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Health and Wellness

An Open Letter For When You Feel Overwhelmed

You are not alone.

_reaganwat

May 28, 2019

Jacksonville State University

826

Personal Photo

I get it.

The mundane days. The repetitive schedules. Seeing the same faces in the classroom or in the office every day. The continued workouts that promise results, but just leave you feeling empty and unmotivated.

Life has just gotten to you lately. It seems as if the waves of life are about to crash into you at full force.

Expensive bills, annoying bosses and coworkers, busy schedules, family problems, relationship issues. You are so overwhelmed that you feel like you are about to drown in the deep waters that are surrounding you.

But what if I told you there is someone who will stand with you in that ocean when the storm and the waves are continuously knocking you down and ferociously tossing your boat around, and just when you feel like you are about to capsize, this person assures you that you will make it out alive.

It would be hard to believe, right?

You are about to drown in these rough waters and to your knowledge, there is no escape, yet there is someone next to you who is making these promises to you that he can help you.

Would you trust him? Would you trust him when his experience is your only option? Would you trust him when all of your attempts to save yourself have failed?

You don't understand how this man's promises can be true. How could he get you out of something that seems so impossible?

But you also know that you can't get out on your own. You know that you will die fighting the battle for your own life.

The truth is... you absolutely cannot survive this storm on your own. But by taking this man's advice and trusting him, you have a newfound hope, even if you cannot see the outcome.

This man, His name is Jesus. And He promises to never leave you. He promises to stand right next to you in the waves that keep knocking you down and help you up each time that you fall.

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." // Isaiah 43:1-3

You may ask, "why can He not just stop the waves? Life would be so much easier if the waves just stopped knocking me over."

The thing is, He can stop the waves. But that does not mean that He always will. Because sometimes the waves that hit us are exactly the moments in which we learn to trust Him completely. We are able to flourish in our faith in the midst of trials and tribulation.

Plus, how can we drown in the waves our trials when we remember that we have a God that, in place of us, experienced the greatest trial in history?

Great theologian Charles Spurgeon once spoke, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages."

We can embrace the storms that are thrown at us because we have a Savior and a Rescuer that meets us exactly where we are. And many times in this crazy life, that is right in the middle of a treacherous storm.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." // James 1:2

God's promises are so so good. And so so true.

He is near to us. He promises to never leave. He is supreme over all things, even the things that seem like they are surrounding you and leaving you with no way out.

JESUS IS GREATER than everything you are facing today -- stress, anxiety, worry, envy, anger, loneliness, depression -- Jesus is so much greater than it all. And He promises to stand right next to us through it all.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." // Romans 8:28

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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An Open Letter For When You Feel Overwhelmed

You are not alone.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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