Have you ever had one of those seasons when you feel like a tsunami has swept wave after wave of deadlines, problems and needs over you? With no break in between waves?
That’s been the last four months for me.
Rather than make a list (which might sound like I’m soliciting sympathy or bragging about how busy my life has been), suffice it to say, I’ve had more big deadlines, more family needs and more ministry demands than ever in my life.
Last Thursday I met the final deadline in the series of deadlines I’d been facing. Then Friday, Saturday and Sunday were breathing days for me. I drove across town and took my college son to Costco, took my mom to lunch (Korean BBQ) did loads of laundry and spent Sunday worshiping and enjoying time with my family.
Now today, I wanted to connect with you. 
I often write about managing your schedule so you don’t live chronically like I’ve done the past four month. But sometimes situations are completely out of your control. And that’s pretty much what happened to me.
Sometimes things happen and we step up to the plate. We set aside one set of priorities for another. W depend more on God’s grace, wisdom and strength than ever before. We don’t want to always live in this desperate place, but sometimes it happens. Hopefully we learn some things in the midst of it, and that’s what I want to share with you today. Here’s one important lesson I’ve learned:
When life feels like a tsunami – with wave after wave hitting you and no break - the best decision is often no decision.
Here’s what I mean by that. When I get overwhelmed, my emotions get in a jumbled mess. I’m usually tired. Cranky. Frustrated. And annoyed. My normal logical processing shorts out.
If I make a decision in the midst of that chaos, it’s not normally based on truth. Therefore, it’s not usually the wisest choice for me.
So, when when my worlds collide, I hold off on big decisions.
I don’t quit any responsibility. I don’t add any responsibility.
And I don’t respond to people until I can do so in love. I will often save emails in draft for a few days.
But what I will do is draw in closer to God. Retreat for moments. Focus on one verse. Ask for wisdom. Ask for peace. God and I have a running conversation. I’ve learned in those demanding seasons, my heart can stray from where I really want it to be. And I want it to be here:
Grounded in truth.
Secure in God’s love.
Relying on His strength and wisdom, not mine.
We all have these crazy seasons. Especially when our lives are interconnected with others, and we are walking out the Gospel to live with an obedient and servant’s heart. Sometimes we get ourselves into these messes and sometimes God has a really big job and calls us into a demanding season. Either way. It’s good to have some principles for life during those times.
One of mine is to not make decisions based on the chaos of the moment. I’ve avoided a lot of regrets with this principle.
What are some principles you live by when life gets crazy? I’d love to hear from you.
In His love,
Glynnis
P.S. If you are reading this in an email, please click on the comment link below to leave a comment.
Thank you Glynnis for these words of wisdom. They come at a perfect time for me to share with some moms in my circle. So happy to hear your at the end of these deadlines. Thank you for your ministry. ~ Abby
Thank you Gynnis for you word today it was very encouraging so needed at this time in my life …blessings to you .Patty
This past week I had a financial disappointment- but that would have in turn led to a trip to the bank to see about a loan (which is fine- it’s for the God sized dream) due to my crazy schedule I didn’t have time- yesterday I got news that someone (I’m not allowed to know who) is sending money for me to fulfill that God-sized dream. Lesson learned in the waiting… to trust Him. To trust that His timing is perfect and that includes with my schedule. As a teacher my days and afternoons are packed and I’m learning how to say no and not feel guilty. and I LOVED what you said about “When life feels like a tsunami – with wave after wave hitting you and no break – the best decision is often no decision” Thank you!
Thankyou Glynnis. This was insightful and an encouragement for me.
I appreciate your ministry
God Bless
Annemarie
yes… not making any big decision.. except to draw close to God..
that can’t be left out.. and be grounded in Truth.
It’s the intense times that draw out of me what has been stored inside.
By what comes out in times of pressure I can measure what I’ve been storing up…
weather it’s His word or my own wisdom.
I’m thankful that this time I’ve seen God’s word rise up in me..
I just have to be careful not to turn the tsunami around and over power someone else..
but to convert the power of the wave into a gentle touch..
Like when a wave comes in to shore..it rumbles and roars… but on its way out.. it goes out in a gentle, soft flow.. May God’s power flow through me in gentleness and peace.
thanks for the your honesty. We are all there at one time or another.
Good morning,
Thanks for sharing this, I also have a lot on my plate today and I don’t know where to turn. Most times I just react to the situation rather than do nothing. Today I will take your principle and spend time on a verse which I read yesterday in Haggai chapter 1 and verse 6. My situation is related to work and financies. Thanks to all the others who are sharing comments. Have a blessed day.
Good morning! Thank you for this timely message. I am going to be talking with my daughter today about her plans now that she is graduated from college and had her first job interview last week. I am praying that God’s plans for her will be revealed as we talk. I pray that you have a blessed day too!
One of the wisest things I’ve learned in the chaotic times of life is…”that feelings (emotions) are not facts.” Although I never like the waiting times, waiting on God to sort out the problems is ALWAYS better than me trying in the swirl of emotions which change frequently.
Wow these are the exact words I needed to hear today as I am trying to be obedient to God and help our extended family, but it is causing a tsunami in my already very busy life, thank you for writing this today. I will probably read this several times over. Thank you for being obedient to The Lord and allowing Him to speak to so many through you!! Have a blessed day!!
This was so encouraging, thank you. My last 4 months have also been a whirlwind season of busy…mostly wonderful opportunities with some body maintenance & repair work mixed it
. I am having a second minor surgery this week and actually looking forward to the calmer days that will follow it! I was just asked to do something really big starting this summer and am wrestling with it because I already feel overwhelmed so I automatically want to just say no. Your plan of not making decisions during busy seasons is great advice that I am going to heed. What I do when so much is going on is try to squeeze in time in prayer & the word early in the morning, humble myself and pick a verse that tells me His strength is what I have to have, He has the power & ability to get things done. I often think I am more important than I am…that it is up to me to move something forward. That is when I need Him the most or else I will just be spinning my wheels & fall embarrassingly on my face. So I write those verses on a blackboard in the laundry room to remind myself. I read once that balance in the Christian woman’s life is not like a teeter totter that stays balanced in mid air that you aim for daily but instead seasons of heavy work/ministry then seasons of being still & soaking up His presence through prayer and Bible study. Coming off the Martha season and looking forward to the Mary…my wish for you as well, Glynnis.
I’m going through a crazy time right now, so your words couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for me to hear. Thanks for reminding me to draw closer to God, something I need to be reminded of instead of trying to do it all myself.
Thank you and THANK GOD for His words of wisdom through you that come in a morning when I feel overwhelmed and done in, ready to say “done” with some responsibilities. Instead, I will take a(nother) deep breath and whisper prayers..
Thank you for that very encouraging word. I desire to have the maturity to turn from the chaos of my life and remember in the heat of the moment that God is in control. God can and will come to my defense. He is actually eager to rescue me. Thanks for the reminder. Turning from the chaos happens quicker now than it used to, but I still long for immediately turning to the Lord to avoid the pitfall that worry and fear always open up. This reminder just helps so very much.
Sharlee I sure do understand, this is from my post:
But in my prayers for wisdom, and having my mind fixed on Jesus, I seem to miss a number of emotional bullets. My greatest gift has been my years of scripture memory. I can never encourage people enough to get that Word hidden in your heart so that Holy Spirit can bring it up to your memory just when you need it most. Start with Isaiah 26:3 and Proverbs 16:3 these two have saved the day and calmed my mind more times than I can count. I started learning them on cards and carried them everywhere until I could say or write them. HE will get you through every test and teach us His way when we follow His plan. Blessings, TX Barb
Good morning Glynnis…..I always know that in times of trouble, worry and choasis God will be speaking to be through my e-mail devotions that I receive. This is exactly what I have been feeling for the past couple of months and this morning everything just came tumbling in on me. I was in prayer so much late last night in the night and early this morning asking for God’s help and guidance. I know in my heart that God is the one who can help me and guide me through these times. But I like so many others can get so busy with our children, family, work, church and the list can go on and then the little things can make everything seem HUGE. Always great to know that there are others struggling just like myself. Thanks again for your words and the reminder.
Mostly my life is calmer now because I am retired but my husband still works away from home and travels much of the time. I have quiet days now that I only dreamed of when I worked two jobs, had two children at home, active in Church, etc. I do know where many of you are coming from. But now, even now, the enemy still would like to come in, like a flood and disrupt my plans and thought processes. Mostly my struggles come from outside my home with other family members who chose to live in “trauma and drama land”I call it. They have not learned to let the Lord order their steps. So often they want me involved in their current crisis because of course, I don’t work so I have lots of time, right? The Lord has taught me not to jump in and try to “fix” them. The prodigal Father did not go find or fix his son. He waited until the son came through the crisis and came back to THE Father. It is very difficult to not respond to those urgent emails, txts, and messages. But in my prayers for wisdom, and having my mind fixed on Jesus, I seem to miss a number of emotional bullets. My greatest gift has been my years of scripture memory. I can never encourage people enough to get that Word hidden in your heart so that Holy Spirit can bring it up to your memory just when you need it most. Start with Isaiah 26:3 and Proverbs 16:3 these two have saved the day and calmed my mind more times than I can count. I started learning them on cards and carried them everywhere until I could say or write them. HE will get you through every test and teach us His way when we follow His plan. Blessings, TX Barb
Trauma/drama Land…how appropriate! Recently I sought counsel for how to live out my faith with relationships like you describe. The counselor explained that those who live thusly will look to your when the pressure in their life builds up & then you help them let off a little steam & they go back to their usual practices. By allowing them to vent, you actually impede God’s work in their lives because He wants them to turn to Him for lasting relief. Knowing I get in God’s way sometimes has helped me set healthier boundaries with family & friends.It gives me better discernment to see whether what I am feeling is conviction or false guilt. Hope this helps.
Great insight from the other side of the fence. Thank you Barb!
What a timely encouragement! I’m still in the process of not panicking when I feel the waves coming. Angst and lack of peace plague me in those times.I don’t often recognize that I’mI taking on the problem as if I’m the only one who can fix it. It’s those things that we are naturally good at that can trip us up. Thanks for the reminder to not make a decision just then…
As I was read this, I could so relate. This past October my boss of 28 years decided to retire. What followed was 4 months of utter chaos for me. Thankfully we now have a new supervisor and can now start back to a sense of normalcy! Thanks so much for the knowledge that no matter our circumstance, we will survive the onslaught by clinging to Jesus hand!
Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Psalms 27:14.
Notice Good Courage!
My life has been in constant, distressing turmoil since Nov 2012. If it wasn’t for
Palms 24:17, I would have literally had a breakdown. Learning to wait on God is so hard because I wanted to be in control, I wanted things my way. I was out of control. This verse gave me back my life, heart and soul. I think on this many, many times every single day. We need to always wait on the Lord, even many times a day. I hope any one experiencing crisis use this to slow down, take a good look and then trust God.
Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Psalms 27:14
Thank you for those words of encouragement and wisdom.
very great advice – thanks!
When I read the first part of your post “wave after wave like a tsunami” I thought perhaps you had been spying on my life these last few months.
My main tactic is to also not make any decisions until the tsumani has passed. Sometimes that means several weeks of not making a decision. In the end, I am much more equipped to make the right decision.
Thank you for your ministry!
Blessings,
Edwina
Thanks Glennis,
My situation is different in that I’ve had some comments that were hurtful.Instead of replying to the email or facebook comment,I just ask God to help me let it go.I found your words of wisdom helpful in this situation also.
God bless you,
Sheryl
Thank you for these words of encouragement. A lot of people are going through difficult times and reminders like this really help. It was very timely for me as there is a lot going on at my work that I simply have to trust that God only gives what we can handle. One of my staff at the house that I manage keeps telling me , you never get a break , do you. I do, but that is found in Jesus. Counting my Blessings, and you are one of them.
God Bless,
Erlys
I like this. I am not in a Tsunami, as I was blessed to move from Hawaii to Texas last August and I was deliberate of not picking up so many responsibilities as I have had in prior times in my life. God did amazing things during those busy times, but this time my “wait” had a purpose. We welcomed our third child, first girl into our family in January. It has been a time of joy and believe it or not “down time” with my 4, 3, and now 2 month old. Where I apply this message though is in nursing. I hate nursing. I seem to be one of those odd situations where doctors cannot explain why the pain is so bad after the initial 6-8 week period. It happened with all my kiddos. Everyday I contemplate stopping nursing and going to the easier formula method. When I read this post…I thought, maybe I don’t have to decide right now and just go with the flow (no pun intended, ha). If I decide to stop soon, my little girl will be ok…if I keep going, she’ll do ok too. But I might be able to nurse a little longer and not have some anxiety and just take it one feeding at a time and not feel like I have to make the decision now. Thanks.
Thank you for that as that’s exactly where I have been for about 6 months so I could really relate. And I haven’t been doing so well with waiting to respond until I am calm = which always creates more problems. I have learned that I have to hold fast to self care (healthy eating, quiet time with God, exercising) or my emotions and my energy both get hijacked by any little extra problem. Thanks for your words of wisdom and for being so willing to share your lessons with others!
Glynis, my life seems to be like this most of the time. Your advice is right on target – put emails in draft, take a chill pill and WAIT. It is a constant learning curve for me. Patience is a virtue, just not one of mine.
Glynnis…I guess you may read Melissa’s comments on her Let it Go Bible study but I am copying it to you anyway…I started my day with my coffee reading and watching Karen’s video…I then read your words. I knew the Lord was speaking to me. It has been a very busy few months and in my zeal to do what I thought was right I made a rash decision. I had prayed about it but didn’t wait long enough for the answer. Today He answered me. Through God’s grace, I was able to correct my error in judgment and rectify the situation. I needed to be reminded to be patient and “wait on the Lord”…thank you to all you women of faith for sharing your faith, hope and
Love through proverbs31…sorry hit post too soon…
Great advice Glynnis, and THANK YOU! My life is more busy than I expected right now due to a couple of good things coming together (a class I really wanted to take and a new job!) and I recently moved to a new town and my marriage is breaking up. I also have my own business publishing a Christian newspaper…so things are beyond busy some days.
I remind myself that my job, business, and other outside activities are all blessings from God!
I start every day with Him and things don’t seem so overwhelming…I make a lot of lists and checklists…and I get enough sleep. That seems paradoxical when I have lots to do, but when I’m rested I can more clearly prioritize and get things done more effectively, and I can distinguish between emotion and fact.
When this time of “too busy” started, I was overwhelmed, trying to plan how I’d get everything done, and considered giving up one or more of the things I was doing. I prayed for guidance and my answer from God was “WAIT.” I have not had clear direction to give any of them up (YAY!) and I’m getting through this time. I’m re-learning to manage my time and plan ahead, and when the classes end these skills will help me advance my business too!
Thanks for the reassurance and for sharing your gift of writing!
Hi my life has been a turmoil since June when my husband got arrested for a crime he was doing while I was at work. After his computer was taken by police he was angry and tried to run me over twice. I was put into a safe house.i am blessed to haves Christian house mate and councillor who is encourage me to forgive and restate my husband of 29 years. It is along and windy road where I pray and meditate a lot. God has so wonderfully protected me and provided for me. Your devotional a and encouragement have been an encouragement too. Thank you God Bless
First your posts meet my needs most of the time. I am in one of those season’s now. I feel like every turn there is a block. My husband ,who is a very wise man, always sys “when you don’ t know what to do, do nothing.” This has served me well but sometimes, even after hearing this for 33 years, I need to hear it from a different direction. Thank you for listening to God and being obedient to post.
Thanks so much!
Glynnis,
Although you posted this a few days ago, I just had a chance to read it. I cannot even describe to you what absolute perfect timing this was for me to read it this morning, and not a few days ago. I was wrestling big time last night after someone left me a voice mail message. This person misunderstood where I was coming from. I am in chaotic season of life, and this call just through me for a loop. I was trying to figure out what steps I was going to take and what to tell this person; I was even considering finding another Church ! I felt like running away ! I was desperately praying last night for God’s peace, wisdom and direction. I always felt the same way about the ” no decision ” concept, but of course, in my ” chaotic moment ” I wasn’t thinking of that. Time and time again the Lord admonishes us to wait, this has been made so real to me over the last few years. I thank the Lord for using you to remind me of that. God Bless !
Thanks for your transparency and sharing with us your walk with the LORD and life in general. You are always encouraging us to focus on the most important aspect of life; God and faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you for always pointing to His word.
May the LORD bless you and keep you.
Renee
When my life is spinning out of control, it usually takes a Holy Thump on the head by God to slow me down. I loved this blog post.
Blessings and Greeting to all. Thank you for sharing your encouraging words. What GOD has taught me is in when everything seems so busy and chaotic is to first pray about the situation “seek the kingdom of God” then I will be still. Although this is difficult for me as I would get angst it is good discipline because I’m believing in that the LORD will make a way “His Will, His Way!! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++