CAPA Corner

OVERWHELMED?  HE CARES FOR YOU!

To be overwhelmed is to be to overcome by a great force or to be overpowered by thoughts or feelings.

We all have experienced those moments when we begin to feel like the circumstances of life are about to overwhelm us.  King David, Israel’s second king, experienced many situations in which he was given the opportunity to be overwhelmed.  In Psalms 61:1-4 he wrote, “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.  2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.  4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.” NKJV

One of my favorite poems is “Footprints”.  The main point of the poem deals with two sets of footprints on the sandy shores of life.  In the poem, the writer is complaining that when things were the hardest, instead of there being two sets of footprints on the sands of life there was only one.  The question was asked of God as to why He would abandon the writer in the midst of those times.  The answer comes back that it wasn’t that the writer was abandoned but rather, that during those seasons, God had carried him through. 

Maybe in your life you are experiencing some situations that seem to be overwhelming. There is a rock that is higher than I!  The song writer, Augustus Toplady, wrote, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee!”  The Apostle Peter called Him the cornerstone!  When life begins to overwhelm us, there is an answer.  Jesus is the cornerstone, the rock that I can run to, a shelter from the storm, and the one who will cover me under His wings.  The work of the cross was not just to give us the opportunity to be born again and inherit eternal life, but to also allow us to have our relationship restored with our loving and caring Heavenly Father. Matt 7:7&11 says, “7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”  NKJV. 

Overwhelmed?  Ask, seek, and knock.  God is listening.  He tells us that when we are burdened down that we can lay those burdens at His feet!  Jesus is not just fire insurance but He is also wants to be the shepherd of your soul.  He wants to help you find quiet streams and green pastures to lie down in.  We can call on Him because He cares for us! 

Ron Erickson, Future Hope MInistries