Part 18

[Anonymous]

I feel inadequate. I feel like I am falling behind in life as an adult in general. I am not as financially independent as I would like to be, and at my age, I do not feel that I know what I want to do or where I stand in life.

I feel constantly exhausted, and I have the feeling of being caught in a whirlwind of circumstances, relationships, and emotions. I do not understand anything that is happening in my life, and I understand even less what is going on in my mind.

I often question my mental health, wondering whether I am crazy or whether I am actually experiencing what I believe I am experiencing. I wish everything would stop so that I could see things more clearly, think through my situation, and move forward.


People have praised me for the courage and dedication it took to raise my little sister while my mother was ill, but I find it difficult to accept their praise, and I do not see it that way myself. I feel as though I did not do enough. I think I would have liked to do more for her, given her circumstances and for the sake of her future life. I wish I had been able to put some money aside for her.

I have spent so many years worrying about and taking care of others that I find it difficult to put my own needs first, even though I genuinely want to.

I feel as though I have been stagnating on a personal level for several years. And I cannot seem to get my business off the ground.

Could you please pray that my business will grow and that I will be able to gain more clients?

And pray that I will have the wisdom to keep striving to improve myself every day and never offer anything less than high-quality services. That would mean a lot to me. I have made quite a few efforts, but I feel as though I cannot seem to make it work.

Nevertheless, on a more positive note, I saw a therapist for the first time this Monday, and it went very well.

During that very first session, she helped me understand certain things about myself, including how the wound of losing both my parents has affected me, among other things—even though my mother is still alive, she is now completely paralyzed. It helped me, and I hope it will continue to help me and that I will feel better as time goes on.

 

[Articles]

We hear the weight and weariness in your heart and we lift you up before the Lord together. You have carried so much for so long, feeling inadequate, behind in life, financially strained, uncertain about your future, and caught in a whirlwind of circumstances, relationships and emotions that leaves you exhausted and confused about even your own mind. We want you to know that God sees all of this, He is not distant from your struggle, and He does not measure you by the world's timeline or standards.

Scripture reminds us that our feelings of inadequacy are an invitation to lean on His sufficiency. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. When we feel overwhelmed and unable to see clearly, we are called to come to Him. Psalm 61:2 says When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. And Matthew 11:28 says Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. You have described wanting everything to stop so you could think clearly and move forward, and the Lord invites you into that stillness. Psalm 46:10 says Be still, and know that I am God. He gives power to the faint and strengthens those who have no might as Isaiah 40:29 promises, and He exchanges our exhaustion for His renewal when we wait on Him.

We also hear your tender heart toward your little sister and your mother. You sacrificially raised your sister while your mother was ill and now grieves the loss of your parents in a very real way even though your mother is still alive but completely paralyzed. The Lord honors that faithful, quiet service even when you struggle to receive praise from others or to feel that it was enough. He saw every act of love, every worry, every sacrifice. Psalm 147:3 says He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. Your grief over losing your parents in this way is real, and God is near to you in it. Psalm 34:18 says Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Please do not let the enemy condemn you with the lie that you did not do enough or that you should have saved more money for her future. You did what love required in that season with what you had, and God in His mercy holds your sister's future as He holds yours. Jeremiah 29:11 says For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.

You have spent years putting others before yourself and now find it difficult to put your own needs first even though you want to. Scripture teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves, which shows us that caring for ourselves in a healthy, godly way is part of loving others well. Your body and mind are a stewardship from God, and even Jesus invited His disciples to come away and rest awhile in Mark 6:31. Learning to rest, to set boundaries, and to receive care is not selfish, it is wise stewardship so you can continue to serve from strength rather than emptiness.

We also hear your discouragement about stagnating personally and about your business not getting off the ground. We understand the desire for financial independence and for clarity about your calling. The Lord cares about your work and your provision. Proverbs 16:3 says Commit your works to Yahweh, and your plans shall be established. And Colossians 3:23 says Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men. We admire your desire not just for more clients but for wisdom to improve every day and to offer only high quality services. That desire to do excellent, honest work honors God. Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. And Galatians 6:9 encourages us, Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. God’s timing is not our own, and being behind by the world’s measure does not mean you are behind in His purpose.

We rejoice with you that your first therapy session went well and helped you begin to understand how the wound of losing both your parents has affected you. It is good to seek help and to gain understanding, and we pray that process continues to bring clarity. At the same time we want to gently point you to the ultimate source of healing and counsel. A therapist can be a helpful tool, but only Jesus can heal the deepest wounds of the heart and bring true peace to a troubled mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 says For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. And Philippians 4:6-7 says In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

We noticed your request did not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we want to lovingly share that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and find salvation and true rest. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And Acts 4:12 says There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. If you have not yet placed your full trust in Him, we encourage you to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, for Romans 10:9 promises that you will be saved. It is through His name we pray and find hope when we question even our own sanity and worth.

We pray together for you now.

Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, lifting up this dear one who feels inadequate, exhausted and overwhelmed. Lord, You know the whirlwind of emotions and circumstances, the confusion in the mind, and the questioning of self. We ask You to quiet the storm within and grant clarity, peace and rest. Lead this heart to the Rock that is higher. Heal the brokenheartedness from losing both parents in such a painful way and comfort this soul as only You can, binding up every wound. Forgive the false guilt that says not enough was done for a beloved little sister, and let Your grace affirm that every sacrifice was seen and treasured by You. Teach the balance of loving others while also stewarding well the body and mind You have given. We ask for wisdom, direction and provision over this business. Commit this work into Your hands, Lord, establish its plans, bring the right clients in Your timing, and grant skill and integrity to offer excellent service that honors You. Provide for financial needs and show the next steps for the future. We thank You for the help already received through counseling and we ask You to be the ultimate Counselor, bringing deep healing that surpasses understanding. Guard this heart and mind in Christ Jesus, renew strength day by day, and help this dear one to keep striving with hope, not in striving alone but in Your strength. Let Your peace which surpasses all understanding guard this life. We ask all this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus, our only hope and Savior, amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We were so grateful you shared this so honestly. Feeling behind, exhausted, and caught in a whirlwind of emotions and responsibilities makes sense after carrying so much for so long. Raising your little sister while your mother was ill took real courage and sacrifice, and it is understandable that praise is hard to receive when you still wish you could have done more for her and her future.

We are really encouraged that your first therapy session went well and gave you some clarity about how the loss around both your parents has affected you. Even though your mother is still alive, her being completely paralyzed is a profound loss, and grief takes many forms. Staying with that therapeutic process with someone you trust is a steady, good next step to keep. If the constant exhaustion continues, we encourage you to also check in with your medical provider alongside prayer, just to make sure you are cared for physically as well.

We hear how much you want to put your own needs first after years of caring for others, and how discouraging it feels to work hard on your business without seeing it grow. When everything feels stuck, it can help to narrow the focus to one small, doable step at a time rather than trying to fix it all at once, whether that is strengthening one part of your service this week or reaching out to one potential client.

Father, we lift our friend to You in Jesus' name. Bring rest to this tiredness, clear the whirlwind of thoughts, and give wisdom and steadiness for each next step. Provide for the business according to Your will, help it to grow in a way that honors You, and guide our friend toward healing and hope in the months ahead. Amen.

 

[Violetblue]

Praying for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your words have been read with much tenderness and prayer, and I thank you for speaking so plainly about the weariness and confusion that press upon you. To feel inadequate, to feel behind, to feel caught in a whirlwind where circumstances and emotions and relationships all spin together, is a heavy burden. To question your own mind and to long for everything to stop that you might see clearly is not a sign that you are forsaken, but that you are in need of that wisdom which can only come from above.

Wisdom is man's true path, the compass by which he is to steer across the trackless waste of life. Without it a man runs here and there as the wild ass's colt, wasting strength which might be profitably employed. You say you do not know what you want to do or where you stand, and that you cannot understand what is happening in your life or in your mind. This is the very place where the heart learns that wisdom is not found within ourselves. There is not much wisdom in man's judgment of his own way, and he who trusts in his own strength and his own understanding knows not the way of wisdom. The price of wisdom is above rubies, neither shall it be valued with pure gold, and where shall it be found but in Christ, for Christ is the wisdom of God. He planned the way of salvation, He laid the foundations of all that is wise and good, and He will teach you if you sit at His feet and learn. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom, and the best way to live wisely is to live in Christ and to live to God.

You speak of raising your little sister while your mother was ill, and though others have praised your courage, you feel you did not do enough and wish you could have laid something aside for her future. Hear this, that the Lord sees what is done in love and does not measure as man measures. You have spent years worrying about and caring for others, and now find it hard to put your own needs first. It is not selfish to seek rest and strength in the Lord that you may continue to serve. Your mother, still alive yet completely paralyzed, is a deep wound, and the loss you carry, even while she lives, is real. The Lord who made you to bear one another's burdens also invites the weary to come to Him for rest.

You ask for prayer for your business, that it may grow and gain more clients, and that you may have wisdom to strive each day and to offer nothing less than high quality service. This is a right and good desire, and I will pray for it. Remember this word, if you make your own business God's business, you will do your business well. To be about your Father's business is not to turn aside from your daily calling, but to do that calling unto Him. It is sweet employment to serve your Father in the place where He has put you. And when you are hard pressed in business, you need not go to any particular place to pray. A brief, silent prayer, such as Guide me, good Lord, breathed in sincerity before an undertaking or a difficult decision, is heard by Him who does not measure prayer by the yard nor weigh it by the pound. Commit your work to Him, labor faithfully, and leave the increase to His hand.

I am glad to hear that your first meeting with a therapist went well and brought some light to the wound of losing both your parents in the way you have. Use every lawful help with thankfulness, and above all seek the Great Physician, for true healing of the heart comes through Him who sweat great drops of blood and bore our sorrows that we might have peace with God.

Let us pray together.

O Lord, our Father, Thou art wisdom itself, and with Thee is no darkness. Look upon this weary one who feels inadequate and exhausted and tossed about. Give clarity where there is confusion, and calm where there is a whirlwind. Thou knowest the weight of years spent caring for a sister and a mother, and Thou hast seen every sacrifice made in love. Forgive the sense of never having done enough, and speak Thy peace to a conscience that labors under false guilt. Grant rest to the mind that questions itself, and bring steady healing to the wound of parental loss.

We ask for wisdom from above, that this life may be steered by Thy compass and not by fear. Grant to Thy servant a settled heart in Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the business which Thou hast placed in these hands, we ask Thy blessing. Give diligence, integrity, and skill, that every service may be done as unto Thee. Provide clients according to Thy good will, supply daily bread, and make this work to be Thy business, that it may prosper for Thy glory and for the good of others. Teach us to pray without ceasing, in brief and sincere petitions through the day, and to trust Thee for the outcome.

Keep this dear one in the way of wisdom, rooted in Thy Word, resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ, through whom alone is salvation, and walking in newness of life. May there be growing strength, clearer sight, and quiet hope in the days to come. In the name of Jesus our Lord, Amen.