One sentence from a recent conversation has been reiterating in my thoughts, “Everything is so overwhelming!”
When life is overwhelming, it becomes uncomfortable and crushing. The weight is heavy to bear.
We can become overwhelmed by our by to-do list, getting caught up on the laundry, finances, health challenges, work responsibilities, or simply thinking about all we need to get done.
Scripture brings a most important reminder:
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39, NASB)
While these verses point us to the power by which we overcome persecution and death, they can be applied to our lives each and every day, even in the most practical of ways.
We can face difficulties without just muddling our way through them by the skin of our teeth. We need not go to bed with a sigh of relief just glad the day is done. Rather we can put our heads down at night, with a cheer, for we came through the day overcoming the obstacles.
We need to see ourselves as we have been positioned in Christ. It is His love, and His power, which enables us to face adversity and overcome. Jesus empowers us to conquer obstacles in our lives, one day at a time.
Turning for insight on the above verses, I find powerful insights and the use of the above underlined word:
“The troubles to be faced by the Christians are nothing new but have always been the experience of God’s people … Nevertheless in all these difficult situations we are wining an overwhelming victory through the one who has proven his love for us. It is the love of Christ that supports and enables the believer to face adversity and to conquer it. Christians are not grim stoics who manage to muddle through somehow. They are victors who have found from experience that God is ever present in their trials and that the love of Christ will empower them to overcome all the obstacles of life.”
(from The New American Commentary, Vol. 27, page 191)
Muddle, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as “to go in a confused or aimless way.”
While it is true that life will contain its full share of challenges and hardships, it is also true that our God is at work in all of these circumstances. It is the manner in which He works in our lives to be more like Christ.
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, NASB)
Instead of being overwhelmed,
let’s rely on the love and power of God
to overwhelmingly conquer our circumstances.
The past six months or so, I have been learning to ask questions of my elders before they no longer are able to respond and share with me. The conversations have been delightfully meaningful. In her post, Does Your Life Inspire Questions from Your Grandkids? HERE, Michele Morin brings a challenging perspective you won’t want to miss.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Image by Jerry Coli from Pixabay
We are indeed conquerors Joanne through Christ who strengthens us.
Thank you for the reminder ☺️
Blessings, Jennifer
Comment *❤️
In this season where overwhelm seems rather easy to come by, may the Spirit keep whispering that Jesus never fails.
Amen. May we lean into that whisper of Jesus.
I love how different Bible translations will bring out different insights in a passage. I’ve never seen this verse with “overwhelmingly” in it, but it sure illustrates what “more than conquerers” means in a vivid way. Thank you for this reminder that when we feel overwhelmed, He is not, and He has already won the victory.
It is interesting to see how various translations bring depth and insight into a passage. “When we feel overwhelmed, He is not, and He has already won the victory.” Amen!
I appreciate this, Joanne! Overcomers, instead of being overcome by our circumstances.
Joanne, overwhelm seems to be a new pandemic these days. the worst part though is, that it is so prevalent among Christians. Such wonderful reminders here that we need not be overwhelmed in the first place, but when life becomes challenging, we must remember we are more than conquerors through the power of Christ. But the most beautiful part of that truth is, “we” are not the conquerors at all, Christ is. Our only effort at conquering is to rest in Christ, for He will bring us through.
I don’t want to muddle through! Love the promise of Rom. 8. Great word today.
This switched on a light for me: “We need not go to bed with a sigh of relief just glad the day is done. Rather we can put our heads down at night, with a cheer, for we came through the day overcoming the obstacles.” Thank you, my friend, for sharing your wisdom!
Happy February, Joanne! I’m not sure I’ve ever thought upon the word “overwhelmingly” in the Romans passage, despite it being one of my favorites. As I thought about it, though, it fits perfectly – the overwhelming force in the universe is not chaos, not hatred, not fear, not even death. It is the steadfast, unbreakable love of God in Christ Jesus. And that love, quietly and relentlessly, overwhelms everything that tries to separate us from Him.
Joanne, I needed this encouraging reminder today: “It is His love, and His power, which enables us to face adversity and overcome. Jesus empowers us to conquer obstacles in our lives, one day at a time.” Hugs, friend.
This is so good! I love that Scripture and I love that Scripture is not only for our souls but day to day life applications too. Upon further reflection of this I came to realize that I haven’t muddled through in years. I attribute this to maturing in Jesus as I go along.