Life can be tough sometimes. Difficult situations can come from all directions all at once. They can come from your business life, personal life, or both. In any case, when we have too many things coming at once or one big situation it can make us feel overwhelmed. Especially, if we don’t have a way to deal with all the changes or experiences at the same time. Thankfully, there are many Bible verses for when you feel overwhelmed. Let’s review scripture to see how our Heavenly Father is our rock and our fortress.
God Our Fortress And Rock
When you are feeling overwhelmed, this is the time to seek the righteous right hand of God’s word. We can spend it prayerfully, and faithfully hoping God will rescue us or that He will walk with us. The Lord is our rock and where we should go for our strength. Start by presenting a type of prayer called lamentation to God. This type of prayer time allows you to express loss, longing, trials, and your trust in God to see you through. Hence, this time with God allows you to pour out your emotions trusting that you will arrive at a place of peace. Let God be the fortress you run to in times of trouble. For God hears your cry, and He will listen to your prayers. We just need to call on the name of the Lord who rules heaven to the end of the earth.
I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2 ESV
But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. Psalms 94:22 NIV
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. Psalms 61:1 NIV
Peace From God
When we are knee-deep into an overwhelming situation what we need the most is some peace. This is where God works the best. For He alone provides perfect peace. This type of peace may not change or fix your circumstances, but it will calm your nerves enough to let you walk through your trials and tribulations. For you know that you are not walking alone. God is everlasting and He will be with you no matter what. He is where we should place our trust. No matter how many times you must go back to Him to achieve this goal. Therefore, when I find myself having an overwhelming feeling that appears to rock me. I take a moment to center my world by talking to God. In that simple but single hour, I focus my mind back on God. Hence, I am then able to process the situation within the peace found only with God. God’s perfect peace calms my mind because I trust him. This peace will see me through all the trouble Jesus told us to expect.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NIV
Jesus And Trouble
Jesus said there would be trouble. In fact, He said we should expect tribulation throughout our life. However, Jesus never said we would have to feel alone with this trouble to the point that it would overwhelm us. Hence, that same Christ Jesus will see us through the overwhelming times of trouble to bring us to good things. In fact, I always take every opportunity to approach Jesus Christ with all the cares of my heart. No matter how bad things may seem we should not rely only on our own understanding. Our Lord God will make a way.
There have been many times in my life when I had no understanding of how I was going to get out of a situation. During 9/11 I was stranded uptown in New York City. Unlike my co-workers, I did not live in one of the boroughs so I could not easily walk home. I lived fifty miles outside of NYC. The only way to get home was via the Metro-North at Grand Central Station. However, the station was closed. I began praying for God to allow me to make it home. I was overwhelmed by the idea of having to sleep in my office in a city that was under attack. God told me to be still and wait in the shelter of the Most High. After a while Grand Central re-opened and I got the first train out of the city. I choose to wait on God and the Holy Spirit.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5 NIV
The Holy Spirit Our Comforter
The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit will comfort us. The Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of everything Jesus told us. When we became a new creation in Christ, we were given a perfect gift of the Holy Spirit. He will guide us with the mighty hand of God to conquer our negative thoughts.
Feeling overwhelmed is no little thing as it can prevent us from moving forward. It can make the things on our to-do list become heavy burdens. This is the time we should run to the shadow of the Almighty. Whereas we may want to just curly up in a ball. God’s love is what we need to refute any anxious thoughts. Jesus Christ who came from the creator of the ends of the earth told us a different story. The Holy Spirit will remind us of that story of an everlasting God in our most stressful moments.
For on my worst day and my best day, I am still a child of God. Hence, deserving of the mighty power of the Holy Spirit to affirm at the proper time God’s steadfast love of me. In my weakness, the Holy Spirit is a strong tower on which I may lean. He is our advocate and intercede for me in asking God to remove any stronghold of my life preventing me from grabbing the horn of my salvation.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14;26 NIV
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26 NIV
Prayer Time
Make time to pray. Start and end your day with prayer. Pray continuously throughout the day to stay connected with God to maintain the full armor of God. Your prayer time should be the most important part of your life. Prayer is your first defense against the devil’s schemes. God’s help will get you through the most difficult times of your daily life. For we are more important to Him than all that He has ever created. Therefore, enter his presence whenever you need His help or just need to talk. He is there for you.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 ESV
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 ESV
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1 NIV
My Favorite Bible Verses
These are some of my favorite Bible Verses when I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. The best way to counter negative thoughts and feelings is to remember the good news of comforting Bible verses. They have provided so much inspiration during some of the lowest points in my life.
Also, there is no substitute for the power of prayer. Hence, it is when I am before God on my knees is where I am reminded of his promises to be with me. In most of the Old Testament God shared His desire to communion with His people. To be their God and for them to be His people. All they had to do was call on Him. He was there waiting for Israel and He is here waiting for you. Here are more of my favorite verses when I am seeking God’s help.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7 ESV
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 ESV
Recap
When you are feeling overwhelmed seek God first. Pause for a moment to allow the creator of the universe to listen to you when you talk.
- Believe that Jesus is with you.
- Allow the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort you.
- Prepare your heart by reminding yourself you are having a conversation with God.
- Take a deep breath and slowly exhale to relax.
- Invite God to join you.
- Give God praise and adulation.
- Pour out your heart to God.
- Request help.
- Thank God for His blessings.
- Express trust in his sovereignty.
Prayer For When You Are Overwhelmed
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4 ESV
Finally, make this verse your prayer when you are feeling overwhelmed. Allow God to change the way you think by renewing your mind with His word. What do you need to trust God with today? Do you need to trust him with your day-to-day activities, an illness, a job loss, a broken heart, or any number of things that overwhelm us and increase our stress levels?
Remember, God is always with you and lifts you up in every situation.
Additional Reading:
Understanding God’s Holiness and Ours