Out of Sorts
Please welcome my friend Kristy Robinson Horine as today’s guest writer. Kristy and I met at Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, where she serves on staff. Kristy makes her life in Paris, Kentucky with her husband, Eric, and is mother to four children – Hanson, Anna, Emily, and Sadie. Her professional and creative work has been published in newspapers, magazines and anthologies in Kentucky and beyond. She offers encouragement for each day through her book, In a Season of Mondays: A 30-Day Devotional Journal.
I knew before I came into the kitchen, I was in trouble. My daily responsibilities took longer than anticipated. I still had to put away groceries and unload the dishwasher before I could start supper. My day had not gone as planned, and I was out of sorts.
To be out of sorts means to be jumbled together or mixed up.
Sometimes, being out of sorts happens the moment our feet hit the floor in the mornings. There is no rhyme or reason for the feeling. It just happens.
Sometimes, being out of sorts happens because of other people’s decisions:
- A child volunteers to bring cookies to an event but doesn’t tell us until the night before.
- A co-worker drops the ball, and we are left to pick up the pieces.
- Another driver gets distracted and crashes into our car.
Other times, being out of sorts happens because of the decisions we make:
- We forget to unload the dishwasher at the right time.
- We say yes to too many things.
- We don’t communicate well, causing chaos and conflict.
Whether being out of sorts comes from within us or from others, we can still choose to act in a way that pleases God.
We find clues in one of my favorite passages in the Bible.
“Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:1-4 World English Bible).
Learning from this passage, we can easily get back on track, even though we find ourselves out of sorts. We can:
- Listen to those who have been there.
- Look at our situation with accuracy.
- Lead others to know the truth.
What are ways you find yourself out of sorts? Can you listen, look, and lead to put things right?
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22 thoughts on “Out of Sorts”
How pertinent to my life! As caregiver to my mother, I often get out of sorts. She is 101 and has dementia, so every hour can be challenging. It’s like having a toddler again! But when I lose my patience or become overwhelmed, I pray, and the Lord answers. Praying over her dementia helps dramatically, too. Jesus is always available to rescue us and give us peace.
Beautifully said, Karen. Bless you in your caregiving. We cared for my MIL, who passed away at 100. Her sister recently passed away at 103. Longevity runs in that family!
A friend once said that caregiving is the hardest job he ever loved. It’s hard work. I don’t know how people survive without prayer and the peace Jesus gives. Almost 20 years of caregiving led to my Thursday 30-second caregiver tip reels on Facebook and Instagram. I am praying for you and for your mother, Karen. Thank you for your loving heart.
Wow! God has given you so many days to make memories with your mother. I appreciate your reminder: “I pray, and the Lord answers.” Always, Karen. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for reading!
Well said, Kristy. When we get out of sorts, we don’t have the peace of God – not a good place to be. Unfortunately, in today’s hurry-up world, we let too many things put us out of sorts. Thanks for the reminder.
So true, Tracy. Rushing around trying to do everything at once gets us all out of sorts. Blessings on your day.
Indeed, Tracy. Losing peace by being out of sorts is hard and sad. I am grateful God wastes nothing in our lives, giving us the opportunity to keep returning to Him, trusting Him, living for Him. Thanks for sharing, and reading!
Since I’ve been retired, I find there are fewer days when I feel out of sorts, Kristy, and that’s a good thing! Your article does remind us, though, how easy it is to go down that rabbit hole and feel overwhelmed by the unexpected challenges on a particular day. Great thoughts!
Retirement definitely has its benefits, Martha. Enjoy the extra time and less stress. I pray your unexpected challenges are few and the peace of God reigns in your heart.
Thank you, Martha. It’s a pleasant thing you reminded us that going down the rabbit hole of out-of-sorts-ness is temporary — unless we choose to stay and dig in! Thank you for your example, and thanks for reading!
Enjoyed Ms. Kristy and Ms. Diana. Thank all y’all for sharing this. I’ve most often used “out of sorts” to describe when I’m not feeling well. Learned that from my adopted mama. Another phrase I’ve used for many years when I’m feeling “out of sorts” is, “I’m a half-bubble off plumb.” Isn’t it funny the sayings we pick up. When my wife and I moved to Texas, I think the one that quickly became my all time favorite is, “That ain’t right!” 🙂 So enjoy these posts. Today’s was most apropos.
Thank you, J.D. My grandmother also used “out of sorts” when she did not feel well. When my dad said, “a half-bubble off center (or plumb),” he usually referred to crazy behavior. “That ain’t right” fits much of our world today, doesn’t it? Blessings, my friend.
I like that! “A half bubble off plumb”. My dad was a surveyor and I have one of his old plumb bobs, and we live in a really old house, so my husband is forever pulling out the level when we fix things. (And it seems as if we are forever fixing things 🙂 ) . May the Lord grant us mercy to only be a half bubble off plumb at times! Thanks for sharing and for reading!
Being rushed puts me out of sorts, but then I remember I can cast all my anxieties on Him because He cares for me. He calms my soul. Thank you for sharing! Blessings.
Kim, I agree with feeling that way when I am rushed! A good reminder from 1 Peter 5:7, too. Thanks for sharing and for reading.
Kim, I’m so thankful for the promise of 1Peter 5:7. Rather than having to handle all life’s troubles by myself, I can give my cares and concerns to God for the calmness and leadership only God can give. I pray you have a calm, joy-filled day.
Sometimes we don’t even know why we are out of sorts. No matter the reason, I am so grateful that as I come to the Lord, He recalibrates my soul. Wonderful post, Kristy and Diana.
You are right, Joanne. We often don’t know why we’re out of sorts. I love your statement that God, “recalibrates my soul.” I’ll have to remember that. It’s a keeper.
“He recalibrates my soul.” Love that mental picture, Joanne. I am so thankful for His steadfast love and patience with me at all times. Thanks for sharing and for reading!
If we’re honest, I think we’ve all experienced those “out of sorts” days. If we’re not careful, we’ll pass it on to family and loved ones by allowing our behavior to get them “out of sorts” as well. The solution, as you point out, is to believe and act in ways that pleases God. Then we’ll not ruin the day for others with our own bad day. And, of course, we pray for our Father’s intervention to help us. If we focus on our blessings, those negative things which made of “out of sorts” won’t seem so bad. Thank you Kristy and Diana.
We can become contagious if we’re not careful, can’t we , Katherine? Focusing on God’s blessings solves a world of problems, personally and collectively. Thank you.
Katherine, I definitely want to be contagious in a good, God-honoring way. Thanks for commenting and for the encouragement to be blessings-focused.