Overdrawn, Just Not Overcooked

Welcome back my solo peeps to another episode of it's a Single Mom Thing , the show where we laugh and let go working out what isn't working for us . So , as I pondered and prayed what to speak about today , this thought of being overdrawn continues to dance in my head .

So , over the course of the last week , I have had the privilege to meet with several Sola Mamas who , in the aftermath of the recent storms , I have found this common thread . Aftermath of the recent storms , I have found this common thread , a thread so thin but yet so strong that it left me in knots .

Indeed , many of heartstrings were pulled in many directions as the storms of recent tugged on them , leaving them frayed like the fringe on the hem of a good old pair of denim jeans , whether it was the tears and fears felt , pulling on the string of unpredictability and uncertainty of what was to come next , or the winds of change that the hurricane brought with

it you may be one of those listening who lost their job or their income , that went out to sea like the storm surge .

Or perhaps you're one whose plans of a home that were being built have been put on pause , not sure if that front door will ever be opened , whether you were a single mom who lost much , or you know of someone who once had much , now left with nothing much .

There was this common thread that I noticed that we all have in the wake of these storms , and that's this we may be overdrawn , but we are not overcooked , spent like a $20 bill . So you know me if you've been tracking with me for a while . You know I am no stranger to a good play on words .

So , in light of the storms and the cleanup that they have left behind , I try to make light of this situation , not to dishonor the lessons or the pain they bring with them , but rather the possibility to laugh , let go and live again . For me , these storms have reminded me we came into this world with nothing and we too will leave with nothing .

But what if we could leave something behind , something behind for the next generation to build upon , that could be their firm foundation . These are the places my heart goes , when pricked by pain and possibility at the same time . Your life like mine . Well , it may have been drawn out with the perfect design like an Etch-A-Sketch .

Then suddenly something shakes it up and all the lines are all but blurred or even gone . But something I have found with these set of storms is that we may be overdrawn , but we're not overcooked , and here's what I mean by this . Sure , there were , and there still are , tears and fears , as this brought many of us to our knees .

We also find ourselves living with this new diagnosis called hurricane fatigue , leaving us spent like a $20 bill . But what I have found most redeeming and endearing in this time of uncertainty is the certainty that we will build again . There is hope and a future , and that community it does exist , and it is something that we both desire and were created for .

Through the storm , I have found many of walls torn down . There are , of course , the physical walls that once housed and sheltered people , but more impactful are the walls that have come down , housing one's spirit , no matter the income levels . That once separated us . This wall was level two . Separated us . This wall was level two .

Never have I seen a community more alive than after a storm that threatened to kill us . Well , I kind of digress a little bit . I have seen this once before , and it was on September 11th 2001 . Our country that we thought was impenetrable was penetrated . Country that we thought was impenetrable was penetrated .

Our security that we once had filled us with insecurity . As a nation , we grieved , we wept together , but we also came together through the power of pain , as the walls came down for all of us that day . If only they stayed down . I tend to wonder if these storms were meant to unite us once again .

Sure , we were overdrawn then , yes , but we weren't overcooked either . Beauty in the brokenness , in driving down the beach road I travel every Sunday after church service . I find that the road is the same , but yet it is different .

The ocean views that once took my breath away are replaced by the view in my rearview mirror , now taking my breath away , seeing all the scars left behind . You know , if I have to be honest with you , it brings me to overwhelming tears every time I drive down that road . Now you might be asking yourself so why even drive down it ?

And this is why I do it . I do it so as not to forget . Never to forget how prayers were answered . Never to forget the posture of total surrender . Never to forget that there is always someone who has it tougher than you . Never to forget that there is always someone to serve that is way better than yourself .

Never to forget that his promises are true , as he will never leave us or forsake us . I do it to bless every house , every beachfront view that used to bless me in my time of pain . Now it is my turn to return the gift that has been given to me .

I do it as a reminder to always keep my heart open to his plans , his purposes , and to keep community first place in my heart , even when the walls go back up rebuilding it . It is a scar I want to be reminded of . So when it heals , heals . I don't forget where we have come from and the feeling of this moment .

Yes , the landscape is scarred , shattered and tattered , but soon it will look much different , as it too heals . Much like our hearts after a divorce , death or separation , that scarred , they too will heal . Our memories , for now may be much like the furniture all over the littered beach lawns , in full view for everyone to see , leaving us vulnerable .

That's how we feel at the start of our solo journey . Yes , everything that we once knew or found comfort in now may be a source of discomfort , but take heart , there is beauty in the brokenness and I see it as I drive down my favorite beach road and my solo peeps . There is beauty in your brokenness too .

At the start of my solo journey , I was in pieces like a jar , shattered all over the floor . So many pieces , scattered in many directions , some so small you couldn't even see them . Just like you may be feeling right now . I know that kind of pain , those kind of scars , that kind of emptiness and uncertainty .

Your life lived out in fragments of who you once were , even as the best self-proclaimed control freak . There was no stopping the pieces that had to be broken , that had to come to the end of oneself so that it could be pieced back together by the one who knitted me and my mother's womb .

Pieced back together by the one who knitted me in my mother's womb , pieced back together into a sherry that is unrecognizable and far more beautiful than the image I used to see in the mirror . I know this to be true , as I love who I see in the mirror , for I weathered the storm with the one who commands the wind and the wind obeys him .

One mom who I was speaking to the other day said it this way my eyes look different from day one of divorce . My eyes are the window to my soul and for a time they were once lost .

She went as far as to show me proof , as she showed me the ages and stages of photos of her eyes after the shattering of divorce to the beauty she has found in the brokenness . It was an eye-opening experience , to say the least . Ladies and gents , this I can say with assurance .

For all the storms I have endured as a solo as there were far too many to name I can now say it was all worth it .

At the beginning of my journey , if you told me that I would have to go through what I needed to go through to get where he wanted to take me , oh , I know my competitive spirit would have arm wrestled God for another way , but it is through the storm where he wanted to take me , although , if I'm honest , it was my decision to create the storm .

But take heart when you find your beauty and the boldness of who you become in him , through him and with him . You can't find that kind of beauty in a bottle Getting over the overdrawn . So my encouragement for you today is how to get over the overdrawn so not to overspend your account .

Honestly , I think it is to extend yourself the grace to simply go through it rather than just get over it . I know there are many who would say , well , why don't you just build a bridge and get over it ? I have heard this many of times growing up and at times I think it actually stunned my growth .

I mean , if life were just that easy that we could build a bridge to get over the gaping gap that a bridge crosses over , then all you would ever do is cross back and forth over something really never moving forward , over something that never healed . Sometimes and this is just my opinion I tend to think you have to go through it to really get over it .

The key is what you do through that time of being overdrawn , so you also don't withdraw either .

I think you have to first come to the place of honoring the situation , the person and or other situationship , while also honoring yourself , allowing yourself , giving yourself permission to be exactly where God knows you are , and let him meet you there , let him stand in the gap for you to get you to the other side , from overdrawn to overcomer .

In last week's podcast , we explored John 16 , 33 . That says I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace in this world . You will have trouble , but take heart , I have overcome this world To explore the road we traveled with . On that verse , I would encourage you to listen to last week's podcast titled here in the Heart .

Today , though , however , as we look forward with hope , we look to verse Isaiah 43 , 18 through 19 in the ESV , and it says Remember not the former things , nor consider things of old . Behold , I am doing a new thing . Now it springs forth . Do you not perceive it ? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers , in the desert .

Whenever I'm in a struggle to let go of something , I hold on to this verse . The Lord is constantly reminding us , his people , not to dwell on our past , whatever we are trying to let go of , that relationship , that addiction , that property , that loss that was suffered , whatever it may be .

If we look towards him and meditate on his words and his promises that he will take care of whatever we are going through and he will make a way for us , just like in Jeremiah 29 , 11 , which states For I know the plans I have for you , declares the Lord plans for welfare and not for evil , to give you a future and hope .

Many people don't realize that this was spoken to the people of Israel at one of the lowest points in their history . Most people focus on the bad in a situation . It is part of our wiring and self-preservation to ensure that we protect ourselves from harm . However , the Lord says that if we just look towards him , we will see the new things he's doing .

He wants to open our eyes to him . We will see the new things he's doing . He wants to open our eyes to him . We can't focus on what he's doing in our lives if we're not looking towards him . This , my little peeps , this is how I have gotten through the overdrawn , never finding myself overcooked , although there were times when I said stick a fork in me .

I am done as I close , no matter where in me . I am done as I close no matter where you find yourself . In this podcast , I hope that you find that is in him that gets you through it . You've heard it before You're either getting ready to go into a storm , you're in a storm or you're coming out of one Now .

I'm not a fan of storms by any means , but I do know there's purpose in them . There are showers of blessings coming and puddles to be jumped in . Some leave visible scars and some scars remain unseen , but they all have a purpose . Just look at the scars on Jesus' hands . Take heart .

If you know the one who commands the wind and the wind obeys him , your belief will be the relief you need to get through all the storms . Overdrawn , just not overcooked and guys , you know is tough stuff and not always something easy to talk about .

My hope and my prayer is that you find this place , this podcast , your safe space where , as a community , we weather the storms of life together . Being a solo is not an easy job , but being a parent is the blessed job you'll ever have . What storm are you in right now ? What lesson is there for you to learn ?

That you can leave behind Something for the next generation possibly your kiddos to build upon that could be their firm foundation ? Are you feeling both overdrawn and overcooked and need someone to talk to ? We are here for you , day or night . You are never alone . Call us at 855-822-PRAY . We'd love to be your lifeline in the storm .

Have a wonderful week and remember it's a single mom thing and not the single thing that stops you . Thanks for listening to . It's a Single Mom Thing . I hope you enjoyed our time together . If you have more questions on how to have a relationship with Jesus or need prayer , visit us at wwwshepherdsvillagecom . Backslash prayer .

For more information and resources , check out our show notes .