When Tasks Overwhelm

We can be so busy, and have so much to do, that we can get discouraged when we see that what we do isn’t as perfect as we want it to be, or as others might expect it to be.

I often feel discouraged because I wonder how I can get everything done, and feel like giving up before I’ve even started! I was reading a post on perfectionism and overwhelming to do lists by Ann Voskamp yesterday that made me think. She said,

I found an online definition of perfectionism that said it is: ‘a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable.’ I guess that I am quite susceptible to this, although I think I would be content with 80/90% of perfection!!

I would really like to get EVERYTHING done every day that I wanted to. I would like to have a moderately clean and tidy house every day. And when I don’t, or when it looks like I won’t, I get discouraged.

And in thinking about it I realised a few things that may help when all the things we have to do look like they are going to overwhelm us:

God wants perfect character more than perfect work

Though we are told to work with all our heart at whatever we do, I can’t think of anywhere where God tells us to make sure our work is perfect! On the other hand I can think of plenty of places where we are encouraged to grow towards perfection of character (although of course we will never get there completely until heaven).

So I think as far as our work goes we need to ‘do our best and commit the rest’ and remember that our character and seeking after the righteousness of Christ is what God values. So while hopefully that will mean a good standard of work, at times it just isn’t possible – and then it shouldn’t get us down.

Look up instead of around you

Elisabeth Elliot’s second husband died a slow and agonizing death, and she says: ‘even when he was at his worst and I was barely able to get through a day, the work was there, and by the grace of God I did it. When I remembered to look up instead of around me and to offer the work to the Lord, it was much easier and more pleasant.’

That is often my problem – that I look at all the laundry and dishes and tidying waiting to be done, and look at the very little energy I have to do it, and wonder how? But I need to I look up instead: look at God, ask for help, look at it in light of eternity and the glory of God and as Ann says, turn the problems to praise.

Focus on your calling, not your to do list

It makes such a difference when I take 5 minutes to write down the important things I have to do that day and then pray and write down the order of priority.  Otherwise it is so easy to get distracted by things that call out to me, but in reality can wait and are not as important as others.

However if all we think about is our list then we are bound for despair, as even the best time managers in the world say that we will never get everything done that is on our list! If we focus on what God has called us to, then it helps us to weed out the things that are less necessary or can wait, and concentrate on the things that are more important in God’s eyes.

Another quote from Elisabeth Elliot (all these are from her book, ‘Discipline – The Glad Surrender’ which is really good!): ‘There is always enough time to do the will of God.’ which she gets from the fact that Jesus was able to say, “I have finished the work You gave me to do.”

Don’t worry, but seek God

This week I have been thinking a lot about this worry passage 🙂