When You’re Overwhelmed: Letting God Carry the Weight

February has a way of revealing the truth about how the year is really going.

January comes in strong—with vision, motivation, goals, and fresh faith. We declare what we’re going to do, who we’re becoming, and how this year will be different. But then February arrives quietly. The excitement settles. Life resumes its normal pace. Responsibilities return. And suddenly, the very year we were so hopeful about begins to feel… overwhelming.

By February, many of us realize we’re tired.

The goals we set feel heavier than expected. The plans we made haven’t moved as quickly as we hoped. The demands of everyday life—family, work, finances, health, ministry—are still there, and now they’re competing with our expectations for ourselves. That’s often when overwhelm creeps in.

Becoming overwhelmed in February doesn’t mean you started the year wrong. It means you’re human and adjusting to reality after the excitement of a new beginning.

This month often exposes where we’ve taken on too much, moved too fast, or placed pressure on ourselves that God never asked us to carry. We want progress, but we forget that growth takes time. We want results, but we forget that rest is part of the process.

February invites us to pause and reflect.

It’s a moment to ask yourself: Am I trying to do everything at once? Am I carrying expectations that are draining my peace? Am I trusting God, or am I trying to control the outcome?

Overwhelm is not a sign to quit—it’s a signal to realign. To slow your pace. To release unnecessary pressure. To return to trusting God one step at a time instead of rushing toward perfection.

This is also the month when love is talked about everywhere. But love isn’t only about relationships with others—it’s about how you care for yourself. Love looks like giving yourself grace. Love looks like resting without guilt. Love looks like admitting when you’re tired and letting God meet you there.

If February feels heavy, give yourself permission to reset—not the entire year, just your expectations. You don’t need to have everything figured out by now. You don’t need to see every result yet. God is still working, even in the quiet, even in the slow moments, even when you feel overwhelmed.

Let February be a month of gentleness. A month of listening. A month of releasing what’s too heavy and trusting God with the process.

Overwhelm doesn’t mean you’re failing—it often means you’re growing.

A February Prayer

God, as this year unfolds, help me release the pressure I’ve placed on myself. Teach me to move at Your pace, trust You with the outcomes, and rest when I need to. Cover my mind with peace and my heart with patience. I trust You with this season. Amen.

A Quiet Reminder

You are not behind. You are not failing. You are not alone. You are human—and God is with you every step of the way.

With love and purpose, Dr. Jeri B. ShannonFounder, "I Am That Woman" 💜