Overwhelmed? Do you ever feel that way? I definitely experienced that feeling the last few months with the holidays, some added job responsibilities, and some things going on with my mom to the extent that Postcripts has not been happening on my end.

That said, the things mentioned above haven’t been all that’s keeping me from this blog. I’ve been overwhelmed (in a good way) with the spirit of our discussions throughout this Bible study, overwhelmed with the subtlety of sin, overwhelmed with the effect of sin to the point where I feel inadequate to convey what these six months – yes six MONTHS! – in this Bible study has meant to our group.

We’re in different seasons of life. We come from different backgrounds. We go to different churches. We have different convictions. We have different preferences. We don’t always agree, but….

We’ve come a long way. We’re learning. We’re asking questions. We’re finding answers. Sometimes we have more questions than answers. We’re growing. We’re DOING what the “Who We Are” description of this blog says we’re about:

• Telling our stories
• Sharing our wisdom
• Listening to one another
• Praying together
• Sharpening, challenging, inspiring one another

I would highly encourage studying for yourself “Respectable Sins – Confronting the Sins We Tolerate” by Jerry Bridges. It’s convicting and eye-opening but I’m glad we did it. As we wrap up this study, I would like to share some encouraging scripture when you feel overwhelmed whether it’s due to the struggle with sin, discouragement, worry, anxiety…. any burden of this life.

First, to borrow from Pastor Dan’s message in Nehemiah 4 last Sunday, Nehemiah prayed as if everything depended on God (Neh. 4:4,5) but he pressed on as if everything depended on him. (Neh. 4:6). Nehemiah learned the enemy doesn’t just go away (Neh.4:7); in fact the enemy attacks when 1) we’re tired and need rest, 2) our focus is blurred and all we see is the mess, 3) we just can’t do it on our own.

When the situation is bigger than us

Deuteronomy 20:1 “When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.”

When you just can’t do it

2 Chronicles 20:15b & 17 “…..Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you….Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.”

When our focus is blurred

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

When we’re tired of struggling and need rest

Psalm 46:10a NIV “Be still and know that I am God.” 

(same verse but from the NASB) “Cease striving and know that I am God.”

And finally (reword with whatever your struggle and your situation)                                               

Exodus 14:13-14 “….Do not be afraid (overwhelmed/discouraged/anxious/worried/filled with despair). Stand firm (just be still, cease striving) and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today (let the Lord rescue you TODAY in this thing that you’re battling). The Egyptians (this fear/worry/discouragement/despair) you see today you will never see again (this situation won’t always be here). The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still (be calm, let Him bear the burden, rest in Him).”

Respectable Sins: Anger

It is the unfortunate reality that our anger is usually directed to those that we are closest to. Why? Because they are the people that we see most often and the easiest targets. We may be upset at something that happened at work. Since we are at work, we can't openly display our anger so we bundle it up, take it home with us at 5:00 p.m. and then proceed to take it out on our family members.

Anger causes an extreme display of emotions. Sometimes we justify our anger. We feel we have the right to be angry at someone or something. That righteous anger is a violation of God's moral law and can always be self-controlled.

We need to face up to our anger and realize that no one else is causing us to be angry. Being angry is a choice. Our pride is a huge cause of our anger along with selfishness and our desire to control.

If we are mistreated, we need to respond by being mindful to God. Start by asking yourself these questions with situations arise:

How would God have me respond in this situation?

How can I best glorify God by my response?

Do I believe that this difficult situation or this unjust treatment is under the sovereign control of God and that in His infinite wisdom and goodness He is using these difficult circumstances to conform me more to the likeness of Christ?

We need to develop this new habit of reflecting on such questions in a heated situation instead of holding onto our anger. Daily, we come into contact with circumstances or actions of other people that tempt us to be angry. But they never cause us to be angry. The cause will always lie within our prideful and selfish hearts.

Handling our angry starts with recognizing and acknowledging the anger we possess and how sinful it is.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:32 to "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." He always writes "...bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive." (Colossians 3:13)

Remember no anger is justified and acceptable to God.  Let's take the first step today recognizing our prideful hearts and forgiving those people and things that made us bitter.

Respectable Sins: Impatience

Impatience is defined by Bridges as a strong sense of annoyance at the (usually) unintentional faults and failures of others. We tend to express our impatience verbally by humiliating the person(s) who is the object of our annoyance.

The key to understanding our impatience is that it's usually a response to an unintentional action of another. I often get annoyed and become impatient by people that walk "too" slow. The people walking slow aren't doing it to purposely annoy me and perhaps they physically can't walk as fast.

God includes patience over and over again in Scripture because He knew we would struggle with it. Patience is a fruit of the spirit. In Ephesian's 4:2 we are told to, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." 

We need to understand that the cause of our impatience lies within our own hearts. It lies within our own attitude of insisting that others around us should conform to our expectations.

Here's your challenge. Ask your spouse or family member what you're impatient about and as hard it will be (for us stubborn folks) acknowledge those things and repent! Impatience is a sin!