When was the last time you felt overwhelmed by life?
Maybe you felt anxiety well up inside you because your to-do list was just too long.
Maybe you were overwhelmed by support from family and friends after receiving a less-than-encouraging report from the doctor’s office.
Maybe you were felt overwhelmed by the goodness and provision of God as you accepted the job of your dreams.
Being overwhelmed is often thought of as a negative experience. However, we can often be overwhelmed in the best way possible.
Even in Scripture, we see people overwhelmed positively and negatively.
For instance, the Psalmist cries out to God in Psalm 61:1-4,
“O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter.”
Even though the psalmist is in utter desperation, He still acknowledges that His hope will always be found in the Lord and nowhere else. Even though he feels overwhelmed, he is still safe in God’s care.
Later in the book of Psalms, the writer cries out with a much more positive psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord.
“Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 126:1-2
Again in Psalm 139:14 the writer is overwhelmed with awe when he considers the amazing works of the hand of God. Nothing can keep him from singing praise to the Lord.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14
One thing remains clear, no matter why we’re feeling overwhelmed in life, the right response is to always turn our thanksgiving and praise back to God.
Susie Larson is the host of Live the Promise and author of over 12 books and many articles including .
Featured Songs: Unfinished – Mandisa; Rescue Has Come – Lincoln Brewster; Hills and Valleys – Tauren
What overwhelms you?
