Field guide · Weather
Us with Godand Overwhelm
Forecast: flood warnings for the inbox, the calendar, and the kitchen sink.
Four tired ways to walk
Each has some truth in it. None of them is the whole story.
Under GodSheep that hide from the Shepherd
If I let any of this drop, God will be disappointed in me.
Over GodSheep that know the way
I need a better productivity system, then I’ll have it under control.
From GodSheep that follow the grass
God, just make some of this go away.
For GodSheep trying to be the sheepdog
God needs me to handle all of this, so I can’t stop now.
“Come to me, all who are weary.”
Jesus’ answer to overwhelm is an invitation to himself: “Come to me… and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28–30). His yoke is easy because he pulls with us. Moses was trying to carry a whole nation alone until his father-in-law said, “What you are doing is not good” (Ex 18:17–18). Sometimes rest looks like prayer. Sometimes it looks like asking for help. Both are ways of letting the Shepherd lead us to a rock higher than we are (Ps 61:2).
Where the Shepherd isHe is in the boat in the storm, and he is not panicking (Mark 4:35–41).
Write down everything on your mind, hand the list to God in prayer, and then ask one person for help with one thing.
Jesus, what is mine to carry today, and what is yours?
Fellow travelers
People in Scripture who walked this ground before us.
- Moses learned from Jethro to share the load and found he could stand the strain (Ex 18:13–23).
- Martha was distracted by much serving, and Jesus spoke her name twice, gently (Luke 10:38–42).
Keep walking
- With God: Sheep that know his voicethe posture every entry points to
- Which Way Are You Walking?a short self-check
- The Field Guideevery entry, by terrain, weather and crossing