5 Simple Ways You Can Be An Overcomer

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Need a little practical help to get over the obstacles? This practical post provides steps you can choose to help you stop feeling overwhelmed. Choose one of these small steps to keep going.

Have you ever looked at someone and thought “Wow, they make that look so easy.” ? I surely have. My 11 year old daughter makes gymnastics look like a breeze. She flips and turns and jumps with both grace and strength. She is naturally gifted in this area and I watch in awe.

Identifying the gifts of others is fairly easy. But whenever we see someone who has navigated a dark path in life and yet joy radiates from them, it’s a little tougher to identify this special gift.

What makes them appear to be especially empowered?

How did they manage to make it through the difficult days?

It would seem that there are huge secrets they aren’t sharing with anyone else.

Between watching the lives of suffering friends and family, and traveling through murky waters myself, I think there are a few things anyone can do to be an overcomer. No special gifts required. I truly believe anyone who calls Jesus their Savior has the power to win over any obstacle! But we need a few practical ideas to understand how to keep going, especially during difficult times. Today I wanted to share 5 simple ways you can be an overcomer.

1. Recognize the season of life you’re in.

To everything there is a season and time. I’ve heard the “preacher” echo these words from the book of Ecclesiastes, but I failed to take them to heart. You thought that adding one more project to your list wasn’t too much, but then your child stayed home sick two days and needed care. (just happened to me last week!) There will always be factors outside of our control that accompany our season of life. When I had 4 kids and 3 in diapers? Different season. I don’t know your specific details, but whatever your life stage, daily schedule requirements, etc., acknowledge them and recognize the limitations they impose. These “obstacles” will graduate in time.

2. Refuse to allow Satan to win the battle inside your head.

He whispers that you can’t do this. That you aren’t good enough, smart enough, and no one will like you or appreciate your work. He lies. He started that habit way back in the garden of Eden and he’s never stopped telling God’s people that they cannot- when they CAN.

When my mind streams with negativity and I feel myself being pulled under, I yell for the strongest help I possibly can and it’s one word- Jesus. Jesus, how we need you, how we long for your strength to fill us. Satan can’t handle sticking around when Jesus is present.

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3

3. Release your fears to Jesus.

After you’ve called to him, give him those fears. Especially the fear of failure. You want to be an overcomer, yet all you feel is overwhelmed? Give the spirit of “This is too much” to Jesus. It is NOT too much for him. He will provide exactly what you need when you need it. There is no need to be afraid. (Ya’ll, I am preaching to myself right now.)

4. Renew yourself through rest and refilling.

Last week, a friend and I were texting and she mentioned how tired she was. Oh, I wish I could take you through my typical day. I get it, Sister. She was tired and is tired. I truly understand. But guess what? No one can choose to fill her except herself. No one can say “I’m sorry, but I need to say no” for her. No one can choose my schedule for me either. No one else can choose to rest for me. My husband will often say “Take a break, Honey.” Obviously I love it when he tells me to do that, because I know I need to do it. But I still have to choose to rest and refill. You too. No matter how crazy your circumstances, pause and pray. Find a tool that helps you refill and use it. I can’t tell you how much Bible journaling is refilling my heart and soul right now! Maybe your tool is baking. Or reading. Or writing. Whatever it is, take the time to refill.

5. Reach towards the goal one step at a time.

A few days ago, my 4 year old tried to hop across a big rain puddle. Key word=tried. She didn’t make it and wound up walking around the store with the bottoms of her pants a little drippy. You know why she fell in the water? Her expectation of her own ability was too high.

Now I’m proud of her for trying! I’m really glad she didn’t sit down on the curb and cry. No, she just giggled and kept on going. BUT, maybe she could have broken that huge hop down into a smaller effort. She could have asked me to hold her hand and I would have made sure she landed well. She could have chosen to jump across on the more narrow part of the puddle.

Consistent movement in the present is what propels us toward the future. – One More Step

Let’s not worry about jumping the whole puddle and instead, focus on

one

more

step.

Which of these 5 tips is your one step today?

By his grace,

Rachel

 

 

9 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for the reminder of different seasons in life. It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear this morning. Rachel, your faithful blogging always blesses me.

  2. I found this awesome prayer by Marilyn Jansen in my journal this morning. How perfectly it applies to being an overcomer! Hang in there ladies! The Lord will carry us through anything and everything!

    Dear Lord,
    I am so thankful, God, that You are here to help me, to renew my dwindling strength. Just talking with You revives me. Thank You that Your strength is enough for today.

    Amen

  3. I especially need the tip to refuse to allow Satan to win the battle in my head. I have so many negative thoughts and doubts about my abilities, when I should just cry out to Jesus. Thanks for this encouraging reminder.

    1. Brenda, I just listened to that song by Third Day “Cry Out to Jesus” if you’ve never heard it, you should listen to it, it makes me cry every time I hear it, but it’s also inspiring!
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmVxRl5bc4Y
      I told my son the other day, I finally got the verse…..”come unto to Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. I believe this verse can have 2 meanings, one, our literal, physical labor, and 2, I “got a revelation” as Joyce Meyer would say……we battle Satan all day……mentally, he attacks us through our thoughts, and I know for myself, I get so weary of it, the closer I get to the Lord, the harder and more often the enemy attacks me. Through condemnation, doubting God, “thinking what if…..” or “you’re not a good mother”, etc. and I rebuke him, I pray, I repeat the name of Jesus, whatever I can do, to stop listening to Satan. It’s a constant battle and it wears me out! So I believe God will and does give us “rest” in our minds, as well as our bodies! That’s why I like Rachel’s posts, they’re easy to read and understand and are powerful, because God’s Word is powerful.
      I’m praying for your rest!

  4. I will have to say that in this Season of my Life it is a combination of #2,#4,#5.

    #2 Because I have been battling Negativity my entire life + PTSD which equals more lies to Overcome.

    #4 Because I am severely ill and in a lot of Physical Pain so I truly need to Rest more while I keep Renewing My Spirit. (I am a Crafter and for me to not to even want to do crafts Ya’ll know I am very sick!) I have what you call Hidden Illnesses that are Chronic . I have been stuck in this Season of my Life since I was in my early teens but was not diagnosed until last year and this year. They want to put me on a medication that can cause me to lose my hair that I have been specifically growing out for a certain Hairstyle for Our Vow Renewal.

    #5 I have been pulling together Our Vow Renewal for the past 4 years hand-making each piece that will be used. This is Goal #1

    Goal #2 Is Revamping my blog.

  5. Thank you, Rachel,I really needed this today. I am going through 2 very difficult situations right now. I am trying so hard to trust God, but I am failing Him so much! I need strength, but I’m so weak! I know when He works this all out, for our good, I’ll look back and feel ashamed for my lack of faith and trust, but I will praise Him then, as I praise Him now. I just have to wait “patiently” on the Lord. Your words of encouragement help me a great deal! Thank you!

    1. Bless you, Sharon. God’s got it. I have to reminder myself all the time.

  6. I learned a long time ago that I needed to keep myself from overscheduling. I wanted to help wherever I could and it seemed that I was always preparing for the next thing. I finally said, “No, I won’t be able to help with that.” And WOW I felt freed. I didn’t want to disappoint but they assured me that they had a list of people that would be able to help and it was fine that I took a step back. I knew my limits, over extened them, and once I corrected my course I was a much better volunteer for it. These tips are such an important way to not only help yourself to be a happier person but to show others (my kids) the joy in doing things out of love rather then a stressed and possibly bittered obligation. Thanks for the reminder of these steps. Your writings never fail to catch me when I need it.

    1. Yes, Rhonda, I’m getting much better at delivering the “small no” as Lysa TerKeurst says. 🙂

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