5 Scriptures For When You Are Overwhelmed
Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Some of you may have just snorted and thought to yourself, “I feel overwhelmed right now.” As I was sitting at the dinner table last night, finishing the last of the Thanksgiving turkey and sweet potato casserole, I began thinking of the parents I know with families that are impacted by special needs, who are in this place of being overwhelmed.
It’s like the movie, “The Perfect Storm.” In this movie three raging weather fronts collide with each other to form this super storm. The movie tells the story of a commercial fishing vessel that was lost at sea with her crew.
While we look forward to the holidays, they undeniably create extra stress. The stress from Thanksgiving merges and intensifies with Christmas. When you insert another major stressor (health issues, marriage issues, additional needs related to the care of your child…all the above), you find yourself in the middle of your own Perfect Storm.
This can result in irritability, exhaustion, depression, wanting to escape life and being less able to deal with the individual stressors in a healthy way.
You may find yourself in a place of wishing you could just hunker down in the midst of the storm and wait it out until about January 2, as you feel exhausted, wrung out and overwhelmed.
If this is you, I hope that the following five scriptures bring you comfort and peace during this season.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.” ~ Psalm 119: 105“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” ~ Psalm 23: 4
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.'” ~ Psalm 91: 1-2“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” ~ Isaiah 41: 13
“I, even I, am he who comforts you.” ~ Isaiah 51: 12
As this week closes, pause, take a breath and reflect on the above scriptures before diving into the to do list for next week. The same God who calmed the storms over the sea of Galilee, is with you through the storms of life today.
Written by Jonathan McGuire
Jonathan McGuire is the father of two sons and the co-founder of Hope Anew, a nonprofit that comes alongside the parents of children impacted by disability on a spiritual and emotional level. You can follow Hope Anew on Facebook here.
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