Everyday life can be demanding and stressful. We are constantly searching to find peace and balance in the middle of family obligations, work, extra-curricular and church activities, trying to eat and stay healthy among a host of other items. Add into the mix the sickness or death of a loved one, an addiction, a job loss or financial problems, or even an unexpected divorce and life will go from stressful to overwhelming. When we are overwhelmed, we cannot make good decisions because we may not know where to begin. Our spiritual lives can suffer as a result of being overwhelmed because we will find ourselves too busy to pray and read the Bible, church is just one more thing to do, or sleeping in on a Sunday morning sounds like a great idea.
When we find ourselves too busy for God, we are playing right into Satan’s hands. Jesus said in John 10:10 that Satan’s goals are to kill, steal, and destroy. If Satan knows our spirits belong to Christ, he will do everything he can to keep us from the abundant life Jesus provides for us.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9, KJV).
When we are overwhelmed, God’s Word can and will be a great comfort to us. The Psalms is one of those books that has provided comfort and guidance to countless believers over the ages and centuries. The Psalms assure us that no matter what we face- whether it be the consequences of our own sin, the oppression of the enemy, they betrayal of a friend, God will be there for us and will help us in the midst of our troubles.
We Can Take Our Burdens Directly to the Lord
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22, KJV).
We Can Trust in God’s Protection
“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” (Psalm 61:1-3, KJV).
We Can Meditate on What God has Already Done for Us
“I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.” (Psalm 77:1-3, KJV).
“And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” (Psalm 77:10-12, KJV).
We Can Trust that God is with Us
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul.” (Psalm 124:1-4, KJV).
“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path.” (Psalm 124:3a, KJV).
We Can Trust in God’s Deliverance
“Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me…As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.” (Psalm 55:3-5; 55:16-18, KJV).
Brothers and sisters, when you find yourselves overwhelmed, please do not “go it alone.” As Scripture says, “seek the Lord while He may be found.” I speak from personal experience when I say this because I tried to fight many battles in my own strength, only to wind up in a worse situation. Our God is mighty, He is a shelter, and He is the creator and sustainer of all. He wants to have a relationship with you. Turn to God, pray, study the Word, seek His wisdom and apply it to what you are facing. Understand that the battle may not be over quickly, but trust in God’s timing and deliverance. Peace be with you.
Triumphant In Christ 