Are you Overloaded?

Do you ever feel like life is getting you down? Like you have so much to do that there is never enough time to get everything done? Like no matter how hard you try, your "to do list" keeps getting longer and longer? Do you feel like this pear tree, with so much to bear that you find yourself breaking? I used to feel like that a lot but now things are getting better. I shed some unwanted and unneeded baggage and things are looking great.





I used to be like that pear tree. I would try to do more and more and get myself in a fix and before I knew it, I was bogged down with no way out. No matter how I tried, things kept looking bad and I would end up depressed and when all other options were exhausted, I would break down and ask God for help. I would tell God my plan and tell him how I wanted him to make my plan work. Usually it ended up with my plan still failing and me losing faith and giving up on God. I could rationalize that I asked God for help with my plan and I didn’t get the help I wanted so God must not care. You know what I am talking about. Many of you have been there too. Why wasn’t God helping with my plan?




This time last year, I was bogged down with my job. I was working long hours and weekends and never seemed to have any time for myself or my family. I knew I was on the verge of a breakdown and couldn’t last much longer. I asked God for help with making ends meet. What I wanted was some kind of miracle where I would get more money and keep things the way they were. But no money fell from the sky and no offered me that pay raise. However, this job came open and I applied for it. I knew it would mean a huge salary cut and we would have to struggle to make ends meet. I wasn’t sure if it was the right choice but I did it anyway. God wasn’t giving me that answer I wanted but it was the only option for change so I took it.




After giving it some thought, I realized that the problem wasn’t with God it was with me. The problem was that it was MY plan and not necessarily God’s plan. Sometimes the answer isn’t what I want to hear but I know in the end, it is for the better. Long story short, I got the job. We adjusted to the pay cut and found other things to help us out financially. In less than a year, we have adjusted and are better off than before. I now have lots more time to spend with my family. I have so much less stress that I am a different person.





I would love to have all those pears on my tree. The problem is that one tree can’t possibly bear that many pears. Trying to save them all would mean destroying the tree and then there would be no pears at all. I decided to cut back and trim off the excess limbs and pears. I must have cut off 500 hundred pears. They are still good to eat but just a little small. The rest of the pears should now mature properly and the tree will be better off for it.







I think what I got caught up in was this competitive lifestyle that everyone seems to be living these days. We are all getting pushed to achieve, get, do, and save more. The reality of it is that MORE isn’t always the answer. Sometimes LESS is the answer. I am learning to be content with less and listening to what God’s plan for me is instead of trying to make my own plan work and that plan is working.

Have a Blessed Day,
Greg

Comments

Martha said…
Your post is as much an "Amen" post as Angie's and reminds me of the old song "Count Your Blessings"... "Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?"
Susan Skitt said…
Wow Greg, what an amazing post. It's so true, how often do we want God to "do it our way". His way is so much better.

What a great comparison to that pear tree, complete with pictures of it all trimmed up! God does the pruning in our lives. It may hurt at first, but it always is for our good!

I'm so glad you are allowing God to move in your heart and life in this way. And I'm glad for the time that you are able to spend with your family.

Take care and have a wonderful weekend!
Angel said…
you are amazing Greg!!!! and I too, used to have apear tree...but we cut it down. :( But they were some of the best pears I've ever tasted.
Scarlet said…
Beautifully written. I know EXACTLY what you're talking about. As much as I think my plans line up with God's, that's not always the case. If He'd only speak to us like He spoke to Moses...where we could hear Him, life would be so much easier, wouldn't it? Or would it? Hmm.
Janice Thomson said…
What a wonderful and thoughtful post Greg. There is so much we can do without if we just give it a try. I learned this a long time ago when seeing an acquaintance who had an alcoholic husband who abused her. I'll never forget her saying once when things were bad: yes but isn't my little house beautiful? Yep it sure was - and she was the most unhappy person I knew. Thanks for this important reminder that it isn't the material things that count in life.
Come read the post I put up today. I think you might like it! ;) I know it was a revelation for me!

PS. August 8th and 9th....will you be around? Got time both evenings to show houses to me? ;)
sandy said…
Greg what a great post.

The right use of will is to choose not to use it, ~~~~ allowing God to unfold his plan is always the best thing. How many times have I tried to "direct" my life (thinking I create my own reality)...well hahahha, joke was on me. I only create chaos...

But surrendering to that greater divine intelligence is like sitting back in the boat and putting the oars down and floating.

I so loved your post, it just was a good reminder to me today.
Amy said…
How true, how true!
Wanda said…
Oh Greg, you have said it so very well.

I was so reminded of the passage in John 15 where our Lord is teaching about pruning, so there can be more fruit.

Thanks for a most inspirational post.
Angie said…
Profound truth. I relate so much to what you said. We are going through and taking the same measures in my family. I've seen my husband looking like that weighted down pear tree for a couple of years now. Today was a major day of pruning and cutting back with him officially leaving the firestation. Thank you. This really encouraged me. I'm going to have him read this too. (hug)

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