For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day. – Habakkuk 2:3, Amplified Bible (AMP)

One of God’s techniques for overcoming the stress of having too much to do is compartmentalization. Another one is having an attitude of patience.

Compartmentalization requires that we prioritize our responsibilities, give our current attention to the most important responsibility, and put the rest of them on hold until a later time. We often fail to fully execute the last step, and this is where the stress comes in. We want all of our stuff to be done NOW, and our desire conflicts with the reality we all know too well: we are NOT going to be able to do it all now. We become frustrated and anxious when we can’t have what we want when we want it, and that’s just human nature.

The cure for human nature’s shortfalls is having God’s nature in us, and God’s nature is to be patient. God knows that everything has its appointed time, and He is supernaturally patient in waiting for the appointed time to arrive. We can tap into that same patience by learning to think like God. How do we do that? Well, it’s not easy, but it is simple. We have to walk with Him like Enoch did. We have to desire His Word more than our necessary food, like Job did. We have to talk with Him throughout the day, like Paul did. We have to fellowship with Him so consistently that He transforms our character into the character of His Son. The more our character becomes like Christ’s, the more we will be able to look at things in their eternal context, and the more we’ll understand that most of the things we consider terribly urgent really aren’t.

Feeling overwhelmed? Read some verses, like Habukkuk 2:3, on patience.* Talk to God about your need for patience, and ask Him to supply you with it. Remember, everything has an appointed time; you just need to be patient until each responsibility’s appointed time arrives.

* Go to BibleGateway.com and search by keyword.