“Too many choices can overwhelm us and cause us not to choose at all. For businesses, this means that if they offer us too many choices, we may not buy anything.” – Sheena Iyengar – American Educator
Guided-selling.org named 2018 The Year of the Overwhelmed Customer. They reported that information overload was the cause of the problem, and suggested that simplicity was the remedy. Businesses should devise marketing methods that make ‘yes decisions’ easier. I don’t think I’ve associated having too much information and multiple choices as a source of OVERWHELM. I’ve tended to think of overwhelm as the result of trying circumstances or not enough time to finish tasks. All of these sources are also real, but sometimes overwhelm doesn’t have a negative root. I just have many choices and don’t know which to take, or I want to do them simultaneously. I felt this overwhelm on Monday, a rare day off, while attempting to accomplish everything in a day. OVERWHELM means to bury or drown beneath a huge mass; to give too much of a thing to someone; to have a strong emotional effect on; to overpower. Customers are overwhelmed by the number of potential purchasing options. My attempt to tackle my entire to-do list all at once overwhelmed me. Maybe we need simplicity to overcome our overwhelm, settle our emotions, regain our confidence, and make uncomplicated ‘yes’ decisions.
I’m sure there have been moments, days or seasons that you’ve felt overwhelmed. We experience pressure from all sides: work, home, church, extended family relationships, finances, and internal stressors like worry over impending decisions. Sometimes it feels like everyone is pulling on us to have all the answers. King David felt this angst and poured out his soul to God: Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 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. 3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah 5 For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. 6 You will prolong the king’s life, His years as many generations. 7 He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him! 8 So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows. (Psalm 61, NKJV)
David wasn’t just overwhelmed in the moment,
he was concerned about
his lifespan and ultimately his legacy. Though I’m certainly no king David, I’ve shared similar concerns. How much time do I have left? I haven’t completed all God wants me to, but I want to finish it all. David had to sing this psalm to reassure himself that God, his Rock, had historically ensured every step of his life. God held David’s times in his hands (Psalm 31:15), so the king declares that God will prolong his life and safeguard his legacy. What a bold statement! David also asked for mercy and truth to preserve him. He committed to worship the LORD and to DAILY perform his vows. Each day he would do what the LORD was calling him to and allow God to determine his lifespan, his efficacy, and his legacy. We’d be wise to let go of our overwhelm and do the same.
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