How to Find Peace When You're Feeling Overwhelmed

If you look back through verses one – six, what do you see? You will notice all of the “I’s” and “My’s;” I cried, my trouble, I remembered, I complained, I am troubled, I have considered, I call. In verses seven – nine, the doubts creep in. But by verses ten-twelve, his thoughts begin to change. He says that he will remember and he will meditate.

Now, we can see that starting with verse thirteen through the end of this psalm, Asaph is now expressing thoughts of praise. The focus moves from thoughts of himself to that of giving praise to the Lord. Notice his ‘eyes’ have shifted from looking down at himself to that of looking up to God. When we turn our eyes toward the Lord, we begin to see things in a different light. We just might begin to see things from God’s perspective.

Verse thirteen implies that God’s methodologies are heavenly and just. We can believe them even when we cannot comprehend them. The sanctuary is a place where we can come together to worship God and have confidence that every one of his ways is true, fair, and right. In the Old Testament, God was within the Holy of Holies, in the interior of the Temple. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit was sent down to dwell within the hearts of the believer. As such, we are also to be told not to forsake assembling ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). Where two or three are gathered in His name. He will be there as well, right in the middle of the meeting (Matthew 18:20). The last part of verse thirteen additionally commends the greatness and sacredness of God.

Next, we see the psalmist praising God for His deeds (wonders) and His power (strength) within the people. With His arm, He has redeemed the people. The parting of the Red Sea is mentioned here (Psalm 77:16-19) as well as in other parts of Scripture (Exodus 14:21-22; Joshua 24:6; Nehemiah 9:9’ Psalm 74:13, 106:9; 136:13-15). This is to remind the children of God of the love, strength, and preservation that God has given to His own. He has led them and continues to lead them. He can deliver us through the floods of evil that are constantly thrashing at us from all sides. We just need to put our faith and trust in Him and His timing.

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus, by Helen H. Lemmel (1922)

O soul, are you weary and Troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain: Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Thro’ death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin hath no more dominion,
For more than conqu’rors we are!

His word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Photo Credit:   ©Unsplash/Braden Barwich

Chris Swanson answered the call into the ministry over 20 years ago. He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a youth director along with his wife, a music director, an associate pastor, and an interim pastor. He is a retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active and reserve service. You can contact Chris here, and check out his work here.