Introduction
“O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.” Psalm 61:1-3 NIV
Sometimes life comes at us like a tsunami wave. In spite of all our time-saving devices and organization applications, the demands on our time, money, and energy from family, friends, jobs, school, church, and community can leave us feeling wrecked and drowning in need – the needs of those around us and our own.
We want to be grateful, but our burdens are distracting. We long to prioritize, but we end up stuck pondering which fire to put out first. We are told we need sleep, but who can get it when crying babies, sick loved ones, urgent late-night calls, or insomnia are our constant companions. Our friends might try to help, but they often have their own troubles. We do our best to keep moving forward, but feelings of inadequacy and helplessness haunt and hinder us.
In our distress, we cry out with the Psalmist, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;” (Psalm 55:4-6) But we cannot fly away and escape when our bank account is empty, our spouse is terminally ill, or our child is living in rebellion. No vacation is going to change the reality of our circumstances. A cupcake, round of golf, or a glass of wine might distract us momentarily, but they aren’t going to relieve our burdens or carry us through our times of distress.
But, there is one thing we can do when life feels overwhelming that will not only help us but will actually sustain us and keep us safe until our storm passes. We can look to Jesus, who on the cross was overwhelmed with our sins, sickness, and sorrows but then overcame and rose victorious over them for us. He is the Rock, the higher ground, to which we can run and find refuge when the tsunami of life hits.
Illustration
Jesus Christ is fully God, but when He came to us, He came clothed in our humanity. He subjected Himself to all the stresses and pains and trials of life that we experience.
Jesus grew up from infancy and endured family life with parents and siblings who did not understand Him (Luke 2:48-50). He suffered the disrespect and jeering of those who watched Him grow up (Matthew 13:57). When His ministry began, His family, friends, followers, and enemies pushed and prodded Him: “Give us more bread, Jesus!” “Heal my friend, Jesus!” “Save us, Jesus!” “Bless my child, Jesus!” “Answer this question, Jesus.” And while all these demands wearied Him, He found rest and renewal in time alone with His Father (Luke 5:16).
But eventually, the appointed time came where there would be no respite for Jesus. Take a moment to contemplate how Jesus, the Man, was entirely overwhelmed, starting at the Garden of Gethsemane:
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Mark 14:32-34 (NIV)
Notice the words “deeply distressed,” “troubled,” and “overwhelmed.” Think of what Jesus was about to endure; desertion by all His disciples, rejection by the Jewish leaders, false charges by the Jewish nation, judgment by the ruling nation, beatings and scourging by Roman soldiers, the hatred and animosity of Satan, and most importantly, the terrible wrath of His Father against sin.
Jesus was, as the ark in Noah’s day, buffeted on all sides, Satan erupting up from below like the great volcanoes of the deep and God’s wrath raining down like the fire and brimstone that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. He was deeply distressed and greatly troubled, His very soul, His inner being was truly overwhelmed in every way. So much so that His sweat became like drops of blood:
“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:44 (NIV)
Jesus knew what it was like to be completely overwhelmed, and Jesus knows how to help us when we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances. He is the Rock that David praises as His Fortress, Deliverer, Savior, Refuge, Shield, Salvations, Stronghold, and Rescuer (Psalm 18:1-48, Psalm 55:16-18, Psalm 62:1). He is the constant stabilizer in your changing storm. He died for you on Calvary; He will not lose you to the waves. He will hold you fast! Look to Jesus just now.
Application
Do you feel like life is just too much? Are the demands on your time and energy, draining and discouraging you? Does it seem that so many people have touched and taken from you that there is nothing left? Are you exhausted from trying to rescue others when you are already sinking beneath the burdens of your life?
Look to Jesus and see His heart crushed and distressed to bring you comfort (2 Corinthians 1:4). See Him sweating drops of blood to bring you peace (John 14:27). See Him cursed and mocked so that you might be blessed and affirmed (Ephesians 1:3). See Him pouring out His life to provide you with sustaining grace (Hebrews 1:3).
Consider the fire of God’s wrath poured out on Jesus so that there would be no condemnation for you regardless of how you perform under pressure (Romans 8:1). You have been rescued, dear friend; you are safe in Jesus! No storm of this life can consume you because you have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus is Yours and you are His (Song of Solomon 6:3)
When you feel life is suffocating you, think of how Jesus hung on the cross gasping for air and then how He breathed His last so that you would be filled and empowered by His Spirit (Romans 8:10-11). Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, when you look to Him, you are able to not only survive but also supernaturally rise above the chaos that surrounds and threatens you (Philippians 1:12-18).
When you have nothing to give, turn to the One that gave all and receive everything you need (2 Peter 1:3). Jesus sacrificed His life to save and sanctify you (John 3:16, Hebrews 10:10). Believe in Him, trust in Him! He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). Oh, friend, behold the Lamb of God that not only takes away your sin but also transforms you into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).
When you feel overwhelmed by life, don’t escape into social media, try to reform yourself with a new program, or attempt to life-hack your brain into thinking everything is really fine. Instead, look to Jesus, the Rock that is higher and greater, the Rock struck for you. Every blow that He took from fist or hammer was for you; He was torn down to build you up (John 2:19, Acts 20:32).
Come now and pour out your heart to Jesus; He is waiting to receive you, ready to lift you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you would not have known apart from this moment (Jeremiah 33:3, John 14:12-14). He has redeemed you; He will carry you through your time of difficulty safely.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” Isaiah 43:1-3
Question: How does considering Christ’s overwhelming experience in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross give you hope when you are feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances of life?
Gerry writes, “Jesus suffered on my behalf. I am learning to look to Jesus and away from me, and that is helping tremendously.“
Mike L. writes, “Wow after reading all that I am overwhelmed by the love of Jesus! I don’t know why because I have read what Jesus went through before, but for some reason reading about what he went through today has literally brought me to tears. I can’t believe Jesus loves me this much, He is the cure for every problem that I could ever face in life. When I get overwhelmed I will take a moment and remember the sweat that turned to drops of blood, I will remember the hatred from the Jewish world system (the hatred of Satan), I will remember the beating He took to the point that He was unrecognizable, I will remember the wrath of God against Him for my sin, I will remember the sound as He is trying to grasp His last breath and I will remember His words “IT IS FINISHED!” Thank you my precious Lord Jesus for enduring the cross for me, I am truly overwhelmed by your love for me, blessed be your beautiful name!“
Andrew writes, “Too many times I have buried my feelings of what is truly going on in my life. It’s so easy to do but like a bad apple in the basket, it eventually tears everything down that is around it. Looking to Jesus on the cross and giving it to him takes those feelings away. I feel like I’ve been doing a much better job with this as of late and I want to continue because it brings so much more peace to my life.“
Wendy writes, “Christ died so I might live. By His stripes, I am healed. I am free because of His great sacrifice.“
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.