10 Bible Verses For When You Feel Overwhelmed

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Bible Verses for When You Feel Overwhelmed

Reading God’s Word is the best remedy I can recommend for feeling overwhelmed. When our souls long for quiet and rest and we need to take our burdens to Jesus, then we find comfort in his care. His word is our refuge and we can always run to it when the worries of this world mound.

So I know this is a simple post, but a beeline of verses that hit the heart of the matter is just what the doctor ordered.

Psalm 61:2

From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 142:3

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me.

Isaiah 40:28

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

 Isaiah 40:31

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.      

John 14:1

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

I Samuel 2:2

There is none holy like the LORD: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. For there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

Psalm 37:23

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;

Eph. 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 

I’d love it if you’d share a verse that gives you strength in the comments today!

By his grace,

Rachel

pablo (56)

“Realize that prayer is your lifeline…David prayed to God in praise, he prayed in distress, and he prayed when he needed help.  No matter his state of being, his first action was to call on the Lord…

I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised…In my distress I called upon the Lord ; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Psalm 18:3,6

If we are in a habit of praying regularly, then when that overwhelmed feeling threatens us, our prayer reflexes will kick in automatically. This is why keeping an open lifeline to God is so important… Prayer should be my first response, not my last resort. – excerpt from chapter, 8, Overcoming the Overwhelming, One More Step”

If you enjoyed this post, you’ll love Rachel’s release, One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up.

Followup post: 8 things NOT to do when you feel overwhelmed

“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

46 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for posting all of these wonderful verses. I really needed them today. I’m very, very overwhelmed. My husband & I are going through very though times. we have a one year old son, too. Thank you again. I can’t explain how much I needed this. <3

    1. Jesus, please be with Jennifer today. I know that overwhelmed feeling so well. And though I don’t know what she is going through, I pray for Your overwhelming peace to be larger than her feelings. May it flood her without explanation and may she trust in You. Amen and amen.

  2. I have so many wonderful verses that I love but this simple one is so powerful! Exodus 14:14 The Lord Himself will fight for you…you only need be still.

  3. “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 As I walk through a dark place right now I focus on Him being my peace, courage and strength so that I can do what I need to do but could not do without Him. Thank you for these verses. I have added them to my list. 🙂

  4. We had to put our beloved dog to sleep on Monday. I have encouraging verses posted on the linen closet door that I see as soon as I step out of the shower. The one that really stood out to me in my grief is Micah 7:8.
    Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
    when I fall, I shall rise;
    when I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be a light to me.

  5. We found out last week that my husband has lymphoma and within two days of the diagnosis, his doctor started him on chemo. He’s currently on day 4 of 24 hours chemo infusion and has one shorter infusion left that should start around 2am tomorrow morning. We’ve been in the hospital since last Thursday and while my husband is doing well and has yet to experience any negative side affects from the chemo, it has still been a very long and overwhelming week. I was on Pinterest this morning and came across this page. These verses definitely hit home right now and are very needed in our lives. Thanks for writing this post!

    1. Oh Jesus, please be with Amber and her husband right now in a very special way. Only You could orchestrate a post of 10 verses to cross her path just when she needs them the most. Thank you that her husband is doing well with the chemo. We pray for healing for this man and I pray that You would make your presence fully known in their lives as they walk through this valley. Bless you Amber!!! May you continue to find strength in God’s Word!

  6. I am facing what feels like an impossible situation with no happy outcome either way and a talk with my mom reminded me last night that I have been called by and belong to a very loving God who is waiting for me to turn back to Him, and that my hope is in scripture. And then today I find a link to this on Pinterest. You have uplifted my heart and reminded me that no matter what happens, I have been created for a purpose and that purpose is good. <3 Thank you all for sharing your verses.

    1. God works in mysterious ways- including Pinterest! 🙂 Oh Sarah, God loves you so much. So thrilled that you took the time to comment. Blessings to you!

  7. “Though the mountains be moved & the hills be removed, my unfailing love for you will or be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed”, says The Lord who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

    1. I studied Isaiah two years ago for a whole year with BSF. It was such a great study and gave me a brand new appreciation for the book of Isaiah. 🙂

  8. Thanks for posting this, I have printed it out so I can see it everyday. I Hanover defiantly been overwhelmed the last few months with my mom getting sick in September, unexpected death of my older sister, now my mom health is not getting any better and she is ready for The Lord to take her home, then this week with my physical some test results came back a bit abnormal. These verses have been perfect for me. Thank you

    1. Jesus, please be with Justine! What difficult, overwhelming circumstances she is enduring. But You are bigger. Thank you for the Scripture to remind us of this fact. Amen. Justine, Blessings to you, Friend!!

      1. Thank you for the prayer Rachel, that means alot to me. 🙂

  9. 🙂 Psalm 30.5 “Weeping my endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning”.
    & Hebrews 6.19 “Hope anchors the soul”.

    1. may** endure. Whoops!

  10. Elizabeth says:

    Wonderful collection of verses! A personal one of mine: “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

  11. I was going to give a friend of mine a book I have called “When God and Cancer meet”. Those are very deep waters she is finding herself in suddenly, and it’s easy to feel like you are drowning in that “C word” and it’s ominous implications. This list of verses and all the others, especially Penny’s, were just the encouragement I was looking for to share with my friend!

    We all need reminders daily that God is ALWAYS with us and firmly in control. Nothing takes Him by surprise and nothing is too big for Him to handle. I have Psalm 121 printed out and framed by my front door. LOVE the book of Isaiah, have clung to verses 40:28-31 during many a wearying trial or weak moment. Joshua 1:5 has been one of my life verses! Good reminder about verse 9, as well as Deuteronomy. Thanks ladies!!

  12. LOVED these Rachel & soooo needed to read them 🙂 My verse by my computer right now is:
    Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
    If I don’t have faith, then why bother praying? I’m claiming this verse & praying with boldness!

  13. I also love Deuteronomy 31:8-
    “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged”.
    Thanks for the encouraging verses. It is such a joy to know he is always in control. We do not need to fear or feel overwhelmed. He is always listening. Always ready to lend an ear. We can always meet him in the throne room. The veil is torn. He is waiting and wanting to have a personal relationship with us. Glory!

  14. Psalm 91. Wish I had time to share the testimony!

  15. Isaiah 41:13 For I hold you by your right hand—
    I, the Lord your God.
    And I say to you,
    ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
    Reminded of this one yesterday:)

  16. My favorite is Psalm 121 – I’m not sure when I first started clinging to it – I’ve been through a few traumatic things in my life but I just love it. God Bless Your Day!

    I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
    The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
    He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

    1. Psalm 121 is the first psalm I memorized as a child. Since I grew up in WV- I looked up to the hills every day. Thanks Kathleen!

  17. Isaiah 26:3 “Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee”… I call this my “crisis” verse. I had a time a few years ago where the situation was completely out of my hands. I couldn’t wake my adult son up and I knew he was in trouble. I backed out of the tent and the Holy Spirit recalled this verse to my mind. I was able to get the help I needed for him immediately. I always memorize scripture in the KJV , but I don’t know when I had memorized this one. I do have it on a plaque handing in my family room and pass it daily. There must have been a time it really stuck for me. Scripture memorization is hard at my age now, but I’m grateful for all that I have memorized in younger years. If the scripture isn’t there the Holy Spirit can’t recall it for you when you need it. Therefore I always tell young people to memorize it while they still have the capacity and are young. God is Good.

  18. Nancy miller says:

    Rachel! Good Morning! Wanted to let you know I had to apply the “determined” word to get caught up on reading. I did it. Thank you for the encouraging verses this morning. Talk with you soon! Blessings to you and you family!

  19. Love, LOVE that I came across this post today. A sweet friend of mine posted “impossible” to her facebook this morning and my heart just felt the burden to share some words of encouragement with her. These 10 verses were exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

    1. Another one for your friend…Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
      I know this verse helped me this morning!

  20. “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” ~ Isaiah 43:1-3 ; “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9 ; “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God… I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10,13

  21. When I was expecting our 5th son my water broke when I was just 22 weeks along. I spent the next 10 weeks in a hospital an hour and a half from home! Those were some of my hardest days…being separated from my family and not knowing what was going to happen to the baby inside me. Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” I posted that verse on the wall of my hospital room and clung to that promise.
    Our 5th baby was born 8 weeks early weighing a whopping 5 lbs 3 ozs! He only stayed in the hospital for 11 days after birth! He’s 4 now and is wonderful!

    1. So very blessed by your story and verse! Precious and personal- that is God! Thanks so much for sharing.

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