One day at a time...

*The photo above is for illustration purposes only :).

Have you ever felt really overwhelmed? So overwhelmed that your brain hurts or your chest can explode at any second? I felt that way a few days ago. Perhaps it's because I all of a sudden felt the pressure of the juggling act that I do with my schedule between family, work, church, and extra curricular projects. There was a sense of "I just can't handle it anymore" or I just felt that there were too many things going on at the same time. Factor in that around this time of the month, let's just say I'm a bit more emotional than usual and I crave dark chocolate and sometimes top ramen in the middle of the night. You know that Southwest commercial asking, "Wanna get away?" My answer was a big resounding YES! I wanted to go somewhere where I could turn my brain off. Turn everything off for that matter... including my cell phone! No more text message beep. I wanted to go somewhere where I could be alone with God. I know that I can do that anywhere 'cause He's everywhere! But I just wanted to run away to a place where it would be easier to hear Him... where there were no distractions. I was thinking of going to a place like Beatrix Potter's farm in England... where she found inspiration and drew inspiration... sketching by a lake in this vast nature preserve. Somewhere peaceful. Somewhere where I can just rest. Away from the city and away from people. Since I was scheduled to work for the rest of last week I just couldn't get away just yet... so I found a place where I could be alone...at least for those next few days... in my car. Thursday morning: before I hopped into my Rabbit that morning I asked God to help me through this freaking out time and gently, I felt His presence and He said to me, "Why are you stressing out? Just do your part. I'm not asking you to run the universe. I'm not even asking you to run your small part of the world...Just do your part." Duuuudee... I think I immediately felt a sense of relief from this pressure I put on myself... as if this balloon that I've been blowing worry air into just couldn't hold anymore and BOOM! It finally popped. I felt like God was lovingly reminding me that I didn't need to worry and lovingly rebuking me that I shouldn't think I'm in charge or that the world depended on me (very self-centered thinking). I thought of Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." So I held that scripture in my mind and drove to work. With all my windows up I tried to drown out the noise outside of my car in traffic. I even tried to drown out the noise inside my head so I can just talk to God. And, more importantly, to hear from Him. As I drove on the 5 headed north, I changed lanes just after I passed the 710 interchange and this dark green Voyager van caught up to me on the lane to my left. I glanced at the van and lo and behold, the words "ONE DAY AT A TIME" was written on one of the windows facing me, in baby pink, in that shaving cream-like material that people use to graffiti "Go Lakers" or "Just Married" on a newlywed's window. "One day at a time." Wow. God spoke so loudly to me in that moment. So loudly that it silenced the worries in my mind and heart. He reminded me once again..."Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7. Did I get away? Oh yeah. I still plan to physically go away on a road trip or something very soon... as long as I'm going away with Him.