Overwhelmed and Hiding

“The only way I can escape is to run and hide in my cave and that hiding place could look like social media, alcohol, food, a blanket over my head, friends who don’t give godly advice, isolation….”

“When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.” Psalm 142:3 (NIV)

To give you some context here, David is praying to God while he’s hiding from King Saul in a cave. Afraid of being captured and put to death, David is crying out to God because his spirit has grown faint.

At this moment David is feeling overwhelmed, tired, scared – he is hiding and unsure where to go next. I could sound dramatic when I compare motherhood to David hiding in a cave from his enemies, but I feel this way at times as a mom. Overwhelmed and unsure where to go next. 

My enemy looks different each day. Some days it’s the enemy of lies, the enemy of guilt, the enemy of exhaustion and confusion, the enemy of mom guilt and shame. The only way I can escape is to run and hide in my cave and that hiding place could look like social media, alcohol, food, a blanket over my head, friends who don’t give godly advice, isolation…. Or I can cry out to God.

In those moments of feeling overwhelmed, I pray to be more like David. I want to cry out to Jesus and nobody or nothing else. I want my cave to be a closet with the Bible and the Holy Spirit within me.

Action Step: 

• What, where or who is your hiding place when you feel overwhelmed? Today, replace it with a quiet moment with Jesus and cry out to Him like David did. Evaluate why you feel overwhelmed, anxious, scared, etc. and give it to Jesus. He is who watches over you.

Prayer: God, I thank You so much for always being there for me. Help to recognize when I’m getting overwhelmed and remind me always to take it directly to You. I don’t want my hiding place to be anything but You. I love You, In Your name I pray, amen.

Written by Rachel, mom of 2