Have you been experiencing chaos, stress, or anxiety? In this fast-paced world, we’re all likely to become overwhelmed at times by our responsibilities at work or home, our relationships with family and friends, and our fickle emotions. Instead of hiding from the chaos, we should practice taking our stress and anxiety to God in prayer when we feel overwhelmed. 

Prayer for Feeling Overwhelmed 

Heavenly Father, I cast the burdens that are causing stress, anxiety, and chaos in my life upon You, trusting that You care for me and will sustain me (Psalm 55:22). Strengthen my faith in You so that I will draw near to You and entrust into Your loving care the things that are overwhelming to me. Rather than allowing these stressors to affect my physical and emotional health, fill me with Your peace, Your comfort, and Your joy so that I can find peace, despite these trials. 

Teach me how to heed Your Words to, “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” (Matthew 11:29-30 ESV). I choose to hand my burdens over to You, trusting in Your almighty power and loving kindness. I choose to relinquish my overwhelmed state of mind to you, trusting that Your grace is sufficient for me and that  Your strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). 

I choose to take captive my negative thoughts that can so easily lead to stress, anxiety, despair, and depression — anything and everything that conforms itself against the knowledge of You and Your will (2nd Cor. 10:5). I choose to set my mind upon the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). May I fix my gaze upon You, the Author and Perfecter of my faith, Who are all of those things! 

Thank You for the countless ways in which You have demonstrated to me Your faithfulness, goodness, and lavish love for me. May I remember those things and focus upon all of the blessings I have because of and through You, rather than focusing upon my circumstances. May I remember at all times  that You are Sovereign over everything and able to work all things together for my good and for Your glory (Romans 8:28).

Teach me to abide in Your loving presence at all times so that no matter my circumstances I will never be overwhelmed. Thank You for Your promise of peace that is found when I put my trust in You so that I need never be troubled or afraid (John 14:27). I rejoice that I can be of good cheer even in the midst of the tribulations of this world because You have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Thank You for empowering me to walk through this world — despite all of the trials and tribulations — with peace and joy because You are my faithful Savior and Lord, Who is always with me and for me! I praise You that none of my circumstances have caught You by surprise, and nothing is impossible or too difficult for You!

A Prayer for Others Who Are Feeling Overwhelmed

Lord, I know there are many others like me who sometimes struggle with feeling overwhelmed by life’s circumstances. If they know You, Lord, remind them of who You are: their loving, caring, sympathetic Father Who is able to provide for their every need (Philippians 4:19). May they too turn to You and cast their cares upon You, and as they do, may You flood them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Teach them to let go of their stress and anxiety, relinquishing control of their life to You. May they know the joy found in truly ‘surrendering all’ to You, the One Who is always ‘Faithful and True’ and cannot be anything but that!

Lord, if they don’t know You, I pray that in the times when they are feeling overwhelmed, that they will grapple with the emptiness they’re feeling due to their lack of knowledge of You and Your love for them. May their struggles cause them to cry out to and seek after You! Thank You that You are a loving God Who hears and responds to all those who cry out to and seek after You. May they come to know You and develop a personal, intimate, life-transforming relationship with You. Thank You that You use our struggles and circumstances that we would never choose as the instrument of Your grace to draw us near to You so that we will discover or learn anew our desperate need for You, a Father Who always loves, protects, and shelters His children. 

Lord, hear these prayers for feeling overwhelmed.