The holiday season is upon us, and overwhelm can come along with the special joys. If you are feeling the holiday overwhelm today, you can find peace and encouragement through Christian meditation.
Feeling Overwhelmed
Sometimes when I scroll through my Facebook feed, I feel like I’m getting a miniature glimpse of God’s view. Couples are getting engaged. Others are celebrating anniversaries. Babies are born. Friends gather. Sunsets are gorgeous, flowers shine in bouquets, and chocolate cake is served. Life is good!
But mixed in with that joyful feed, I see that life is tragic too. Several of my friends are facing cancer. Many are grieving deaths, separations, divorces and empty nests. Some have estranged children. Others are hurting from addictions and betrayals. Appliances break, cars are wrecked, and wildfires rage. Life is hard!
God can handle this mixture because he is infinite and sovereign. But back to back, the joy and grief often overwhelms me. As a highly sensitive person and an empath, I feel ALL the feelings pretty easily. To get a grip while I scroll through Facebook, I regularly jump to my own personal page to take a break. The familiar photos comfort me, then I head back out into the fray of the feed. Do any of you introverts or INFJs do the same thing?
If you are feeling the holiday overwhelm today, you can find peace and encouragement through Christian meditation. #christianmeditation #happyholidays #peaceingodsword Click To Tweet
When Holidays Overwhelm
The holidays can bring us the same mixture of sadness and joy. Maybe this is your first, fifth, or tenth holiday without a loved one who has passed away. Perhaps you are dealing with depression, anxiety, doubt or fear. Maybe you escape for a while through a Hallmark movie. Or, perhaps prepping the food, decor and presents brings you pure joy. Maybe the good memories, delicious treats and happy music buoy you up.
I don’t know what mixture of feelings you have this season, but God does. He knows whether you have 60 percent joy, 40 percent sorrow or the opposite. Whether this mixture changes from 60/40 to 30/70 from hour to hour or day to day. God knows exactly what you are feeling and how your feelings change, because he created you to feel.
The holidays can bring us a mixture of sadness and joy. #christmas #christmaspeace #emotionalhealth Click To TweetGod is Faithful in Your Overwhelm
Be encouraged: Though your feelings may fluctuate, God is constant. He is our sure and secure anchor when our feelings go up and down. His unchanging ways can bring us great comfort when we feel overwhelmed by life’s changes.
God can handle all of your emotions, and wants you to talk about them with him. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, sad, afraid, worried, joyful or thankful, use your emotions as a trigger to pray. The more often you pray over your emotions, the closer you will be connected to the One who created you to feel. He doesn’t want you to be overwhelmed; he wants to help you manage your feelings.
God doesn't want you to be overwhelmed this holiday season; he wants to help you manage your feelings. #overwhelm #holidays #christianmeditation Click To Tweet
Christian Meditation Verses to Fight Holiday Overwhelm
By meditating on God’s unchanging character, you can experience peace. I encourage you to meditate on the following verses when you feel overwhelmed.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 23:19 NIV
Your royal laws cannot be changed. Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.
Psalm 93:5 NLT
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
but you are the same, and your years have no end.
Psalm 102:25-27 ESV
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken— who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?
Isaiah 14:27 NLT
But this is what the Lord says: I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky.
Jeremiah 33:25 NLT
I am the Lord, and I do not change.
Malachi 3:6 NLT
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father
of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17 NIV
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NIV
Do you want a printable form of these verses? It’s available as a free bonus resource in my Library when you sign up for my weekly emails below.
Prayer to Fight Holiday Overwhelm
Here’s a prayer to bring you greater peace in your overwhelm:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for creating me to feel.
I take comfort in knowing that you are unchanging, even when my emotions overwhelm me.
You are my rock, my refuge, my anchor, and my safety.
This holiday season, remind me to turn to you again and again.
Jesus, I know you want me to celebrate my joys with you.
You also want me to share my sorrows to you.
I’m so glad you care about how I feel.
Holy Spirit, remind me to tell you about all my emotions in prayer.
Use each emotion this season to draw me closer to you, Lord.
When I feel overwhelmed, comfort me with your constant presence.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!
This post may be linked up at these linkups.
If you make a purchase through the provided links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance for supporting my writing ministry!
My weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays is delivered at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday. I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.
To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!