What Overwhelms You?

Over the weekend, the NCAA Tournament delivered amazing games, surprising upsets, and fun storylines.

The Sweet 16 is set, and as we reflect on the first two rounds of March Madness, let's take a look at the ways some teams found themselves overwhelmed:  

• Iowa State lost to Ole Miss 91-78 as they were overwhelmed by their toughness and aggressiveness on both sides of the floor.

  
  

• Texas Tech overwhelmed Drake with its size, outscoring them 50-20 in the paint, leading to a 77-64 win.

  
  

• Creighton had the 37-35 lead at halftime, but Auburn overwhelmed them after the break, going on an 18-4 run with their tough defense, resulting in an 82-70 win.

  
  

• St. Mary's fell to Alabama 80-66 after West Coast Conference Player of the Year Augustas Marčiulionis was overwhelmed by the Crimson Tide's defense, shooting only 3-of-11 from the field.

  
  

• As nine players scored, Wisconsin was overwhelmed by BYU's depth and offensive ability, leading the Cougars to a 91-89 win.

  
  

• UConn played well against Florida but let the game slip away as the Gators hung on 77-75. UConn head coach Dan Hurley was emotionally overwhelmed, knowing their impressive run was over after winning the championship the last two years.

  
  

While teams were knocked out of the tournament after being overwhelmed by their opponent's defense, offense, 3-point shooting, or toughness, as fans, we were overwhelmed by the excitement, the number of games going on at once, and maybe disappointment if our favorite team lost.

Beyond being overwhelmed by the madness of March, most of us are very familiar with being overwhelmed in life. So, what is overwhelming us today? Is it...

• Stress or worry

• Too many responsibilities

• Decisions we have to make

• Bad things going on in the world

• Pressure

• Trying to keep up appearances

• The needs of people around us

  
  

The negative list can go on and on, but I want to flip things around and encourage us to be overwhelmed in a completely different way. What if today, we allowed ourselves to be overwhelmed by…

• God's love

• God's grace

• God's glory

• God's mercy

• God's power

• God's goodness

• God's greatness

• God's kindness

• God's compassion

How often are we overcome with gratitude by the incredible truth that Jesus came to earth, died, and rose again and made a way for us to spend eternity with Him?

Do we ever pause and be overwhelmed by how He's transformed our lives and continues to change our hearts as we seek Him?

Are we overwhelmed by God's creation, resulting in awe, wonder, and worship of Him, the Creator?

What if we were overwhelmed by His presence and overcome with humility for how He's saved us, wants to know us, deeply cares about us, and continues to bless us abundantly in so many ways?

In Ephesians chapter 3, Paul writes about how God has revealed the mystery of Christ and the good news of salvation. In verses 12-21 (NLT), he says, "Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence. So please don't lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored. When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

"I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources, He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.

"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then, you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now, all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, forever and ever! Amen."

Today, let's allow God Himself to overwhelm us as we are overtaken by His love, grace, and presence. It won't knock us out of the tournament, but will knock us to our knees.

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray I'd be overwhelmed by You instead of the stresses of this life. I can't fully understand Your love, but please help me be overwhelmed by how incredible it is. I desire to be aware of Your presence and to rest in it. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for Your willingness to save a sinner like me. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.