but usually because we have chosen it. Sometimes, it may not have been obvious that we were making the choice, but it still was a choice.

Secondly, the statement is not finished. It should be, "God won't ever put on you more than you can handle through His strength." If you aren't trusting God to get you through whatever kind of day you're having, you will be overwhelmed. You will never find peace until you lay those burdens of the day in His hands.

I went through the hardest time of my life just after Laney was born. I was stressed out and had more to do than I knew how to do. Laney cried constantly. Marley strained for my attention. Lewis and I were at odds all the time. That was the most miserable time of my life. Lewis did his best to try and help me and I was always taking out my frustrations on him. I realize, looking back now, that I was trying to do it all myself. That's why I was so miserable.

When I started looking to the Lord, I started realizing the real priorities of my life. Whether the house is clean doesn't matter. If I allow all the stuff I have to do to get in the way of the relationship I have with my husband and my kids, if I allow all that to take away my time with God, I will end up losing the very things I am fighting for.

If it will make me trust God fully, I hope to always be in over my head.

Last night at church the choir sang a song that I had sort of forgotten about. I remember singing it in the car when I got caught in a thunder storm. On more than one occasion it has given me peace. Hearing it again brought tears to my eyes. I thought I'd share the words to "'Til the Storm Passes By" by Mosie Lister.

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,

While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.

'Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord, hear my cry,

"Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by."

'Til the storm passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more,

'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand;

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

Many times Satan whispered, "There is no use to try,

For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by."

But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise

Where the storm never darkens the skies.

'Til the storm passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more,

'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky.

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand;

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

When the long night has ended and the storms come no more,

Let me stand in Thy presence on that bright, peaceful shore.

In that land where the tempest never comes, Lord, may I

Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.

'Til the storm passes over, 'til the thunder sounds no more,

'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky.

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand;

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.