Overthinking is Stealing Your Peace—Here’s How to Take It Back for Good

Have you ever felt stuck in your own head? Your thoughts spiral out of control—questioning every decision, analysing every outcome, replaying every mistake?

Well, my friend you’re not alone. So many of us struggle in this way. It is called overthinking and it is stealing your peace and joy, preventing you from fully flowing in Christ.

Personally, I’ve lived in the land of overthinking longer than I care to admit—and worse still, I didn’t even know it was a thing! 

Reflecting back, I remember when I first gave my life to Christ. I had so many doubts.

"What if I fail? What if I can’t live up to it? What if God gives up on me?"

But then one day, someone who had been sharing about Jesus with me for some time finally asked,

"What’s stopping you from accepting Jesus today?"

Something clicked... Yeah, what was stopping me?

When I shared all my doubts, my friend graciously answered each one, showing me how they were lies based on a misconception of God. They countered each lie with the truth. I didn’t realise it at the time, but my overthinking was keeping me from the very thing I longed for—freedom in Christ and a life without fear.

That night, in the quiet of my bedroom, I prayed the simplest yet most life-changing prayer:

"Jesus, I choose You. Fill my mind with You… I want You in my life."

And just like that, the weight lifted. The victim mindset, the frustration, the fear—it all began to fade. I felt peace. I felt joy. And I knew I was His.

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Recognition is key

Jennie Allen, in her book Get Out of Your Head, talks about the spirals we fall into when our minds run unchecked. She describes how small, seemingly harmless thoughts can turn into deep-rooted beliefs that shape our actions and, ultimately, our lives:

“Assumptions such as ‘If people knew how badly I’d failed, they’d never love me’ and ‘My worth comes from my ability to be perfect’ lead to emotions like frustration, inadequacy, and shame. Those emotions form beliefs: ‘I’ll never be good enough.’ ‘I’ll never be accepted.’”

Those beliefs then shape our actions—we hide, we become numb in emotions and feelings, and may even put up barriers or avoid situations to protect ourselves from being hurt. Over time, these patterns can easily become our lifestyle.

The key is recognising that overthinking is not just an innocent habit—it’s a battle for your mind and thoughts. Paul highlights this in Romans 12:2:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

The enemy knows that if he can trap us in our thoughts, he can stop us from stepping into our calling and fulfilling God's will. That’s why Paul continually tells us to take action—to change, renew, walk, or put on something new.

Today, for me, overthinking occasionally tries to creep in—especially with social media.

"What if I say it wrong? What if no one cares? What if I mess up?"

I hear people say, “Just post!” But I resist. Fear holds me back.

Then, in prayer, I hear God gently ask me:

"What are you afraid of?"

Again, what am I afraid of? Failure? Rejection?

But when I finally surrender my thoughts to God, I recognise that He is not asking me to have the perfect post, the perfect plan, or the perfect strategy. He is simply asking me to be obedient.

To trust Him.

To step out in faith, even when my thoughts are saying otherwise.

This is where I learn to take my thoughts and submit them to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 

The step of faith and obedience is when we give our thoughts to God and allow Him to do so much more than we can possibly imagine. This is where God’s glory can be shown.

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From stuck to freedom

The good news? We don’t have to stay stuck in overthinking.

God’s Word is amazing—it always provides a strategy on how best to navigate life. It calls us to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) so that we can discern His perfect will, reminding us that wisdom is freely given (James 1:5-8) to those who ask—but warns that a double-minded person, torn between God and the world, will struggle to stand firm or hear from God. Instead of being consumed by worry, we are urged to bring everything to God in prayer, trusting that His peace will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-7) beyond what we can comprehend. In short, if we don’t intentionally fill our minds with God’s truth and adopt the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), the world and all its distractions will fill it for us, enticing us to conform to its standards.

So, here are five simple steps to help you break free from overthinking and move forward in freedom.:

1. Recognise the Lies

Identify the thoughts that are keeping you stuck. Write them down. Are they rooted in fear, preventing you from starting or continuing something?

2. Repent & Receive God’s Forgiveness

It’s easy to feel guilty for even thinking this way as a Christian—I understand that struggle. But Christ died to wipe the slate clean. To ‘repent’ doesn’t just mean feeling sorry; it means changing the way we think—turning from one mindset to another, often the complete opposite. Romans 12:1-2 calls us to renew our minds, transforming our thoughts to align with God’s truth. Through prayer, we can surrender these thoughts to Him, receive His forgiveness, and walk in His grace and peace.

3. Replace the Lies with Truth

Speak Scripture over your life. Find verses that can help you focus on the truth. Meditate on verses like Colossians 3:1-2 or Philippians 4:8—whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, praiseworthy, excellent, and admirable.

4. Take a Step of Faith

Do the thing God is asking you to do, even if you feel afraid. Trust that He will meet you in your obedience.

5. Put on Your Armour

“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armour of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:10-11

I started the Holy Armour Collection as a tangible reminder that even though we may be in a battle—we are equipped.

So, when I put on a Holy Armour cap, representing the helmet of salvation, I am reminded that my identity is secure in Christ. It serves as a protective guard for my mind, helping me stand firm in truth.

So today, remember this:

We serve a God who has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

You are not trapped. You are not powerless.

With God, you can break free from anything that is holding you back and walk in the freedom He has for you.

💪🏽 PUT ON YOUR HOLY ARMOUR & STAND FIRM!

I pray this encourages someone today.

What’s an area in your life where overthinking has held you back?

Share in the comments—I’d love to pray for you!