When you are on Overload...( 1 )...‘When I was…beside myself, you calmed me down.’ Psalm 94:19 'When I was…beside myself, you calmed me down.' Psalm 94:19 TM

Before a violin can produce music, stress must be put on the strings. But pull them too tightly and they'll snap. The same is true of you. Enough stress gets the juices flowing and helps you do what needs to be done, but beyond that you snap. Someone quipped, 'You know you're on overload when you've no time to cook a TV dinner, the cat's on tranquilisers, and family reunions have to be mediated by law enforcement!' Seriously, before it gets to that point, do two things: (1) Ask for help: During Hurricane Katrina eight dolphins were swept out of their aquarium into the sea, but because they stuck together they were rescued. If one had tried to go it alone he'd have perished. When you're alone too much you lose perspective. If the enemy can isolate you, he can influence you. God designed His family to stay connected. Or as Paul says, 'So that all the members care for each other' (1 Corinthians 12:25 NLT). (2) Get real with God: Under stress the surge of negative emotions can be overwhelming, and unless you unburden your soul before God you'll explode at the wrong people. The Psalmist addresses this: 'Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you' (Psalm 55:22 NIV). 'Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us' (Psalm 62:8 NKJV). It's no mere coincidence that many of the Psalms start out with the Psalmist crying out to God for help, and end up with him rejoicing because he vented his pent-up frustrations.