Are You Feeling Overwhelmed?
- Marji Stevens
- Oct 25
- 3 min read
What do you do when you’re overwhelmed? Usually, I start with a box of tissues and have a good cry. Then I'm able to think clearly and organize my thoughts.
Recently, I experienced a day like that, and the Lord kindly reminded me of a word He’d given me years ago. He said, "Live Orderly, Simply, and Close to Me."
My first thought was: That's an excellent idea, Lord, but do You know my life?
At the time, my boys were eight and eleven. All the kids in
the neighborhood played at our house. Then there was our
mentally challenged 90-pound coon dog that ate everything in sight, including dead deer from the side of the road, the contents of my purse, and furniture. She also shared everything she ate—partially digested—and her timing was usually on the day I finally had the urge to clean.
What on earth does “orderly” look like?
The Lord understood my situation and helped me see the importance of writing down small, manageable goals for each day. Instead of broad goals like "Organize the entire house," I broke them into small tasks: "Organize the sock drawer," "Clear the clutter off the kitchen counter." That way, I enjoyed checking off accomplishments, and gradually my home became tidier. I also set small daily goals for the boys. The plan worked beautifully.
Next was the “Live Simply” part. As things got organized in areas around the house, I felt more peaceful. I could see I was making progress. I think we sometimes fall into the trap of buying more than we need and owning more than we actually use. The problem is, the more “stuff” we own, the more “stuff” we have to manage. When I’m about to purchase something, I stop and think, “Do you r-e-a-l-l-y need this?”
Our budget was really tight back then. We needed curtains, but using the credit card and adding debt to the mix didn’t fit the “orderly-simply” assignment. So, I went into the fields and picked wildflowers and Queen Ann’s lace. After pressing them for a few days, I used a cool iron to seal them between two layers of wax paper. (I learned this in kindergarten!) I fitted them to the bottoms of the windows and secured them with a touch of tape. It provided privacy at night and let in sunlight during the day. It cost about $1 worth of wax paper, and God supplied the rest.
The “Live Close to Me” part was my favorite. Every chance I had, I’d go out into the fields to get alone with the Lord. That worked until winter. Now everyone was indoors, including the dog! How do I get quiet time now?
Matthew 6:6 in the King James says, “…enter into thy closet … shut the door and pray
to thy Father…” I took it literally, so I cleaned out the spare room’s closet to squeeze in a chair. I found that a little bit claustrophobic, so I graduated to Bill’s closet upstairs. It was roomier, but cold. So, I wrapped my shoulders in his bathrobe, which hung from a hook on the back wall. I’d failed to tell Bill, however. He came home, opened his closet, and found what looked like my head suspended in mid-air at the back of his closet! That ended that.
Next, I found an armchair at a garage sale. It was ugly, but it had ten-inch-wide arms, perfect for holding my Bible and notebook. That didn’t last either, because the boys discovered it was perfect for their ritual Saturday morning cartoons and pancake feast. Soon, the arms were too sticky for spiritual purposes.
About that time, I was given the book Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. I read how he prayed all day long while he worked, and I realized that was what the Lord was trying to develop in me. Living close to the Lord extends beyond the moments when we can sit and pray and read. It's every moment, every thought--a running conversation with the One who never leaves us or forsakes us.
Much of the "orderliness" the Lord was after was to develop contented peacefulness in my mind and emotions. The journey has been sweet. God’s instruction to live orderly, simply, and close to Him continues to be the rule in our home. Whenever I get overwhelmed (and after a good old-fashioned cry), I always check to see if I'm still on His narrow path.
If you enjoyed this, you'll find more stories in
Orange All the Way Through.
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