Overloaded and Overwhelmed

Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. - Exodus 18:17-18

Moses was a great man of God who was facing quite a difficult moment when he came to his own level of stress. As you read his story, you’ll see that he is leading two million of his people through wilderness and desert and they are burning up at times at the way he is doing it, and he is burning out trying to lead them.

In the 18th chapter of Exodus, Moses had a moment and a meeting that didn’t just change his life, but it literally saved his life and helped him complete his tasks. It is not only very practical, but it is very spiritual. If you feel overworked and overwhelmed, now’s the time to admit it, because you will never be the father, the mother, the husband, the wife, the employee, or even the Christian that you should be as long as you stay in that place of overwhelm. Moses took simple steps that kept him from burning out that you can take as well. We’re going to look at the first step today, and then tomorrow we’ll look at another step.

The first step Moses took was to honestly evaluate what he needed to do. I don’t care how much of a Superman or Superwoman you think you are. We all have limits. Have you ever noticed when you get behind a huge tractor-trailer that is carrying a lot of cargo or freight, there will be a sign that tells the load limit that truck can carry? If a tractor-trailer with a massive engine and unbelievable horsepower has limits to loads, we do too.

If we aren’t honest in acknowledging our limits, we’ll burn out faster than we ever thought possible. Moses was so close to burning out, but then he was honest about what his limits were after being confronted by his father-in-law. When he realized that he was carrying more than he could take and that he needed help, that acknowledgment changed the game.

So with that in mind, I would encourage you to take the time to be honest with yourself about what you can handle and what you can’t. It will make the biggest difference as you attempt to avoid burnout and continue pursuing whatever God has placed in front of you.

Dear Lord, I am so overwhelmed right now. I feel overworked and overloaded. I don’t know how much more I can take. Please give me the awareness and the wisdom to acknowledge my limits so that I don’t burn out. Help me, Lord, with these burdens, for I cannot continue at this capacity in my own strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.