9 PRACTICAL THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARE OVERWHELMED OR STRESSED: CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

9 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARE OVERWHELMED OR STRESSED: CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

Hello,

Welcome to my world, I hope you are doing well?

So we know as humans, we are not always happy. There are ups and downs in life, sometimes we are up and some times we are down. And sometimes we are truly overwhelmed!

When I am overwhelmed, these are some things I do to calm down and keep sane. 

Praising/Worshipping

As a christian, I praise. I listen to gospel songs and just soak myself in his presence. I thank him for what he is about to do. Praising helps me calm down. Try it!

Some current songs on my list include darling Jesus, Yah, Kadosh, Aseda and etc.

Psalm 42:5-6

5 5 

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

6 My soul is downcast within me;
    therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
    the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

Prayer

I know! It may seems hard to pray when you are overwhelmed, tired and just thinking you are defeated but that is your only hope. Please pray. Try and pray, it will help you calm down and keep you hopeful.

Hebrews 12:2

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Meditate on the word of God

I read the bible and reassure and remind myself of God's promises. This calms and keep me hopeful and motivated. You can also try journaling the word of God also known as bible journaling.

PSALMS 119:28

My soul is weary with sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word.

 

Meditating on Positive Things 

I stop focusing on the negatives and start focusing on the positive things happening in my life. As the song writer said, "count your blessings, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done". I do just that.

Philippians 4:8

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Journalling 

Journal and write your feelings or what you are going through down. I had a prayer jar one time and it was interesting. I will share my experience in another blog post. You should write what you are praying about down and pray about it. When you get an answer to the prayer, you should go back and write the answer under the prayer topic.

Two things this does for you:

1. When you write it down, it makes you feel free.

2. When you get your prayers answered, you are able to count your blessings.

 Judges 8:33 - 34

33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.

 

Exercising 

I exercise when I am stressed. This calms me down so much. Try it!

 Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Watching Movies 

When I am overwhelmed, I watch documentaries or love movies. This takes my mind off things and helps me calm down.

Philippians 1:18

18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

 

Talking to a trusted person

I talk about what I am going through or what is making me feel overwhelmed with my husband, my sister or my mother. I trust these people and feel very confident enough to share what I am going through with them. This helps me a lot because they encourage, motivate me and help me refocus my energies.

And if you don't find a trusted person in your circle, please speak to a psychologist or a counsellor. 

Philippians 2:4

4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

 

Positive Statements and Motivation

I reassure myself by reading motivational messages, positive statements, and watching sermons. You should try it.

Proverbs 15:13

A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
    but heartache crushes the spirit.

Dance 

Annnnd I dance. I love to dance. So I put on music on the tv or put on my earphones and I dance away.

Ecclesiastes 3:4

    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Psalms 30:11-12

You turned my wailing into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

So, here you go! Hopefully, one of these works for you.

And until next time, know that 

You are enough, you are worthy!

Learn to Live life in the present 

And know that nothing last forever so everything will be fine!