I think the feeling of being overwhelmed is one of Satan’s favorite human emotions.

It leads to so much delicious sinning! Tempers flare, focus is lost, paralysis sets in.

I’m feeling this right now.

My family has just moved to a new suburb in Atlanta. As I pray for my neighbors, God opens my eyes to the needs. As I dwell on those needs, I begin to feel like I am drowning.

How am I supposed to reach all these people? Why does it feel like I’m the only one who cares? What’s my plan? I need a brilliant plan! Think, Sara, think!!!

When it comes to reaching our neighbors with the love of Jesus, that frantic, overwhelmed feeling is an important strategic tactic of The Enemy.

His goal is apathy. But if Satan can’t make you apathetic, he will make you afraid. If you fight through the fear, his last ditch effort will be to overwhelm you.

Faced with the avalanche of physical and spiritual need, Satan hopes we will crawl back into our hole. Safe, comfortable… and ineffective.

So, what do we do? The need IS great. That never changes.

Fighting that overwhelmed feeling means shifting the burden of results from our shoulders and onto God’s.

Isn’t that what the gospel is all about? A Majestic God taking on the weight of human weakness. He asks shockingly little of us other than trust.

“I have set the Lord always before me. Because HE is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8

“My heart is not proud. My eyes are not filled with pride. I do not trouble myself with important things or in things too great for me.  I have made my soul quiet like a child who no longer nurses while he is with his mother. My soul within me is like a child who no longer nurses. O Israel, hope in the Lord, now and forever.” Psalm 131:1-3

A child who has moved on from nursing no longer panics the second the hunger pains strike. A weaned child knows that his mother has never left him wanting and won’t do it now.

Feeling overwhelmed? Not sure where to start? Ready to just shut down and crawl back into bed?

Take a moment to shift your focus to your Majestic Father, who has never left you hungry.

Breath. Then pray this simple prayer…

“Lord, I have no idea what I am doing.
Help me simply be available.
Help me be intentional.
Help me be obedient.”

Driving into work. Juggling schedules. Struggling to make ends meet. Desperate to reach your neighbors. So much need. How can one person make a difference?

Just be available. Just be intentional. Just be obedient in this moment.

God will do the rest.