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“One definition of ‘overwhelm’ is ‘[to] bury or drown beneath a huge mass.’ While our work might feel like a huge mass we’re buried or drowning beneath, God tells us in Scripture, ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you’ (Isa. 43:2).” - TGC

Discussion

Fri, 01/23/26

I was just thinking that verse is pretty out of context. So why was it such a blessing to me? Here’s the thing: It is a verse that tells what kind of God our God is. It tells us what kind of God He is when His people are going through difficulties.

Still “out of context”? Potentially. As a promise that harm will not occur, yes. God doesn’t promise that even to those He loves. We do suffer harm. Sometimes we are not only “burned” but also “consumed.” As a revelation that God is with us and what happens is under His control and a promise that it will never be without purpose… that’s a consistent message everywhere in Scripture. The passage is a beautiful expression of that.

But as a promise—it was made to particular people in a particular time and place, not all believers everywhere at all times.

He might let us be overwhelmed. It could be an important step in learning important things.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Mon, 01/26/26

It strikes me that in many jobs, there comes a time where you've got to cut your losses. In a former job I had, I realized that the mismanagement and abuse had gotten to the point I needed to get out--people were leaving and saying "I'm getting a real job", and one person leaving was talking to everyone so she could discuss how bad things were--it's pretty bad when people are openly burning their bridges.

(side note; one sign that things are going down quickly is when the young, single people start leaving--that's the canary in the coal mine, so to speak, as they don't have schools/spouses/etc. tying them down. When the family guys start heading for the exits, then really watch out!)

I think there is also a reality that we often get "unofficial jobs" like family or church responsibilities where the expectations can get out of hand, and at some point, you've got to say "what we have here is a system that we cannot sustain. I will help you reform this system, but I will not help you to keep it going for the indefinite future.". My wife and I are dealing with such a case as some in her family are expecting everybody to take on an unpaid part time job (for us out of state) to take care of rentals after my father-in-law had a stroke--and there is a need for some of those resources to pay for assisted living/nursing care. One of those "No, we're not doing that, but we'll be glad to interact with a realtor to get a few of these properties sold." sort of moments.

Or put differently, while we are to do our jobs with a whole heart, there is also a time where one has to say that a particular task is an "avian enterprise", i.e. "for the birds".

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.