Let’s talk about to do lists. I live by one, and it is never (I mean NEVER) completed. One day in training at work, a speaker told us to take 1 minute and write a quick to do list of things we know we need to get finished. When I looked over my list, after 1 minute, my list was over 30 items long. (The speaker told us 12 were too many. Oops!) It’s no wonder why I cannot ever get my to do list competed. I have found a few tools over the years to help me better organize my lists (and brain), but still some days I get so overwhelmed, I can’t even think of what to do next. I’ve learned over the years that when I get overwhelmed, my coping mechanism is to shut down. I shut down emotionally and physically because I just don’t know what to do next. I tend to zone out into books or binge watch a show on Netflix. This only makes my lists even longer, me more overwhelmed, and then I get depressed for failing to accomplish anything.  So what do I do then? I withdraw even more. What a terrible cycle, right? I have spent years telling myself that I just need to “do the next thing.” I always have housework to be done or laundry to be put away. So I just need to take it one task at a time and don’t worry about the other things. When I’m at work, I focus on the next thing on the list and keep going on to the next. Recently I have been thinking about how God wants us to handle these times of stress and complications of life. Is that really what He wants us to do? Just mark the next thing off the to do list? If we look to God’s word, I don’t believe that is what we see. He says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30. “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust his, and he will help you.” Psalms 37:5. In his word, He promises to give rest to the weary, help carry our burdens, direct our paths, and give us peace. He wants us to come to him when we are overwhelmed. Come to him and bring your to do lists and your questions and your problems. Lay them at His feet and allow him to give us rest. So next time you feel overwhelmed by your to do lists, take a few minutes spend some time with the Lord.

Precious Lord,

I come to you today asking for knowledge in managing my time wisely. I come to you for strength to accomplish those things that must be completed, and Father I come to you today for guidance in my decisions today. God, I am laying down my to do lists and asking for you to speak to me this morning.  Please, open my heart to your words and plans for me. Thank you for blessing me with a full life, and please teach me how to manage it for Your glory and not mine.

Amen