Overcome Overwhelm So You Can Move Your Business Forward

Today we connect around one of the most common, frustrating, and challenging problems we face as we seek to grow a business. OVERWHELM. 

As passionate women of God in business, we spin lots of plates as we care for our families, our communities, and ourselves.  

We love to enjoy our lives, and we also take God's calling to business seriously. 

But we can easily experience the paralysis of overwhelm as we combine the responsibilities of life with the challenges of business growth.

So, listen in as we explore both scripture and a real-life story of overwhelm to identify the strategies we can use to connect with Christ to receive His power to overcome the overwhelm and continue to joyfully move forward in the work God is calling us to do. 

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Transcript

Hi there friend. I'm Kathleen Fisher, and today I want to connect with you around one of the most common, frustrating, and challenging problems we face as we seek to grow a business.  Overwhelm.  

Yup.  

Can't you just feel that word? 

I know I can. 

So let's face it. 

Growing a business is hard work. 

It is often filled with moments and even days where we feel overwhelmed by the weakness of our flesh and all that is required of us to grow a business. 

So much so that we can often wonder why God allows the work to be so hard. Why doesn't he just make it easier after all it's his work we're doing.  

That's why in today's episode, we're going to look at this issue through both the lens of scripture and a real-life story of overwhelm that I recently experienced so that we can see and develop the strategies Jesus has for us, to overcome the overwhelm.

 Let's pray. And then we'll dive in. 

 Heavenly father. We thank you that you have not left us alone to fulfill the work you were calling us to do. But rather you have given us your son, Jesus as our good shepherd who leads us along the right paths.   Open our hearts today, Lord that we may hear and receive the fullness of what you are showing us so that we may know how to overcome the overwhelm that so often rises up within us.  We asked for this with Thanksgiving, through your son. Jesus Christ. Our Lord.  Amen.  

Okay. Let's dive in. 

Before we go any further. I'd like to set the stage for today's discussion with the scripture in Matthew 11:28-30, where we find Jesus saying, "come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,  for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  

 Today, I believe Jesus wants to shed light on how we can activate this scripture whenever overwhelm shows up. 

Have you ever found yourself thinking why doesn't God make things easier if I'm doing His will?  

I know, I've thought that many times. 

So let's take a closer look at the people in scripture whom God called to fulfill his will on the earth.

 If we think about it, the work wasn't easy for any of the people, God has called into his service. 

It wasn't easy for Abraham to have to wait 25 years for God to bring forth the fulfillment of his promise. I can only imagine the doubt filled words Sarah had for him while they waited for God to fulfill that purpose. 

It couldn't have been easy for Joseph to be sold into slavery and imprisoned for years while he waited for God to fulfill the vision he had given him. Surely. It was also not easy to be the leader of Egypt through the years of famine. 

 And surely it wasn't easy for the apostle Paul to be stoned, shipwrecked, and imprisoned along his journey of sharing the good news of Jesus. 

 But if we look closely at the story for each of these servants of God, 

we will see the secret ingredient that strengthened them to not only endure the trials, but to rise above the challenges they faced and powerfully fulfill the work God was calling them to do. 

The secret ingredient was the presence of the Lord in their lives and the relationship they developed with God amidst the trials.  

We read in Genesis. That the Lord was with Joseph in all that he experienced.  

We hear Moses saying, "unless you go with us, we will not go forward from this place."  

We see Moses meeting with God personally, and through those meetings becoming filled with the glory of God. And empowered to lead a nation of God's people.  

We see Abraham turning to the Lord to share his heart of discouragement and receiving from the Lord, the encouragement of a covenant promise to fulfill what God had spoken to him.  

And we see Paul singing praises to the Lord from prison, which ushered in the power of God to break the chains and set him free.  

The key for us, centuries later is to take hold of the truth that we too have been brought into a covenant relationship with the Lord through the blood of Jesus Christ. 

This relationship gives us the same access to the Lord so that we too may be comforted, strengthened, and empowered by the Lord for the work we are being called to do.  

 To bring this concept into our modern day setting. I'm going to share a story with you where I felt completely overwhelmed.  But where the presence of the Lord became my strength and the power that helped me gain victory over the overwhelm and move forward in the work God was calling me to do.  

Listen NS through the lens of your own story for the strategies that you can use to receive Christ help when you are feeling overwhelmed.  

Here's how my story played out.  My coach had been pushing me to experiment with new ways of showing up on social media.  

I'll be honest, social media and public experimentation is not inside my comfort zone. 

I'm a systems analyst that likes to map things out and then follow that map. 

But my coach convinced me of the importance of the shift and I could feel the Lord affirming that shift.   

As I experimented with the new ways of working, I could feel my sense of peace being rattled. I could feel myself fearing failure as I wrestled with doing things differently.   

But in the process, I also began pausing more often to breathe deeply of the Lord's presence, and to draw from his peace within me. 

 I began looking to him whenever I felt overwhelmed, and I could feel him encouraging me and helping me to fulfill the requirements of the work. 

While I was still feeling stretched by the new social media patterns, my coach insisted that it was time for me to step out further. To offer the program. God had already placed within my heart. 

He could tell that I was waiting to have all my ducks in a row before opening the doors. 

I could feel the Father speaking through my coach showing me that the fullness of his calling was being held back while, I waited to create a comfortable environment to step into.  

Have you ever found yourself waiting for things to feel more comfortable before you step out to offer what God is calling you to bring to his people?

 I knew I had to obey. Not only because the father was calling me to it, but because I could feel the pain of the people I'm called to serve.  For their sake, I needed to step out to provide the solutions God has shown me for the struggles they are facing in business.  

Was it comfortable? No. It was hard  and the timing was not what I had been planning.  

I felt like I was stepping off a cliff, like Indiana Jones, trusting that God had the path in place for me to walk across to the other side. 

 So, how did I overcome the growing sense of overwhelm I began to experience in this process? 

I decided to lean into Jesus's presence. 

Upon waking each morning, I committed myself to giving thanks to Jesus for his help in the day ahead. 

 I took extra time in spite of the work ahead to be with him in prayer so that I could settle myself within his presence and his promises before I began my work. 

 Throughout my days, I paused whenever I felt overwhelmed to breathe in Christ's presence. And to ask for his strength. For the tasks at hand.  And he gave it to me. Over and over again. 

I found that overwhelm actually became a gateway into Christ's presence, where I could receive all I needed to navigate the challenges and keep moving forward in the work. 

 Fast forward to the opening of my new program when an unexpected challenge showed up and provided me with an opportunity to practice my skills of turning to Christ when I felt overwhelmed.

 You see it was the day before I opened the doors to my program and only three days before my house would be filled with guests for the holiday week. 

So I won't lie. I was feeling the strain to get everything into place. 

And then a small personal crisis showed up. 

Our refrigerator died. 

Yup. I suddenly needed to research a new fridge, transfer food into a temporary place and make time to put everything back in order.

 I know it could have been so much worse.  It was just an appliance. 

But it was a major appliance filled with food, only three days before guests would arrive. 

And in the midst of a time when I needed all of my energy and focus to take care of my work.  

Sure enough, a wave of overwhelm washed over me.

 I could feel anxiety taking a hold of my body. And I suddenly could not think straight. 

But I had been practicing my skills of turning to Jesus when I felt weary or overwhelmed. 

 So I stepped aside from the work and chaos, went out on my front porch, and sat down with Jesus.

 First, I simply began breathing deeply. Imagining his indwelling presence filling me with his peace. 

As I remained focused on his presence, I could feel his comfort and my body beginning to relax.   

Soon my heart and mind became settled in the peace of his presence. 

 I felt the Lord nudging me to focus on all that was good.  So I began to give thanks for everything I could think of, including the Lord's promise to help me.

 I remembered to not only ask for his peace, but to also ask Jesus to strengthen my faith.  

Soon, I felt my whole being come into a place of rest, as I realized this obstacle was actually just an opportunity to experience Christ's power to help me. 

 My hope became renewed as I looked at the challenge through this lens.  

So.  I remained quiet for a few more minutes, drawing from the peaceful presence of Christ.  

Then I vowed to cast off every negative thought and focus my eyes on Jesus to receive all I needed to navigate the work that was in front of me.

 First. I asked him for wisdom to decide the order for the tasks to be done.

 Once I had a sense for that I got back to work, starting with putting the kitchen back in order.

 I felt my mind begin to clear and my body becoming strengthened, as I moved through the work together with Jesus. 

 When the kitchen was done, I moved back into my office and worked on one task at a time.

 I needed wisdom for many of the tasks I was working on, so I often paused to rest in the Lord,  and ask for the clarity I needed.  And the Lord provided it. 

While I did need to work late that night, I was still able to take time to have dinner with my husband, and I was able to bring my work to a good conclusion for the day.

 As I laid my head upon the pillow that night, my heart was filled with Thanksgiving to the Lord for the way he ministered to me and empowered me through his abiding presence.

 Filling me with his peace when I was overwhelmed.  

Shifting my perspective to all that was good. 

 Renewing my strength.  

Providing the wisdom needed for the work to be done.  

Filling my heart with joy, as I fellowshiped with him in the work.  

 I was truly grateful for the opportunity to rest that night, knowing that the next day would also be filled with Christ's faithful presence, and his power to help me accomplish my work. 

The next morning, I woke up relaxed and filled with confidence as I leaned into the remaining work to be done.

 Sure enough, all that was necessary was completed before my guests arrived.  

Jesus had proven his word, that if we will turn to him whenever we are weary, burdened or overwhelmed, he will be faithful to bring us His rest, and renew our souls through his peace,  bringing forth the power to navigate the challenges we are facing. 

 So, how about you? 

Are the challenges and obstacles in your business overwhelming you, and hindering your business growth?  

Do you feel like you're lacking the strength and wisdom you need to fulfill the vision God has given you?

 Or are you avoiding what you know, God is calling you to do out of fear or a desire to put everything in place before you step out? 

Well, remember, the work of God will always feel bigger than we can imagine ourselves doing. 

Obstacles and challenges will always show up.

 But if we learn to turn to Christ whenever we are feeling overwhelmed, he will provide rest for our souls and empower us to fulfill the work God is calling us to do.  

If you'd like to learn more about how to walk in the power of Christ to overcome the obstacles and successfully grow your business to the glory of God, then be sure to subscribe to this podcast and check out the show notes for ways you can connect with me. 

I'm happy to help you gain clarity for your path forward.

 Let's pray.

 Jesus, thank you for the blessing of your abiding presence and the strength you give to all those who look to you.  Help us to remember to turn to you when we feel overwhelmed so that we can learn from you and experience your grace to gain victory over the things that challenge us within the work we are called to do.  We give you all the praise and glory forever. Amen. 

Take care till next time.