Pastor Phil McCutchen

7 Facts About Being Stressed Out

• Psalm 61:2> From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
• Psalm 77:1-3 > I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.
• 2 Corinthians 1:8 > We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.
• Psalm 142:3 > When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
• Matthew 26:38 > Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Cheri and I are deeply engaged this summer in being a part of 6 weddings, 5 of which involve church/school staff, some significant staff restructuring, and an 18 day China Camp with 40 students from Beijing, with 5 living in our home; all of this following 4 family deaths in a 6 month period. I haven’t even mentioned the normal minutia of car repairs, doctor visits, swimming pool liner/pump replacement and crisis counseling situations. So now you know why I am doing a word study on “overwhelmed.”

The Hebrew word for “overwhelmed” is “atap” and is translated: faint, swoon, fail, feeble and covered over. “Atap” comes from a primitive root that means, “to shroud.” In other words, it’s when life is coming at you in a way that is causing you to feel buried. It’s when you are buried with busyness, work, disappointment, guilt, shame or activity. There are some common misconceptions about stress that I hope to clear up with 7 Facts about being stressed out.

1. Being “overwhelmed” is real; it’s not all in your mind or your perception.

King David, the Prophet Elijah, the Apostle Paul and even Jesus had times when they felt “overwhelmed.” They clearly communicated the abnormality of their condition to those around them and they asked for help.

2. It’s really important to admit you are overwhelmed.

Don’t buy into the idea that, if you were just mentally tougher you wouldn’t feel the need for relief from the relentless. The greats that I mentioned earlier must have felt it was really necessary to face their feeling of inadequacy. There’s every good reason to be honest about your stress levels.

3. It’s really important to have safe people who know you are overwhelmed.

We all tend to be toxic when we are “overwhelmed,” so we need safe people who will help protect us from ourselves. We all tend to lose perspective when we are “overwhelmed”; we are more easily angered, we blame our significant others and we can even feel guilty for feeling inadequate.

4. It doesn’t always mean you did something wrong or that you mismanaged your life.

If you think that you can be smart enough and manage well enough to avoid ever carrying unsustainable burdens you are going to be disappointed and guilt ridden. The best-laid plans go awry sometimes, machines break, people get sick and life happens to all of us.

5. Being overwhelmed is not a measure of your significance.

Being overwhelmed is not a barometer of one’s value and burnout is not the sure sign of a purpose filled life. Just as being stressed out is no reason for embarrasment, neither is is it a reasonable cause for pride.

6. It can mean that you planned inadequately.

Of course being overwhelmed can be a result of inadequate planning or failure to calculate the cost of a project. It is exhausting to be a friend of someone who sees you as his or her emergency aid for a chronic failure to avoid an overwhelming life. Chosen chronic stress is death to relational intimacy with God and people.

7. Caution, feeling “overwhelmed can be addictive.”

Stress releases heavy doses of cortisol and adrenalin into our nervous system. This chemical miracle that is designed to save our lives when in danger can turn into a chemical dependency on the rush created by urgency. We can literally become addicted to feeling overwhelmed.

Prolonged periods of time in an overwhelming state is bad for your physical & spiritual health, bad for your family and bad for the Kingdom of God. Don’t do this alone, allow the safe people in your life to help you determine what amount of regular burden bearing is healthy for you. You should be whelmed but not over whelmed most of the time.

Isaiah 30:15-16 For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not, 16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”– Therefore you shall flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses”– Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!

1 Comment

  1. Ray Lauzier

    August 6, 2014 - 11:14 pm

    Wow Pastor, I know you have all been through much stress, turmoil, pain , emotion etc etc.
    I have been following the last few years,I can only imagine how hard it must be at times. I often wonder how you AND YOUR FAMILY are able to get up on stage sometimes and still have the strength, humor and humility left with all other emotions ETC RUNNING THROUGH YOUR BRAINS. But I think that is the allowed through Jesus as he provides in return for your faith.
    On a lighter note you forgot to mention, with all the busyness going on you also have the 2 day leadership summit to host!!!
    See you there.

    RAY L