When Things Get 'a bit too much'

I've been struggling this last week to cope - a combination of some family things and seven weeks into being on my own at work (where normally I have a team member) It got so bad I was waking in the early hours panicking and anxious. On Tuesday, exhausted, I ended up having a good cry at work. And I'm not used to doing that! But, God had arranged things and a lovely christian lady came and spent some time with me and prayed for me. Afterwards I felt better and was able to carry on with my work, where as before I just couldn't. We also meet a few of us at a church lunch club on a Tuesday and usually pray for a short time at the end. So I could share there and again someone prayed for me
On the train on the way home, I thought, 'I know I'll read a psalm, there's bound to be encouragement there!' The figure 81 popped into my head:

Psalm 81, v 6-7
6 "Now I will take the load from your shoulders;
I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.
7 You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you;
I answered out of the thundercloud
and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah. Interlude

And I'm still holdng onto that verse! Funnily enough at the mens curry night and earlier in the week other people shared with me how sometimes they had this not sleeping thing. Or early waking with things on their mind. I had the picture of keeping spinning plates going. Letting go to God is letting go those plates. The fear is that they will all come crashing to the ground! In a way we almost have to say, 'OK God, I'm just going to let them crash', ie be prepared to let the worst happen. It's then that God steps in and handles things - and He often surprises us in the exact way He does handle things.

So, I am still struggling with that process above and feeling very run down. However, I have been praying more when waking and there has been peace in between. This morning I slept through till 6 after an early night, hallelujah!

I've wondered all week what the last line of verse 7 meant and maybe it's come to me this morning!

'no water at Meribah' = 'no strength of my own left'
'tested your faith' just that, ie there follows a natural test of your faith because you are forced to face relying on God more

So if you're feeling similar, I pray you are encouraged and comforted by my 'story', this week

Andy