Overwhelmed? Find rest & reset in Jesus.
Recently, a trainee at work who is preparing for her pharmacist registration exams came in one morning and said, “Guess what the boss did?”
She laughed, but I could hear the weight in her voice.
“He sent me ‘millions‘ of past papers. I didn’t even say yes, he just sent them. Five folders full. I feel so overwhelmed.”
And in that moment, I got it.
That feeling of drowning in expectations, either your own or someone else’s.
That tension of trying your best, yet feeling like it’s not enough.
Maybe you’ve been there, too.
The Day Everything Felt Too Much
When I started this blog, I thought it would be just that: writing! But I quickly discovered that running a blog means SEO, tech tools, design, content strategy, plug-ins, email systems and other technical aspects I was unfamiliar with but have had to learn and master quickly.
And just before Easter, after hours of studying, research and pouring my heart into a blog post, 80% of it vanished. A sync issue between devices wiped it out. Gone.
I felt crushed.
I had been showing up. Staying consistent and juggling so many plates.
And yet, one glitch… gone!
I spiralled. As my expectations pressed in, my to-do list stopped motivating me and started accusing me.
“See? You can’t keep up.”
“Everyone else has it figured out.”
“You’re falling behind.”
“Maybe you’re not cut out for this… Maybe it’d be easier just to pack it in.”
I wanted to hide from the reminders, the tabs, the tasks and the lies that were getting louder.
A Whisper in the Chaos
And then, the Holy Spirit whispered:
“Give yourself grace.”
So I did something I hadn’t done in weeks: I paused.
Then I prayed and slept.
I woke up in the morning, not with everything fixed, but with peace.
I postponed the blog post, adjusted my deadlines, shifted my focus and permitted myself to restart from a place of rest, not pressure.
What Triggers Overwhelm? 😓
We often associate overwhelm with failure, but sometimes it’s simply life piling up.
Here are just a few common overwhelm triggers:
- Too many tasks, too little time
- Big life transitions (new jobs, moves, relationships, loss)
- Health scares or ongoing illness
- Financial pressure
- The constant noise of news, social media, or notifications
- Perfectionism and self-imposed expectations
Sometimes we are overwhelmed just trying to be faithful.
Even good things can stretch us thin.
When someone asks, “How are you?” it feels easier to smile and say, “I’m fine,” than to unpack the chaos inside.
But friend, God sees you. And He understands.
An Email I Did Not Expect
One morning, just as I was second-guessing this entire blog journey, an email introducing a new book popped into my inbox.
It said:
“When God calls us, He always gives us everything we need to fulfil our purpose. Grace is not just God’s kindness to you; it’s divine power to enable you to do things you could never do in your own strength… When God extends grace, you accomplish far more than anyone, yourself included, could have expected.” ……..HE HAS EQUIPPED YOU. AND YOU ARE GRACED TO GO!
I paused. Smiled. Whispered, “You’ve done it again, Lord.”
He has a way of speaking right to the heart, exactly when we need it.
Jesus’ Invitation to the Overwhelmed
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
A yoke is a wooden beam connecting two animals to a plough or cart, for shared direction and support.
Jesus’ yoke is not about pressure, but partnership. He bears the weight with you. He walks with you. He strengthens you. He carries what you can’t. His yoke is filled with mercy, not heaviness.
Rest doesn’t always mean quitting. It means partnering with Jesus.
Craig Groeschel puts it like this: “…..not resting FROM work but resting IN work”.
Jesus doesn’t say, “Get it together first.”
He says, “Come.”
Come as you are.
Overwhelmed. Sleep-deprived. Emotionally raw.
Jesus doesn’t ask you to push harder. He invites you to walk with Him.
But this isn’t new. Even prophets have been there…
Lessons from Elijah (1 Kings 19)
Elijah, a prophet of God, had just called down fire from heaven. He had done great things for God. When Queen Jezebel threatened his life, he ran. He hid. He cried out:
“I have had enough, Lord… Take my life.” (v.4)
He was burned out. Anxious. Afraid.
But God didn’t rebuke him. God didn’t shame him.
God sent an angel to care for him with food, water, and rest.
Twice.
Only after that was Elijah able to journey 40 more days (v.8).
At times, the most spiritual act you can perform is to take a nap and enjoy some food.
Then in verse 9:
“There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”
It wasn’t a trick question.
It was an invitation.
It was relational.
It was God saying, “Unburden yourself. I’m listening.” He says the same thing to you.
God comforts, but He also equips. And often, strength comes after rest, not before.
7 Faith-Filled Ways to Reset When You’re Overwhelmed
(I’ll delve deeper into this in my next post, but here’s a summary!)
- Stop and Breathe
Don’t make hasty decisions in chaos. Inhale. Exhale. Stillness is a weapon. Rest is not weakness. - Shift Your Focus
Are you seeing this through fear or faith? Don’t forget who’s walking with you. - Pray Honestly
Don’t filter your prayers. Jesus can handle your overwhelm. - Say No Where You Can
Simplify. Prioritise. Your worth isn’t based on what you do, but who you are in Christ. - Journal or Talk It Out
Writing brings clarity. Talking brings healing. Talk to God first, then those He leads you to. - Move Your Body
Walk. Stretch. Breathe fresh air. Your body matters to God. - Rest
Sleep. Eat. Disconnect. Even Jesus rested (John 4:6).
Worship When Words Fail
“Worship is heaven’s strategy to unburden the human heart.” — Steven Furtick
When you don’t have the words to pray, worship.
Here are two songs that always reset my heart:
- God I Look to You — Bethel Music
- Firm Foundation — Chandler Moore & Cody Carnes
Let the truth wash over your weariness.
Reflection Prompt
What do you need to lay down at Jesus’ feet today?
What’s one area where you’re trying to carry what God never asked you to?
Feel free to share in the comments or send me a message via the contact page — I’d love to pray with you.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
You don’t have to be everything.
You don’t need all the answers.
You just need to rest, reset, and receive.
✨ Want More?
- You can download my free resource:
Renewed: A Faith and Mindset Guide for Hard Days – it’s filled with Scripture, prayers, and journal prompts to help you rest in God’s truth when life feels heavy.
- Check out the Faith building Resource page for specific scriptures, prayers, and journal prompts related to dealing with feelings of overwhelm.
