Why Order Helps Overcome Overwhelm

Order. This is such an important topic I want to cover it all October. I believe when we are ordered with the Word of God, our behaviors, actions, and priorities change. When this happens, we live according to God’s precepts rather than what culture elevates.

Order is so important because our God is a God of order. He created the heavens and the earth, the sky and the stars. He ordered each thing in our solar system, each plant, each animal, and each human. When I think of how creative He is and how good, it amazes me! He does everything with order, and how can we fathom it all? We could never understand all of His mysteries because we don’t think like He thinks.

In my life, I have found my greatest dissatisfactions come when things are out of order. And I’m not talking about order for order’s sake. Our lives don’t have to be perfectly arranged or curated. What I am talking about is having the right purpose, clarity, values, boundaries, structures, and habits in place so we can live our best lives.

Because we are human beings, God has given us free will. With this will, we sometimes choose our own way instead of following what He has outlined in His Word. Just like a little child: “I do it my way,” “I want that,” “Mine.” Instead of surrendering our hearts and our plans to a good, ordered God, we try to make things work on our own.

We seek pleasure instead of purpose.

We fill our calendars instead of resting.

We seek comfort instead of obedience.

As Paul so aptly attests in Scripture, we know what not to do, yet we do it anyway (Romans 7:19).

Unfortunately, living a life out of order is costly:

We overspend and get into debt.

We overeat and harm our bodies.

We overindulge, abusing ourselves or others.

We overuse and become addicted.

We overplan, becoming rigid and controlling.

But oh, if we could only live according to God’s laws! The enemy wants nothing more than for us to live distracted, addicted, indulgent, and eventually asleep.

But God has called us to abundant life (John 10:10).

Abundance comes from the simplicity of prioritizing what God prioritizes. How do we know what this is? We read His guidebook, get to know Him and His attributes, and submit to His wonderful ways.

And the result? Our messy, overwhelmed, chaotic lives can become full of freedom, intention, and purpose. What an exchange! What a gift!

How Order Helps Overcome Overwhelm

Order isn’t just spiritual—it’s practical. Research in psychology, productivity, and organizational practices shows that structure and intentionality reduce stress, increase focus, and build momentum. Think of your mind like a browser with dozens of open tabs: overwhelm sets in when every tab competes for attention. Order allows you to close some tabs and focus on what matters.

Goals create order. When we set clear, purpose-driven goals, we bring structure to chaos. Goals help us prioritize, reduce decision fatigue, and build momentum. They align our actions with God’s design and allow us to live intentionally instead of reactively.

Order mirrors God’s creation. From the rhythm of day and night to the cycles of the seasons, God’s creation is full of patterns and structure. Psalm 104:5 says: “He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.” Aligning our lives with God’s order honors His design and allows us to thrive.

Practical Steps to Invite Order

• Clarify Purpose and Values: Know what truly matters and make decisions accordingly.

• Set Goals: Daily, weekly, and long-term goals give your life direction.

• Structure Your Time: Allocate specific times for work, rest, and worship.

• Establish Habits: Small, consistent routines bring stability.

• Reflect and Adjust: Take time weekly to evaluate alignment with God’s will.

• Pray for Guidance: Ask God to show you where you’re out of order and how to surrender control.

Reflective Questions

As you consider order in your life, ask yourself:

• God, where am I out of order with your will in my life?

• What behaviors do I need to change so my life can become more ordered and purposeful?

• How can I allow You to be God in the middle of my messes?

• What is my first step toward living an ordered life?

Order isn’t about perfection. It’s about living intentionally under the guidance of a God who designs with wisdom, purpose, and beauty. When we align with His order, our lives shift from chaos to clarity, from distraction to focus, from overwhelm to peace. Let’s lean into order this October—and embrace the abundant life God desires for us.

I will be talking about this all month in our October devotional series: Ordered For Overflow.

If you’d like me to visit your conference or event, I love helping others break out of overbusy and overwhelmed lives to living with peace and purpose! You can check out my speaker one sheet here and contact our team regarding booking here.

In the meantime, please get my books here and here. They address this topic throughout. You can also lead a small group book study here.

Have an outstanding, overflowing October! I can’t wait to hear what God is doing in you, through you and for you. Please let me know!

Love,

Jill

Contact Jill Here

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Brand New U helps you achieve your goals and reach new levels of success by focusing on the real you and your unique contribution to the world through 1:1 coaching, consulting, group coaching, and public speaking. Whether you're an individual stuck in a rut, an entrepreneur needing accountability, or a business looking to grow your team, we have the right program to fit your needs. 

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