When I Feel Overwhelmed

“Whether you find yourself mildly edgy or feebly overwhelmed in your day to day… Jesus is for you, and with you, and He’s ready at the waiting as your first line of defense.”

“For no matter where I am, even when I’m far from home, I will cry out to you for a father’s help. When I’m feeble and overwhelmed by life, guide me into your glory, where I am safe and sheltered.” Psalm 61:2

Let’s start with a show of hands:  If your life as a momma has ever left you feeling overwhelmed, raise that arm high. Every hand was raised, if you couldn’t see, so there’s no need for me to list the ways we mommas can be brought to our whits end. There may be a few of us genetically predisposed to calmness and perhaps a few who have already fought this battle to the death and stand victorious with the Lord on the mountain that was anxiety. But to all us mommas that are still battling and refuse to give up, I want to remind you of something powerful: whether you find yourself mildly edgy or feebly overwhelmed in your day to day… Jesus is for you, and with you, and He’s ready at the waiting as your first line of defense. 

If I were sitting at the other end of your couch, this is how I’d encourage us, “The Hebrew word for ‘glory’ is kavod!” Yep, Hebrew, because I’m a nerd and because this is just too good to miss. All throughout the Old Testament, when the Word speaks of the Fathers glory (kavod), it’s talking about the Father’s “heavy armor for battle.” Specifically, it means His shield when He comes ready to fight. 

Have you ever had the opportunity to see a dad go on the defense of his children? It is sometimes sudden and always fierce; no hesitation, all in, first line of their defense. This is our Father God when we cry out. We don’t have to be like David, with armies and kings breathing down our necks. We don’t have to be snared in the lion’s den or caught between deep waters and the enemy. Forget far from home even, we can find ourselves in our home and desperately needing the help of the Father to breathe life into our feeble body and pour peace like oil over our overwhelmed mind. All we have to do is call to our Father for help…and we’ll have it. 

Like a dad swoops to the rescue in a moment’s notice, our Heavenly Father will come to ours, and He’ll teach us to hide behind His shield of faith. He will sooth our frazzled mind by reminding us of His faithfulness, He will walk with us in the truth of this purposeful call to mothering. Running or limping, get behind His glory and hide behind the truth that He alone can be a shelter from what overwhelms us.

Action Steps:

• Read Ephesians 6:10-18 today and believe it. It is a call to arm ourselves for the battles that wage around us, and make no mistake

• Read Zephaniah 3:17 and let it caress your heart and soothe your soul. Remember that God sings over you…YOU… with whoops of Joy.

Prayer: God, I ask for Your help today. Meet me where I am, feeble and overwhelmed. Guide me into Your glory, keep me safe, and shelter me. In Your name I ask these things, amen. 

Written by Brooke, mom of 3