What does overwhelm look like to you? Is it a sink full of dirty dishes and an equally full dishwasher? Is it a jam, packed calendar full of work, kids sporting events, and birthday parties? Maybe your never-ending holiday to-do list full of presents to buy, events to attend, relatives to please?
Or is it much deeper? More prolonged? Less forgiving? Is it stepping out into the cold air on a winter night, numb from the demands placed on you, incapable of making another decision, at the end of yourself?
Let’s read this passage from Psalm 69:1-3.
“Save me, God, For the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”
Emotional researcher, Brené Brown defines overwhelm as “an extreme level of stress and emotional or cognitive intensity to the point of being unable to function.”
The passage above illustrates that definition well. Sunk deep in mud, no foothold, weary with crying, waiting. Beautiful imagery that resonates with my past experiences. I have been through a season of overwhelm in my own life. When the demands placed on me were more than I could bear, more than I could give. I was at the end of myself. I was experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. I even sought medical attention and medication to keep me above water. It was a physical and emotional battle. And in hindsight, it was a blessing.
You read that right, a blessing. A blessing to be at the end of myself, the end of my capacity. To be resigned to the knowledge that my only, last hope was in Christ Jesus.
To know that every wondrous thing that followed must be from God, by God, for my good. I couldn’t explain anything away as coincidence. My prayers were so desperate, so specific that when they were answered, there was no other explanation but God.
To know God at this deep of a level, to experience in the physical what I have always known in my heart, that he cares for me, is an experience I would pray for again, and again. It’s a redemption. It’s redeeming the experience of worldly overwhelm and turning it into spiritual overwhelm. An overwhelm by the goodness, the loving kindness of God.
Satan orchestrates the physical to attack the emotional. Personal conflict, physical illness, exhaustion, over commitments – all of these things directly affect our emotional well being just as much as our bodies.
Experiencing overwhelm is a natural part of life, but the way to redeem it is found at the end of Psalm 69, verses 32-33.
“The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive. For the Lord hears the needy, And does not despise those of His who are captives.”
First, seek God. Intentionally, openly, with humility. Only He can give that inexplicable peace. He will lead your next steps, whether they be therapy and counseling, seeking a medical professional, or something else. Whatever path to recovery you walk, just make sure God is leading the way.
In the meantime, find strategies to help ease the symptoms of overwhelm. Here are a few that worked for me:
Box breaths. Breathe in deeply as you count to 4, hold for 4, then breathe out completely (emptying your lungs) as you count to 4. Finally, hold for 4 again. Repeat as many times as needed.
Stretch and Pray. This strategy does two things. First, it shows submission to God and second, it stretches the large muscle groups in your neck and back where stress is usually stored. Sit on the floor on your knees, stretch them out about hip distance apart, fold your body and face down towards the floor with your hands over your head or brought together in prayer. Stay here as long as you feel comfortable. Pour your heart out to Heaven.
One step at a time. Someone once said, you don’t have to see that whole staircase to take the first step. This is a mantra that has gotten me through many times. Fully relying on God for small, everyday things just builds our ability to rely on him for the big things too.
Whatever holds you captive today, whether it be physical or emotional, rest in the fact that God may not deliver you from it, but he will deliver you through it. And you just might grow into your deepest faith somewhere along the way.
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