Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed and spiritually drained—tired, burnt out, or just… done.
Shoot you are not alone. And you’re not weak for feeling this way.
I came across a quote in the Blue Letter Bible by Alan Redpath that struck me deeply:
“Once a Christian gets eaten up with discouragement and unbelief, it takes a great deal to shake him out of it. Those two emotions are the masterstrokes of Satan. So long as the child of God maintains an attitude of praise and trust in the Lord, then he is invincible. Once the devil gets him discouraged, that poor man is really going to take a knocking!”
Discouragement can make even the strongest believer feel knocked down.
But today, I want to gently encourage you: There’s a different way to respond.
Let’s talk about it.
A Funny Mix-Up That Led Me to the Right Word
Can I give a funny story?
I was doing my Bible reading and meant to read Psalm 55, but I accidentally read Isaiah 51 thinking it was Psalm 51—and y’all, it was exactly what I needed. And as it turns out, both Psalm 55 and Isaiah 51 go hand-in-hand with what I was actually going through and I believe it’s exactly what you need to hear today.
Heavy Shoulders and Empty Glasses: When Life Pours Too Much
Maybe you’re carrying so much on your shoulders—parenting, marriage, work, responsibilities—and it feels like you’re trying to pour from an empty glass.
Maybe you’re the one holding everything together, and there’s no room to break down. You’re running low but don’t have the luxury to stop.
I get it. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed and drained, you’re not imagining it. The battle is real.
After writing our last blog, I felt this weight of exhaustion, tiredness, and even emptiness. It was most definitely a spiritual attack. I felt like an empty glass trying to pour something out but having nothing to give.
The truth is I’m carrying a lot.
My husband has been away for over three months. We’ve only seen him for one week in all that time—and now he may have to stay longer due to an admin mistake.
It’s rough out here.
When you’re used to doing life in partnership and oneness in parenting, in work, in the day-to-day—and that balance is gone, the weight hits you differently. My husband is my seesaw partner, and right now, I feel like I’m stuck in the dirt because we’re not together.
But in the middle of all of this, what if God is inviting you to pause—not to escape, but to find shelter?
Feeling Overwhelmed and Burnt Out — But Still Showing Up
With work, the girls’ needs, and my own responsibilities, I can feel the burnout.
But here’s the thing—I don’t have the liberty to check out.
I can’t just say, “Figure it out while I get myself together.” I still have to think about what we’re eating, how someone’s getting to therapy, and the work I need to do. It’s a lot of moving pieces.
Yet in the middle of all this, I’ve been inviting the Lord in.
I encourage you to do the same. Relying on Him for strength—daily, moment by moment.
I told our teen the other day, “I don’t know what we’re eating Friday, but when Friday comes, we’ll see. We might be at Sonic.”
This is real life.
Praise Instead of Complaining
When you’re feeling overwhelmed and spiritually drained, praise can feel like the last thing you want to do—but I want to encourage you to try it anyway.
Begin to pour your heart out to the Lord because you need Him. I need Him too.
Here’s the first thing I want to remind you that you must be intentional in how you respond during difficult times.
That means:
- Don’t let circumstances dictate your response.
- Don’t sit in complaint. Choose praise instead.
- Guard your heart from feeding on negativity.
- Seek encouragement in prayer and God’s Word.
Psalm 55: When You Just Want to Fly Away
Have you ever wanted to just get away? To press pause on life?
“And I say, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
yes, I would wander far away;
I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
I would hurry to find a shelter.’”
Whew. I feel that. I wish I could fly away, to find rest and shelter.
Psalm 55:6–7 gave language to how I’ve been feeling.
That feeling is real. But what David found—and what I want to remind you—is this:
You don’t have to physically escape to find rest.
Fly away to God’s presence.
You can pause right where you are.
You can find shelter in Your heavenly Father.
Know where true shelter is found—in God’s presence.
God Wants to Meet You in the Middle of It
Escapism is tempting, but instead, we confront our weariness in the Spirit.
God is not waiting for you to get everything together.
He’s not asking you to figure it all out first or fix yourself.
He’s inviting you to pause. Right now.
As you’re feeling overwhelmed, spiritually drained, and just over it, He meets you right there—not once you’ve recovered, but right in the unraveling.
In the middle of the carpool line, in your loneliness and in the midst of your tears.
This isn’t just a poetic moment—it’s a practical, spiritual one: Selah.
Selah: Pause and Consider
Let’s talk about this little word we often skip—Selah.
It appears in Psalm 55 and many other places. Selah means to pause and reflect.
It’s a moment to stop and consider the Lord in all His fullness.
This is your invitation to stop and remember who God is—and who you are with Him.
Especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed and spiritually drained, Selah is the reminder that you’re not alone—God is upholding you.
Selah = Pause in His presence.
Here’s what I know, the Lord is calling us to practice Selah—to overturn discouragement, not by running away, but by turning to Him and pausing.
Jesus lived with the shadow of the cross always before Him, yet we see Him love, serve, and—most importantly—withdraw to pray.
So can you.
Isaiah 51: A Wake-Up Call in the Wilderness
I encourage you to read Isaiah 51:1–11, but here are a few highlights:
1. “Look to the rock” (v.1–2)
Look to God our Rock. Look at who God has been. He’s your faithful and reliable.
He’s the same God who blessed and multiplied Abraham.
Take a look at history—see what He’s done for others. If He was faithful to Moses, Mary, Paul, Peter—He will be faithful to you.
2. “The Lord comforts Zion…” (v.3)
God transforms our waste places into gardens.
He replaces wilderness with Eden.
He brings joy, gladness, thanksgiving, and songs.
He’s not just the Comforter—He wants to comfort you. The Lord is going to take your ashes, hurt, pain, and turn them into awe, something beautiful and brings about joy and gladness.
3. “Awake, awake, put on strength…” (v.9)
This is your wake-up call. Listen to what He’s saying.
Not to do more, but to listen. Stop. Breathe.
To receive His strength for what’s next.
The Takeaway: Make God Your Rock
God is speaking.
Silence the noise and listen.
Look at how He’s been faithful to others—He will be faithful to you too.
God is not like us. He’s not up and down with emotions.
He is steady. Strong. Dependable.
He is your Rock.
Your Comforter.
He takes ashes and turns them into awe.
You’re Not Weak—You’re Human
It’s okay to feel like you’re at the end of yourself.
But don’t stay stuck there.
God is not asking for performance. He’s asking for presence.
He’s not overwhelmed by your overwhelm.
He is your Rock—steady, dependable, and strong.
And He’s your Father—compassionate, gentle, and near.
Take a Moment Right Now
Stop reading.
Pause. Acknowledge your Holy Father.
He’s with you. Right now.
He’s been waiting for this moment with you.
Even if everything feels out of order—this moment is holy.
Take a breath. Reflect. Find rest.
Think about His goodness. His mercy. His strength.
“God is a safe and powerful place to find refuge.” – Psalm 46:1
Let’s Pray Together
Say this prayer out loud:
Lord, honor this moment.
In Your presence, we are strong and courageous.
We remind ourselves of Your goodness, forgiveness, kindness, and mercy.
We ask for Your strength to fall upon us and give us courage to face the next moment.
Amen.
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Thank You
We hope you loved exploring this topic with us. We pray it blessed you to surrender, dwell, and abide in God’s Presence. Now, it’s your turn; which question stood out most to you? Which one will you ask someone today? Drop a comment below, and let’s keep the conversation going! We can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
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Beautiful read. It can’tY the perfect Time for me.
Maiya, this is so encouraging and I want you to know God is with you and He loves you. I pray that He will meet you now, that He will strengthen you and uplift you. I believe you are going to encounter the love and power of God today! May the grace of God fall upon you. In Jesus name. – Brittany