When You’re Overwhelmed: Finding Peace in God in the Middle of Stress

It’s been a challenging season for me lately. My two-year-old is fully embracing his independence and exploring the wide range of his emotions. We also finally took away his binky in the past couple of months and, as I write this, he still asks for it. Every. Single. Day. Through screaming and tears and tantrums.

His binky was the way he soothed himself. It really was the plug to his emotional volcano. Now, without the plug, we have to endure his eruptions multiple times a day as we try to teach him regulation and the virtue of temperance. It’s been exhausting and, quite honestly, has been pushing me to the brink of my Christianity and my sanity nearly every single day. I’m finding that I need my own “binky” to soothe myself.

Recently, I found myself teetering on the edge of sanity and it was only 9 AM. I texted my husband, without thinking about what he was dealing with at work, “I need a break! I need you to help me find a way to take a break! This baby is pushing me over the edge and I can’t handle it!”

I’m sure that wasn’t exactly helpful for him—an hour away and unable to do anything for me while dealing with his own frustrations. Listen, I’m a work in progress. But after he thumbs-upped my text and I pushed away my annoyance, I found myself Googling how to destress.

Article after article suggested things like you are doing too much, reset your priorities, take a hot bath. Not that those aren’t true or helpful—but I was past that point. I needed something deeper and stronger. None of those articles were offering anything potent enough to deal with the level of stress I was carrying.

It wasn’t just my toddler bringing me to this point—it was everything. Our family is facing all kinds of changes: my work is shifting, challenges within our family, financial pressures, and the washer broke that very morning while I was already drowning in a mountain of laundry (yes, that really happened). I was overwhelmed with the grief, worry, and everyday stressors that make you feel like you can’t catch your breath—the kind of stress that makes you feel like you can barely survive the day.

So how do I destress that kind of stress? Where is my “binky”?

If you can relate, this is for you. I want to offer a few ways to work through that kind of stress and turmoil—to bring peace into your heart and settle your soul. This is more than lighting candles and taking deep breaths.

Get somewhere quiet and uncluttered

That may be your bathroom, your car, your front porch, or the Starbucks parking lot. I don’t care where—just get somewhere quiet and uncluttered. If you are surrounded by noise or a constant reminder of what needs to be done, you will struggle to hear the Lord. And what you need right now, more than anything else, is to hear from Him.

As I write this, I desperately need quiet and uncluttered. There is a hallway full of laundry I can see from where I sit, and my background soundtrack is my toddler hollering for his favorite show after I already said no screen time. When you are struggling and desperate, you need the voice of the Lord.

Me? I’m about to lay this baby down for a nap and go sit in my van for a bit.

Offer to the Lord everything you are carrying

Personally, I prefer to journal my prayers. It helps me stay focused when my heart and mind want to wander. Pour out your heart to the Lord. Tell Him every burden you are carrying, every fear you are facing, and every worry you are holding. Lay it all before Him. Take a deep breath. Then grow quiet—and listen.

Stay and listen for the Lord’s response

Like me, you may be good at pouring out your heart to God—but not as patient in waiting and listening. We often trauma-dump on God and then rush back into our messy lives because, for a moment, we already feel a bit better.

But if we never learn to wait and listen, that release becomes only a temporary bandage—and lasting peace, comfort, and direction are missed. We remain stuck in a cycle of chaos → emotional release → chaos again.

Wouldn’t it be better to wait long enough to hear the voice of God respond to what you’ve placed in His hands? He wants to sit with you, sift through your burdens, apply healing to your wounds, and give wisdom for your next step.

Our Lord never promised to remove every obstacle, stressor, or struggle—but He promised He would not leave us as orphans (John 14:18), that we can come boldly to Him in our need (Hebrews 4:16), and that He is able to carry the weight of our anxieties (1 Peter 5:7). If you are overwhelmed, you cannot afford to skip the wait and listen step.

I often write my prayers, then sit quietly and write what I believe the Lord is placing on my heart. Afterward, I test those thoughts against Scripture and the character of God revealed in Scripture—to ensure I am hearing His voice and not simply my own.

This practice has become deeply healing for my soul. It is the spiritual habit that soothes me when chaos rises. It is vital to our spiritual growth, peace, happiness, and holiness to learn to be still and know that He is God—to recognize the voice of our Shepherd and tune our hearts to Him. Our only hope of finding peace in God is to get quiet before Him and listen for His voice.

He is speaking. Are we listening?

Prayer

Lord, we carry so many burdens today, and they feel heavier than we can bear. We come to You and take Your yoke upon us. Quiet our souls so we can find You. Help us hear Your voice calling us to remain connected to You.

You are the vine; we are the branches. Apart from You we can do nothing. We need You now. Help us remain still long enough to hear You speak. Help us trust You, believe You, and lean on You for every need.

We love You, Jesus. Amen.

Resources for Finding Peace in God

Scriptures When Overwhelmed

Psalm 61:2 (ESV) 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.

Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Scriptures On Stillness and Listening

Psalm 46:10 (ESV) “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

John 10:27 (ESV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Isaiah 30:15 (ESV)* For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling

Quotes from Saints Before Us

Augustine

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”

Martin Luther

“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

John Chrysostom

“Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness.”

Teresa of Ávila

“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. God alone suffices.”

Brother Lawrence

“The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer.”