Comfort for the Overwhelmed

Life changes so quickly, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. But there’s a way to rise above the mire of busyness and the incredible responsibilities we all have and find comfort and hope.

*Katie just got married, moved a thousand miles away from her parents, started a new job, and is trying to make a small apartment into a home. From small city to big city, from at home with Mom to woman of the house. Life just changed dramatically for her, in good ways but also in difficult ways.

Alison and Tim have adopted two little girls during the past year. They already had two fun-loving, energetic boys. Now, they get to figure out how girls “tick,” while Alison’s homeschooling load has just doubled. Again, their life is better, but it’s also harder.

Tiffany works a full-time job as a teacher in a big city. She’s also a foster mom to a newborn baby girl. She’s juggling her responsibilities at work, at home as a single mom to her “daughter,” and at church and her many outreaches. Plus, she’s keeping in contact with her many friends. Her life is full of joy but can also be a staggering workload.

*Some names have been changed to protect privacy; others remain the same.

How do you “keep it together” when you’re overwhelmed?

Life is wonderful–most of the time. But we carry so much on our backs that we sometimes stagger under the weight. Is there a quick, magical formula that will make it all better? Read these 2 verses when you’re overwhelmed, and your burdens will go away. You’ll be a new person!

I wish it were so easy! I wish that in my moments of feeling overwhelmed, I could just say a quick prayer and feel the tension in my shoulders disappear. There’s no magic formula.

However, there is an answer to our feelings of being overwhelmed by life.

We have to release our burdens at God’s feet.

So how do we do that? We get this picture in our minds of Christian from Pilgrim’s Progress at the foot of the cross, where his huge burden goes rolling off his back. If only our burdens had physical ties and clasps, and we could just untie and unclasp them all.

I often turn to one of my favorite verses when I feel overwhelmed. Jesus is speaking, perhaps to a crowd of people as is mentioned earlier in Matthew chapter 11. Here’s what he has to say:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30, ESV

Come to Jesus.

What does that even mean? When Jesus was speaking to the Jews, it was easy to see what He meant. They could walk to Jesus, or cross the Sea of Galilee in a boat to get to Him. But how do we come to Jesus?

-We come to Him by acknowledging that He is Lord of our lives.

It’s easy to say you’re a Christian. But have you truly handed the reins of your life over to God? Have you realized that He’s the one who directs everything that happens in your life? Have you made His priorities yours?

-We come to Him by praying. How amazing is it that we can talk to the Creator of the universe as we would a friend?

Often, I find that the main reason I’m feeling overwhelmed is that I’ve neglected this special time of just talking to and spending time with the Lord Jesus.

-We come to Him by reading the Bible. Reading the very words of God has the power to change our lives in incredible ways.

The Bible should be our very favorite book to read, without any contest! What other book can offer us ultimate truth? What other book besides the Bible can bring us joy and comfort in every single situation of life? Many of us know the quiet words of comfort found in Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23, KJV

Those words are for the hungry. They are for the seeking soul. They speak to the grieving, the sick, the fearful and attacked. Those words are for the overwhelmed. 

Some days, you truly are being lazy. Those are the days when you need to wake up and make a change. But if you are already being faithful to accomplish all your responsibilities, if you are trying to obey God, if you are desperately trying to be perfect in every single area of your life–take a deep breath!

Keep being faithful.

Keep obeying God.

But don’t expect perfection on this side of heaven. Again, come to Jesus. Let Him take your burdens. Don’t place expectations on yourself that He never handed you. Let’s walk together to the cross and trade our self-imposed yokes for Jesus’ yoke. Let’s find rest for our harried souls.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Don’t place expectations on yourself that God never handed you.” quote=”Don’t place expectations on yourself that God never handed you.”]

As a perfectionist, this is a message I have to return to again and again. Not because it’s intellectually deep or stimulating, but because it brings me back to a place of peace and joy. What about you? Do you struggle with feeling overwhelmed? How do you put your anxiety to rest?