Peace in Christ When You Feel Overwhelmed  - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - January 08, 2026

Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
² from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
 that is higher than I,
³ for you have been my refuge,
 a strong tower against the enemy.
(Psalm 61:1-3, ESV).

I sat in the recliner, with my journal on my lap, and tears streaming down my cheeks. I knew that if I could write out my frustrations (just as I had countless times before in my life), I might be able to find some clarity, and it might help calm the swirling thoughts that were circling my mind and causing me to feel utterly overwhelmed by everything going on in my life. I have journaled for as long as I can remember. As a writer, I have always enjoyed being a storyteller, and often, especially after becoming a Christ follower, journaling has helped me process my own stories with God. 

Before I began writing, I grabbed my Bible and thumbed through the book of Psalms. Suddenly, the first three verses in Psalm 61 caught my attention: 

“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy” (1-3, ESV).

I read these three verses aloud a few times, and tears continued to flow. My heart was faint, but the Lord was strengthening me as I looked to Him, my ever-present help in time of need. My weeping turned into a time of gratitude that I was not alone in my suffering; God was near to me in that moment. Instead of the overwhelming anxiety from what I was facing, God’s peace began to overwhelm my heart as I shared with Him what was causing me so much worry and stress. Suddenly, I was able to see more clearly, and my problems seemed so small standing next to God Almighty. God may not have solved all of my issues, but He was changing me little by little, as I learned to cling to Him in the chaos. In an instant, He calmed my troubled heart and gave me a new perspective. 

When our hearts are overwhelmed by the cares of this life, we must take the time to cast them upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). As Psalm 61 instructs us, we are to cry out to God, for He alone is our protection and refuge against the chaos of this life. Jesus Christ, our rock, is our firm foundation when the ground beneath our feet feels shaky. We can run to Him for safety and trust that when the waves crash in around us, He will be our fortress in the midst of the storms of life. 

Do you find yourself feeling stressed and overwhelmed during this holiday season? Is your heart heavy and burdened? Instead of trying to escape the stress or ignore all the pain and frustration, we must cry out to God because He has such care for His children. What are you trying to find safety and comfort in besides God’s presence? Perhaps you can make a list of what you may be running to for distraction when you are overwhelmed. Nothing that this world offers will ever be able to calm our weary souls; only Jesus has the power to do that. We must run to God and look to Him to bring a peace that passes all understanding. He alone is your fortress and protection against the storms of life. In the midst of chaos and troubles, Jesus is constant and unshakable. We must not build our lives upon the sinking sand of the world’s system. Remember, Jesus is our Rock and our Redeemer. He is near when we are worried or afraid. We can always lean upon Him and trust that He is always working things out for His glory and for our good.

Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Hannah Olinger

Emily Massey began writing short stories and poetry as a little girl, entered the blogging world in her early 20s, and published her first book in 2015. She enjoys being a homeschooling momma of four boys, while still being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Believing she has been forgiven much, she loves much, and desires to point others to Christ and His redemptive and transforming power, especially by sharing truth found in God’s written word. If you would like to connect with Emily, you can visit www.emilyrosemassey.com.

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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.

Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.

Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.

I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!