When Overwhelm Strikes

My phone chimed with alarming speed as the text messages rolled in. It wasn’t good news. It never seemed to be good news during this season of my life. I knew deep down that each text alert signaled another potential problem, another outstanding need, or one more thing to add to my to-do list. I was overwhelmed.

When Everything Feels Like Too Much

Overwhelm isn’t just about having too much to do. It’s that crushing weight when everything feels urgent, when you can’t see where to begin and when your own needs have been pushed so far down the list you’ve forgotten they exist. It’s looking at your day and feeling defeated before you’ve even started.

Caregiving is one of the most profound expressions of love, but it can also be one of the most isolating and overwhelming journeys. Perhaps today you feel like you’re drowning in responsibilities – medication schedules, doctor appointments, financial worries, and the emotional needs of your loved one all while trying to maintain some semblance of your own  life.

But here’s what I want you to know: feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human, caring deeply in a world that asks so much of caregivers. These moments of overwhelm are a natural response to carrying a load that was never mean to be carried alone.

The Danger of Self-Reliance

Caregiving is tricky to get your arms around. Sometimes it starts small and grows slowly and other times it bursts onto the scene like a monster in a movie. Each situation has a way of lulling us into the same misguided belief. When deep in a season of overwhelm, I found that I had bought into the lie that keeps so many of us trapped: “I must do it all myself.”

We live in a society that values industriousness and productive results. It’s easy to get the unspoken message that we should buck up and just get the job done. We internalize the belief that a good daughter, son, or spouse shouldn’t need help. That our love should be enough fuel to keep us going indefinitely. That asking for help somehow diminishes our devotion.

But here’s the truth that took me far too long to learn: Caregiving responsibilities are bigger than any calendar, any to-do list, and certainly bigger than any one person.

An Invitation

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

–Matthew 11: 28

If you are feeling that stomach-tightening knot right now and wondering how you’ll possibly manage it all, Jesus has a word for you: Come.

Not “get your act together first.” Not “figure it out, then come.” Just…come.

When God Prescribes Rest

The book of 1 Kings introduces us to the prophet Elijah. After demonstrating the power of the LORD against the prophets of the false god Baal, he found his very life under threat. Elijah, literally running for his life, was so scared and exhausted that he was ready to give up. He collapsed under a tree and prayed to die: “I have had enough, LORD.” (1 Kings 19:4)

God’s response? Did He lecture Elijah about faith? Did he remind him of past victories?

No. God sent an angel with bread and water. God let him sleep. Then fed him again. And let him sleep some more.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is take a nap.

Your Permission Slip for Today

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary,” (Matthew 11:28) He doesn’t add conditions. He doesn’t require you to have it all together first.

Today, you have permission to:

• Leave the dishes in the sink (maybe like Elijah, you need a snack and a nap)
• Ask for help before you’re desperate
• Delegate one task that’s weighing you down
• Sit down for a few minutes and do nothing

Finding Peace

Overwhelm can be one of God’s red flags, waving us toward His provision. He calls us to quit the game of self-reliance and learn to adapt. He calls us to lean into the help He provides – through others, through rest, and through grace.

Remember: even Jesus, in His earthly ministry, accepted help. He let others provide meals, offer hospitality, and even financially support His work. If the Son of God didn’t do it all Himself, why do we think we should?

Take heart, dear caregiver. The God who prescribed naps for exhausted prophets sees you. He knows exactly what you need – rest for your body, peace for your soul, and companions for your journey.

You were never meant to do this alone.

Heavenly Father, thank You for always being with us and for being strong enough to carry us when we are weary. We trust that You know what we need. Open our hearts to help us see ourselves through Your eyes. Help us practice compassion, not only towards others, but also towards ourselves. Fill us up, Lord, with Your Holy Spirit, that we might continue to share Your love and goodness as we care for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This article is part of a monthly series for 2025 about saying “Yes to Less.” As caregivers, we often take on too much – stress, worry, and feelings of overwhelm – but we don’t have to stay stuck in those dark places. This month, let’s practice saying yes to less overwhelm and instead, let’s rejoice in the peace that only the Lord can provide.