Overcoming Emotional OverwhelmSample

Learning to Stay Calm While God Fights for You

“The Lord will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:14 NLT)

The Israelites had just escaped Egypt when they looked up and saw Pharaoh’s army charging toward them. Cue full-on panic.

They were trapped between a sea they couldn’t cross and an enemy they couldn’t outrun. And understandably, they lost it.

But Moses gave them a powerful reframe: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (NIV).

He didn’t say “Don’t be afraid” or “Pull it together.” He reminded them that while God was doing the fighting, their job was to stay calm in the chaos.

And honestly? That’s still our job today.

Yes, God is fighting for you. But you also have a role to play. And it starts with recognizing how stress affects your body and learning how to reset when emotional overload kicks in.

When we experience ongoing overwhelm, our nervous system gets stuck in fight-or-flight mode. That makes it almost impossible to process emotions clearly or feel a sense of peace.

As a result, we jump to instant reactions instead of intentional responses (a trademark sign of overwhelm, right?).

That’s why I teach a concept called emotional prep—simple daily practices that help your body stay calm so you’re not constantly stuck in survival mode.

Emotional prep is not about controlling your circumstances; it’s about calming your inner world so you can think clearly and partner with God in the process.

Friend, being emotionally confident doesn’t mean having it all together. It means learning to stay grounded while God does His work.

You’re not responsible for fixing it all. But you are responsible for learning how to keep your mind (and your nervous system) steady in the waiting.

Reflection Questions:

1. What circumstances in your life right now are triggering that fight-or-flight feeling?

2. What’s one small, daily practice that helps you feel grounded when emotions start to spiral?

Today’s Emotional Management Tool: Calming Touch

Place your hand gently over your heart and take three slow, deep breaths. As you breathe, repeat this truth: “God is fighting for me. I can rest in Him.”

Touch is powerful. It signals safety to your nervous system and helps shift you out of overwhelm. Try it today when stress starts to rise.