How to Keep from Being Overwhelmed

What do I do when the people closest to me have worn me out and I want to pull back from everyone?

Paul knew what it was to be wrung out by a church he loved, and he still ran toward people rather than away. Lewis said the safe, locked-up heart does not stay safe; it turns hard. The question is whether there is somewhere to take the hurt other than into hiding.

For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside. Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus,…

2 Corinthians 7:5–6

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

2 Corinthians 2:4

How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me? Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death; lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him;” lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to Yahweh, because he has been good to me.

Psalms 13:1–6

It is easier to say I will pray for you than to actually do it. What changes when someone really prays?

Paul, who was stoned and shipwrecked and kept going, still told a church he needed their prayers to stand. He said the many prayers of many people turn into many thanksgivings. Miss Lexi taught Wednesday night lessons out of an abusive home and prayed anyway.

…you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift given to us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.

2 Corinthians 1:11

Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

James 5:16

…with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints. Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Ephesians 6:18–20

Why do I feel like I have to prove myself to people who already know me?

Paul told the Corinthians he had behaved with simplicity and godly sincerity, not with earthly wisdom. Adam and Eve hid behind fig leaves, and God covered them with something better. When a person knows they are accepted in Christ, the resume stops mattering so much.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

2 Corinthians 1:12

Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves. They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

Genesis 3:7–10

Yahweh God made garments of animal skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.

Genesis 3:21

For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

Romans 8:15–17

How do I say the hard thing to someone instead of saying it behind their back?

Paul told the Corinthians that what he wrote when absent was what he would say to their face. Spurgeon said the power of his ministry was the same rule. Paul's own critics admitted his letters were weighty, and he wanted them to see that the man in the room matched the letter.

For, “His letters”, they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.” Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

2 Corinthians 10:10–11

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

Matthew 5:37

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

Proverbs 27:5–6

…but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ, from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:15–16

Does it actually matter how I treat people now if there is a day coming when everything is judged?

Paul told the Corinthians that on the day of the Lord Jesus they would boast of each other, and that he lived and worked toward that day. The sermon said life does not end at the grave and prayer for daily bread is for representing Christ that same day. History is going somewhere, and people are already in it.

…as also you acknowledged us in part—that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:14

For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:10

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:31–40

Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.

1 Thessalonians 5:11