why does life feel so overwhelming?
If you’ve ever dumped out a box of puzzle pieces without the picture on the lid, you know how frustrating it can be. Thousands of little fragments, all scattered, and no clue where they’re supposed to go. You pick up one piece, turn it in your hand, maybe find a corner, but without the big picture, it feels random and confusing.
For many of us, that’s what life feels like.
We’re handed “pieces” every day—appointments, relationships, worries, responsibilities, global headlines—and we’re told to make sense of them. Add to that the inner struggles we carry: questions about purpose, doubts about God, frustrations when things don’t work out the way we hoped. It can be overwhelming.
And honestly? That’s how a lot of people feel about the Bible too. It’s a huge book written over thousands of years by dozens of authors. It’s filled with strange customs, unfamiliar names, and stories that don’t always make immediate sense. Picking it up can feel like grabbing a random puzzle piece with no idea how it connects.
So what do we do with the overwhelm—both in life and in faith?
the bible gets our overwhelm
One of the first things you need to know is that the Bible doesn’t sugarcoat reality. From the very beginning, we see people facing chaos, confusion, and brokenness.
Adam and Eve, choosing independence from God, suddenly experienced shame and fear for the first time.
The people of Israel found themselves enslaved in Egypt, crying out under the weight of oppression.
David, the shepherd boy turned king, often poured out raw prayers in the Psalms: “My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?” (Psalm 6:3).
These aren’t polished, perfect stories. They’re real accounts of real people navigating the same kinds of feelings we do: uncertainty, anxiety, pressure, and despair.
And in the middle of it all, God shows up. Not with quick fixes or empty promises, but with His presence.
god’s Invitation in the chaos
Here’s what stands out: whenever people in the Bible felt overwhelmed, God’s response was to draw near.
To His weary people in Egypt, He said: “I have indeed seen the misery of my people… I am concerned about their suffering” (Exodus 3:7).
To Joshua, stepping into leadership after Moses, He promised: “Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Through the prophet Isaiah, He reassured a trembling nation: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).
And centuries later, Jesus would echo the same heart:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Notice what’s missing? God doesn’t say, “Figure it out.” He doesn’t hand us all the answers at once. He doesn’t promise we’ll never feel overwhelmed again. What He does offer is Himself—His steady presence when the puzzle pieces feel scattered.
why we feel overwhelmed
Let’s be honest: we live in a culture that glorifies busyness. The fuller our calendars, the more successful we appear. But inwardly, many of us are crumbling. Anxiety levels are higher than ever. People talk about “burnout” as if it’s inevitable. Even when things are going well, there’s a nagging sense of being stretched too thin.
Part of the overwhelm comes from trying to carry more than we were designed to. If you think of your life as a puzzle, we’re often trying to complete the picture without the box cover, without guidance, and without rest.
The Bible names this struggle plainly. It tells us that we were created to walk with God, to trust Him, and to let Him be the one who holds the big picture. When we try to do it all ourselves, we end up exhausted.
the puzzle metaphor: a way forward
So what do we do with this?
Imagine sitting down at the table with a pile of puzzle pieces. The first thing you’d want is the box lid—to see what you’re aiming for. But here’s the good news: God already holds the cover. He knows the picture. He sees where every piece belongs, even when we don’t.
For now, though, He isn’t asking us to complete the whole puzzle. He’s just inviting us to trust Him with one piece at a time.
Overwhelmed by work? Place that piece in His hands.
Carrying guilt? Let Him show you how forgiveness fits.
Anxious about the future? Trust Him with the pieces you can’t yet see.
The Bible becomes more than an ancient document when we begin to see it this way. It’s not just rules and rituals. It’s a story of God continually stepping into human chaos, guiding people one piece at a time, until the whole picture comes into view.
a practical step this week
Here’s something simple you can try:
Take five minutes each morning to sit quietly with Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
As you do, hold one “piece” of your life in your mind—the thing that feels most overwhelming right now.
Instead of trying to fix it, pray: “God, I don’t see how this fits. But I trust that You do.”
It won’t erase the problem overnight. But it’s a way of re-centering. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to finish the puzzle yourself.
why this series matters
That’s why we’re starting this 12-week journey. Each week, we’ll take one “piece” of life—questions we all wrestle with—and hold it up to the light of Scripture. We won’t try to solve everything at once. We’ll simply ask: What does the Bible say about this piece?
By the end, you may not see the whole picture, but you’ll have more confidence that the pieces do fit—and that God is patiently, lovingly helping you put them together.
final thought
Life is overwhelming. The Bible admits it. You feel it. I feel it. But we aren’t left alone in the chaos.
The invitation this week is simple: trust that God sees the picture even when you don’t. And take one piece at a time with Him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)