Mood
Bible verses for when you feel overwhelmed
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Being overwhelmed is often a problem of quantity rather than attitude, and some of the Bible's responses to it are correspondingly practical — Jethro telling Moses to share the work, the disciples being sent out in pairs, a repeated insistence on stopping one day in seven.
Those passages sit here alongside the more familiar ones about casting cares and finding rest.
7 passages
Each shows its reference and translation, and links to the chapter it comes from.
1For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David. Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer. 2From the end of the earth, I will call to you when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3For you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy.
28“Come to me, all you who labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.
Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
He said to them, “Come away into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
1A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry with my voice to the LORD. With my voice, I ask the LORD for mercy. 2I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles. 3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
5He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat!” 6He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7The LORD’s angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible British Edition, which is in the public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.