Book Review: Overwhelmed by Perry Noble

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I finished reading a pre-release copy of Perry Noble’s new book Overwhelmed a few weeks ago. I’ve always enjoyed listening to Noble preach, and I have been able to visit NewSpring on several occasions for conferences. This book really caught my interest because of where I’m at in ministry and life. I really liked that Perry is open and honest with his personal struggles. He shares about his battle with depression and anxiety.   He shares from numerous Bible stories, like the story of Daniel. From Daniel he shares the theme of the book about our focus in life.

This theme runs through the entire book: what gets our attention will ultimately determine our direction. If we are obsessed with stressful circumstances, we will constantly be overwhelmed. But if we are obsessed with Christ, we will overcome.

In Christ we can overcome any situation, no matter how out of control things seem or how overwhelmed we may feel. Typically, we try to find a way out of stressful situations, instead of trying to find Jesus in the midst of our situation.  As Christians, I think we know this, but we tend to be distracted by our problems. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by life. Noble has the unique gift of challenging you in your faith while being humorous at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR6KAnbNHj0

 

For me personally, this was a timely book. As a pastor, I am in a season of life where our church is growing. However, our staffing and leadership is still developing and growing to handle the increase. The expectations and demands of leadership do feel overwhelming at times, and I am growing physically and mentally tired. This book, in addition to several more I have recently read, have led me on a journey to simplify and to recharge. Our society rewards busyness and action, yet the Bible commands us to slow down and rest.

I highly recommend this book to people who are struggling with the circumstances of life. Noble continually points us back to Jesus as our hope and strength. Read through the following highlights to get a better understanding of the book.

My Highlights

  • Are you willing to settle for being overwhelmed by circumstances forever, or do you want to step up and overcome what is robbing you of joy and life?
  • Change begins with a decision: overwhelmed or overcome?
  • As crazy as it may seem, the best way to conquer feeling overwhelmed is to take our eyes off what’s consuming us and get a bigger picture of what’s really important.
  • God is bigger than any difficult circumstances we face, any struggles we experience, any mistakes that threaten to define us. We embrace our true identity when we stop identifying ourselves by our slavery and start identifying ourselves with our Savior.
  • When we’re feeling overwhelmed – whether as a result of our own sin or simply from living in a fallen world, church is exactly the place we need to go for healing, not the place to hide out in camouflage, pretend we’re perfect, or leave because we don’t feel we measure up to the people around us.
  • Church shouldn’t be the place we run from when we’re feeling overwhelmed; it should be the place we run to. After all, church is the place where Jesus meets us and changes us into who we need to be.
  • My prayer for you is that no matter what you’re going through, you will experience hope. God can and will walk with you through this, but you must have the courage to admit you have a problem, accept help, and then ask God to reveal what’s broken inside of you.
  • The devil doesn’t want to make you bad; he wants to make you busy. Because if he can make you busy, then eventually he can make you bad. Busyness always keeps us from recognizing Jesus.
  • Most anxiety and stress in our lives can be traced back to a point where we decided we were going to take control rather than believe that God is in control.
  • The weight that is pressing down on you doesn’t have to define you, because no matter what you’re facing right now … Jesus is greater than your biggest doubt. Jesus is greater than your deepest regret. Jesus is greater than your impossible situation. Jesus is greater than your most overwhelming circumstances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNKdMaQFX5I

Disclosure: I received a free digital pre-release copy to review. See my full disclosure policy here

Mike

I am a former design engineer who now pastors Cornerstone Community Church in Galax, Virginia. I'm passionate about following Jesus and I love technology. I've been married to Jennifer for 28 years, and we have three adult children.

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