So, what do you do when you can't do anything?

What do you do when you can't do anything?

So, I found myself crying a few days ago. It seems silly now, to cry about something you can't do anything about. There are days when it's overwhelming, and there are days when it's not. I guess I haven't had an overwhelming day in awhile. Some would say (those pessimistic ones), I was due for one. I know that most of you have found yourself in a situation like that. Even if you don't battle with Fibromyalgia, you battle with something. Whether it be a bad marriage, a financial struggle, some family issue, health problems, troubles with friends, etc, I would guess every one of you have a battle you are struggling with. Sometimes it feels like you do feel like you are all alone, and maybe you have every reason to feel that way. Maybe, you literally have no one to talk to about your situation. Maybe that is the biggest part of the problem, the not having someone you can depend on. I know how that feels. I've recently found myself in a group of situations where I felt very alone. Like I didn't have anyone I could turn to for help because I couldn't trust anyone involved. The people on the outside were innocent, and every time I pulled one of them into this crazy situation, I felt like I was causing them distress, so I was reluctant to pull them into the drama. I even went so far as to delete my Facebook account for a time. I had to separate myself from things and take a good look at the situation. Things get overwhelming. People become too much to deal with. We get so confused and our minds so full of nonsense that we cannot seem to take a good step back and see what things are really all about. Here is what I've found...

Psalm 73

An Asaph Psalm

 ^1-5 No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted.

   But I nearly missed it,

      missed seeing his goodness.

   I was looking the other way,

      looking up to the people

   At the top,

      envying the wicked who have it made,

   Who have nothing to worry about,

      not a care in the whole wide world.

 ^6-10 Pretentious with arrogance,

      they wear the latest fashions in violence,

   Pampered and overfed,

      decked out in silk bows of silliness.

   They jeer, using words to kill;

      they bully their way with words.

   They're full of hot air,

      loudmouths disturbing the peace.

   People actually listen to them—can you believe it?

      Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.

 ^11-14 What's going on here? Is God out to lunch?

      Nobody's tending the store.

   The wicked get by with everything;

      they have it made, piling up riches.

   I've been stupid to play by the rules;

      what has it gotten me?

   A long run of bad luck, that's what—

      a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.

 ^15-20 If I'd have given in and talked like this,

      I would have betrayed your dear children.

   Still, when I tried to figure it out,

      all I got was a splitting headache . . .

   Until I entered the sanctuary of God.

      Then I saw the whole picture:

   The slippery road you've put them on,

      with a final crash in a ditch of delusions.

   In the blink of an eye, disaster!

      A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare!

   We wake up and rub our eyes....Nothing.

      There's nothing to them. And there never was.

 ^21-24 When I was beleaguered and bitter,

      totally consumed by envy,

   I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox

      in your very presence.

   I'm still in your presence,

      but you've taken my hand.

   You wisely and tenderly lead me,

      and then you bless me.

 ^25-28 You're all I want in heaven!

      You're all I want on earth!

   When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,

      God is rock-firm and faithful.

   Look! Those who left you are falling apart!

      Deserters, they'll never be heard from again.

   But I'm in the very presence of God—

      oh, how refreshing it is!

   I've made Lord God my home.

      God, I'm telling the world what you do!

It makes me feel better to read these words. I hope it makes you feel better too. It's easy to become overwhelmed with the situation around you, to start to wonder if God is really there and ready to help, to get caught-up in the situation, to hurt, to get angry and sometimes act like a fool. Sometimes the whole world seems to be full of chaos and nonsense. Maybe the reasons you can't do what you want or feel like you need to do are physical, maybe they are financial, emotional, relationship related, or something else, but you most likely do have good reason. I try to find a biblical foundation to stand on, especially when I am feeling down or overwhelmed by my situation. It's hard, but I encourage you to take a step back or an even bigger step outside of the situation. Take a good, long look at what is going on and let God tell you what to do. He will. Sometimes it's hard to go through with. Sometimes it hurts like all hades to pull the proverbial band-aid off.

I want to encourage you today, by saying that you are not alone. There is not a single situation in your life that someone else hasn't gone through and prevailed. You may feel like there is no way out, but God always give you an outlet to escape or He will be the strength you need to get through. Just remember that He doesn't always GIVE you the strength. Sometimes (most of the time), He just stands next to you, holds your hand, carries your, dances with you, or holds the umbrella over your head while you go through the storm. He is your strength just like you say a friend or a spouse is your strength when they stand by you through thick and thin. They don't magically hand over their will power or physical attributes, but we gain courage and will power just knowing that they are there. God wants you to trust Him like that. God wants you to depend on Him like we depend on others.

You are my strength when I am weak.

You are the fortress that I seek.

You are my all in all.

When I fall down, You pick me up.

When I am dry, You fill my cup.

You are my all in all.

That song has been stuck in my head for weeks. I decided to write it down while I was at camp, and I read it every time I laid down in my bunk. It was a hard week, but I continually reminded myself that His grace is sufficient. I hope you will let Him be what He need to be to you today. Just remember that He is always there with you. Even when you feel all alone and overwhelmed, He's there. So, if you are feeling like you can't do anything today, for whatever reason, remember that sometimes all God is asking you to do is lean on Him. Let Him be your everything today. You don't have to do it all at once. I know it's hard! And don't give up just because you don't think you did it right the first time. He didn't create you to be perfect, and He will gladly give you more opportunities to succeed at this task.