Life has a way of pulling you in every direction.  Family obligations and work seem to overlap each other while what you want to do seems to be put on the back burner.  When things start to overwhelm you, when you don’t know which way is up, you have to take a step back. 

When I had my take a step back moment I was writing several articles, working 40+ hours at work, writing for this blog, working on two books, at church on Wednesday at 5:30 pm and Sunday at 7 am for intercessory prayer and every first Saturday for a 4 hour Bible study with homework, organizing a Meetup once a month, on top of everyday life.  I was so busy.  I just felt burnt out, I didn’t want to do anything but sit in front of the tv and escape from the reality that I created. 

Every day was the same; up by 5am sleep after midnight.  I was so tired that it took everything I had to get out of bed and do the same thing all over again.  So I stopped.  I dropped everything except the working 40 hours.  As much as I loved going to church, I felt bad not being able to serve so I couldn’t bring myself to go.  Then I felt I was letting God down so I couldn’t talk to Him.  Because I was cut off from God I had no inspiration so I couldn’t write.  Can you see the snowball effect?

I had a lot of good ideas, but which ones are God ideas.  I was overwhelmed not because God put too much on me, but because I put too much on myself.   God never meant for us to be bogged down with life.  He gave us an assignment and that is all that is required of us.

Take a moment of time where you do nothing.  Of course there is work and kids, but try not to do any extracurricular activities.  Step back from serving at church, step back from hanging out with friends.  This is the time where you reevaluate everything and everybody.  Allow God to speak to you, what is it that He is telling you to do.  Is there a screenplay He has been asking you to write?  Are you supposed to serve on the teen ministry but you feel you don’t have time?  Or maybe you have been doing a little bit of everything and you’re burnt out like I was?  God has a purpose for your life and He wants you to get to it.  Go ahead take a step back, it will be the best thing you have ever done.