Strategies for Overcoming the Chaos of Over-Commitment

As I sit here, typing away, I can't help but chuckle at the irony. Here I am, writing about the dangers of over-commitment while my to-do list threatens to topple off my desk and bury me alive. It's a bit like a drowning man giving swimming lessons, right?

But let's be honest, we've all been there. We've all felt the weight of too many responsibilities pressing down on our shoulders, threatening to crush us under their collective mass. It's as if we're trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle on a tightrope. Over a pit of hungry alligators. In a hurricane.

The physical toll of over-commitment is no laughing matter, though. Our bodies weren't designed for constant stress and activity. We need rest, rejuvenation, and the occasional nap (preferably not during the pastor's sermon, but I won't judge). When we push ourselves too hard for too long, our bodies start to rebel.

Headaches become our constant companions. Our backs ache like we've been lugging around boulders instead of grocery bags. Our eyes develop a twitch that makes us look like we're constantly winking at everyone (which can lead to some awkward situations, let me tell you). And don't even get me started on the joys of stress-induced acid reflux. Nothing says, "I'm living my best life," like feeling like you've swallowed a flamethrower after every meal.

But it's not just our bodies that suffer. Our emotions take a beating, too. We become irritable, snapping at loved ones over the most minor things. "Why is this sock on the floor? Is it too much to ask for a sock-free floor? Is this what our marriage has come to? Socks on the floor?"

We find ourselves on an emotional rollercoaster, laughing one minute and crying the next. And not the good kind of crying, like when watching a heartwarming movie. No, I'm talking about the crying where you're sobbing into a pint of ice cream at 2 AM because you just realized you forgot to buy dog food, and now you're convinced you're a terrible pet owner and probably a horrible person in general.

It's in these moments of emotional and physical exhaustion that we're most vulnerable to spiritual attack. We're too tired to pray, too stressed to read our Bibles, and too overwhelmed to fellowship with other believers. We become like the seeds in the parable of the sower that fell among thorns. As Jesus explained in Mark 4:18-19 (KJV), "And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful."

Our over-commitment becomes the thorns that choke out our spiritual growth. We're so busy doing things for God that we forget to spend time with God. We become like the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:4 (KJV), where Jesus says, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."

But here's the beautiful thing: God knows we're not machines. He created us with the need for rest and renewal. That's why He gave us the Sabbath, a day to step back from our labors and focus on Him. It's why Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to pray and recharge.

So, my dear overcommitted friend, it's time to take a deep breath. It's time to look at that mile-long to-do list and ask, "What on here is truly essential? What can wait? What can I delegate? What can I simplify? What can I eliminate entirely?" It's time to make space in your life for rest, joy, relationships, and, most importantly, for God.