FEELING OVERWHELMED?

by Tammy Phillips
May 8, 2020

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.           – James 5:8

I awoke at 3:40 AM.  I was not feeling the pressure of stress and worry, but I was overwhelmed this morning to the point of tears.  Questions were running through my head.  What is the truth?  Good is called evil and evil is called good.  Who is telling the truth?  Lies are everywhere. Who do we really trust?   When will this isolating pandemic end?  Is this the beginning of the end?  Have we been duped?  The Holy Spirit did not drop the word duplicitous in my Spirit for no reason on March 21?   If masks really work, then why can’t all businesses open with no restriction.  Is this it?  Is Jesus really returning soon?  Am I ready?   Do my family and friends really know Jesus?  If it comes to it, do they know not to receive the mark?   Are they prepared to resist to death if it comes to it?  Have I done all I can do?

Are you weary from reading my thoughts?  I was overwhelmed. The definition of overwhelmed is to be crushed beneath something violent and weighty, that covers or encompasses the whole; To be immersed and to bear down upon; to overlook gloomily.   The word whelm means To cover with water or other fluid; to cover by immersion in something that envelops on all sides; To cover completely; to immerse deeply; to overburden.  This sounds like drowning to me.

I know my Savior.  I called on Him.  I went looking in His word and he threw me a life preserver.   Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)   I can guess what you are saying.  “That is not a comforting, saving word to me.”   At first, it was not to me.  Be patient!  Endure.  I get it, Lord.  However, patient here is a different Greek word, makrothymeo.  It means to be long in spirit, not to lose heart, to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles; to be patient in bearing the offences and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging; to be long-suffering, slow to anger.  There is more.  Makrothymeo is a compound word of makros meaning long or far off and thymos meaning, be in a heat, breathe violently, boiling up and subsiding; glow, or flaming.

In four small words, “Be ye also patient,” our Savior says:

• Do not lose heart!
• Persevere bravely!
• Be far off from huffing and puffing!
• Don’t get heated up and boil over!
• Do not be overwhelmed!

He also says “stablish your hearts.”  Stablish is the Greek word sterizo, meaning make stable, to turn resolutely in a certain direction, to strengthen, make firm, confirm one’s mind. This word is a derivative of histemi meaning stand, be set in balance, to stand ready and prepared, stand not hesitating or wavering, steadfast in mind.

In these three small words, “Stablish your heart,” our Savior says:

• “Elevate your mind. Get yourself together. Elevate your mind! Whoo! Get yourself together, alright!”
• Turn resolutely to Me.
• Don’t you waver.
• Don’t be overwhelmed with your thoughts.
• Stand.

James 5:8 ends with the statement:  “for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”  Jesus is coming and I cannot wait to see him face to face.  However, our Jesus came to me this morning.  He sat with me and encouraged me.

I enCOURAGE you not to be overwhelmed or drowned with all the chaos that is spinning around in the world today.  Allow our Savior to throw you a life preserver.  He has a word for you.  Seek Him.  Call Him. He will save you every time.