In many ways, one of the best-known card games, Uno, alludes to some of life’s concerns. The game is about matching colors and numbers but also contains some significant twists—the surprising action cards. Just as in life, we can’t expect things to always go on as usual. But sometimes surprising things happen. In the game, there’s one card that’s dreaded by those who will receive the consequences—the Wild Draw Four. It’s a game changer that makes you draw four more cards, creating chaos in its wake.
As you play the game and cards are being dealt and passed around, the pace quickens as the colors change. Just as everything seems to be going your way, the player before you throws a Wild Draw Four. Suddenly, the game has turned against you, and you are dealt with action card upon action card, piling up cards you’re supposed to be getting rid of. That very moment in the game reminds you of how life can be overwhelming; responsibilities, expectations, pressures, and more difficulties pour down on you. All the pressures and problems in life are starting to feel like giant walls closing in from every side.
When we feel pressed in life, we can learn from David. David often was confronted with so much pressure, but he always found strength and refuge from God as he prayed. In Psalm 61:2-3, we see him crying out to God for help because he felt so overwhelmed, yet he found safe refuge in the presence of God.
We find ourselves walking over twists and turns as we journey through life. You might suddenly be caught up in a mountain of trouble, both the foreseeable and the unforeseeable. You turn to prayer to find the strength to fight and the comfort to sustain you. The effects of prayer bring all the darkness and confusion into light. When you pursue clarity and wisdom from the Word of God and His presence, the power of prayer becomes evident.
When the complexity of life hits us hard, we must learn to see the importance of prayer. Connecting with the All-Knowing and All-Powerful God allows us to experience peace by entering into moments of reflection. That scary mountain of troubles starts to crumble into more manageable obstacles, opening the way to find hope and the motivation to keep pressing forward. As we rely upon our faith and the promises of God in the Bible, we start to see a paradigm shift. Now, prayer does not just uplift your spirit but is a reminder that this walk of life will never be lonely because you know God is with you all the way.
Each time we are overwhelmed, we must remind ourselves to bring everything to the feet of Jesus in prayer. Here are a few things that you can do when life throws in a barrage of challenges, and you pray:
- Find Stillness in God
Seek a calm and quiet moment with God when you can gather your thoughts and focus on His presence and His word. Looking for a quiet place doesn’t mean trying to isolate yourself from the rest of the world. Rather, it’s about finding that sacred space inwardly, where the focus is on communing with God. In this moment of being in the Lord, we receive strength, our thoughts find clarity and comfort, and our hearts become ready to listen to God’s guidance and wisdom.
In (Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.), we find Jesus going up to a mountainside after a long and tiring day in ministry, during which He had gotten terrible news about the execution of His dear cousin, John the Baptist. We see Jesus retreating to a solitary place for communion with God. This illustrates the significance of finding a quiet space for prayer.
How Do You Pray When You Feel Overwhelmed?
So, if at the moment you are overwhelmed but cannot find a quiet place, learn to still your soul amid the challenges by acknowledging the boundless presence of God. Reading and remembering (Psalm 116:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.) gives so much light and hope. The psalmist encourages: “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”
How Do You Pray When You Feel Overwhelmed?
When the world around us feels chaotic, and our burdens weigh down on us, let us return to the gentle and caring voice of God. He invites us to stop for a moment, meditate, and think about how good He is to us. God has always been faithful, and He has demonstrated that time and time again. In all the problems we have faced, He held us together and sustained us. He is our place of comfort, and in Him we find strength. We can rely upon the unchanging nature of God, knowing that His love and care for us do not diminish or fail despite how overwhelming our circumstances can be. In God’s presence is the safest, most peaceful, and most comforting place you can ever be.
- Seek Help from God
We can easily feel overwhelmed because of our human limitations. That is why finding wisdom and guidance from God is the best way to go. We can always seek help from God and be honest about the things we struggle with. We learn from James 1:5 that God generously gives wisdom to those who ask. And (Psalm 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.) tells us that God will answer those who call out to Him in desperation. As we face the battles of life, it is very helpful and reassuring to acknowledge that, according to the wisdom of (Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.), we must not lean on our own wisdom but trust in the Lord with all our hearts. As we press on, we stand upon the always available help from God, knowing that in difficult times He makes us strong and wise in Him.
How Do You Pray When You Feel Overwhelmed?
How Do You Pray When You Feel Overwhelmed?
- Surrender Control
Many times, what really overwhelms us is that in our need to have control over life’s events, we find we have less or none at all. When things go beyond our power, and everything goes awry, we feel helpless and frustrated. In times like this, it’s important to let go of the need to control everything. We must acknowledge that only God is in charge because He is absolutely sovereign over all. When we relinquish full control and, by faith, trust in God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will, our souls are freed from the worries and fears that overwhelm us. We just need to rest upon the truth that there’s nothing beyond God’s control, and without fail, He watches over us with much love and care.
- Be Thankful
A grateful heart is a calm and secure heart. We often find ourselves overwhelmed because we are too concerned about what we must have as we keep looking at what we don’t have. Our hearts and minds are filled with worry and fear instead of faith. We are encouraged by 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. Ungratefulness can bear down on one’s soul and sway a person away from the will of God. Being grateful changes our perspective and allows us to see things with contentment and faith. It frees us from the toxic effect of wanting to have everything. When we acknowledge that what overwhelms us is really because we only see what’s lacking, we find a moment to reflect and remember reasons to be thankful to God.
- Conclude with Faith
At the end of our prayer, we must find ourselves growing in our faith as we face trials of many kinds. We learn from James 1:2-4 that overwhelming circumstances can be joyfully taken as opportunities because they give us the chance to develop our faith and character. Often, we find ourselves losing faith when we are tested, especially when we feel like it is too much for us to handle. But as we admit our lack of faith to God and allow Him to grow us in every circumstance, our struggles are turned for our good.
As we are confronted with challenges, we finish strong when we fight the good fight of faith. According to (Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?), we realize that if our God is for us, who can ever be against us? That is where we anchor our faith amid the overwhelming problems.
How Do You Pray When You Feel Overwhelmed?
Dear Heavenly Father, at this moment, when I am so overwhelmed, I come to You, acknowledging that I need Your strength and guidance. It’s just too much for me to bear, and I need You more than anything.
Lord, give me a heart that is always thankful, even when it seems like there’s nothing to be thankful for. Thank You for what You have given me; may my heart find contentment in You. I want to submit my compulsion of wanting to be in control of everything and trust that You are wise and able. I want to find refuge and strength in Your presence. I leave it all to You, for You know all things in Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.