The Bible says that we “should be anxious for nothing”, but you know how life is. Some times are easier to “NOT WORRY” than others. Where do I turn during those “harder” times? It’s the book I love! I’ve found some terrific Psalms for anxiety and depression. As I write this, so much is going on and I’m turning to the Psalms often.
But, all this shall pass and God’s Word will stand forever.
Still, it can be hard, can’t it?
Don’t worry. I’m going to share how I deal with these hard times from a practical “real life” vantage point, but first, I’ll share a few Psalms that help me so much.
First of my favorite Psalms for anxiety And depression
I love Psalm 5. No matter what is transpiring, I can find myself in this Psalm. It seems to fit whether I’m having trouble with a person, a group of people or, even a system.
Check it out. I highlighted in my “real Bible.”
Listen to my words, Lord,
consider my lament.
2 Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.
5 The arrogant cannot stand
in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
6 you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
you, Lord, detest.
7 But I, by your great love,
can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
toward your holy temple.
8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make your way straight before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongues they tell lies.
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield. So, praise God for the below Psalm to remind us that when we slip into anxiety, God is the perfect comfort for our weary and hurting souls.
Here’s another Psalm for the heavy spirit…
“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”
Psalms 94:19 (NASV)
This week, this scripture is my anchor. I pray it also gives you peace and comfort too.
Anxious thoughts … and good reasons for them.
I don’t know about you, but lately, I have really been struggling with uneasy thoughts as the world gets more and more complex every single day.
In regards to the civil unrest, the world has always been hateful and biased. That’s not new. It’s just that more of it is being caught on camera. Being filmed makes it real...to all of us.
Hey, I’ve talked about it before.
I’ve written several posts on racism and how it has affected me both in and outside of Christian circles. However, it seems that the world has recently become unexpectedly turned on it’s ear.
Peaceful protests are POWERFULLY effective and go a very long way to ensure the American people are heard.
But, everything is unfolding so quickly. Each day presents an unfamiliar territory to experience, hear, and conquer. To make matters worse, all this started with the death of innocent people of color. It’s all so heartbreaking and tragic.
Enter anxious thoughts…
Like most people, distressing thoughts haunt the corners of my mind.
What if it never changes
What if my friends are racists
What if churches become even more divided.
All these thoughts and more trouble me day in and day out. It produces fear, anger, and sadness. I hate feeling this way. The stress has felt overwhelming from time to time. I feel like a walking mass of grief, sadness, and sorrow …it’s a lot.
You gotta turn off the television!
To make matters absolutely worse, I have been glued to the television and news stations almost nonstop.
It’s a good idea and a bad idea.
It’s good to stay up to date on what is going on in these troubled times, but it’s also a bad approach because the current state of affairs is so sad and disturbing.
Too much news makes for sleepless nights and stressful days.
My Solution and what I’m doing to manage my anxious thoughts.
Christian Woman, first and foremost, I have to turn off the television.
While there are beautiful updates featuring unity and optimistic advancements, there’s more to be sad about. I think that’s what the news does intentionally, don’t you? It always promotes bad things. I think people tuned in to watch that sort of content more than the positive stuff. Maybe that is why they air the sensation more than the positive.
In any regard, I have to monitor how much television I watch unless I become fixated on the negative happenings.
Also, Christian Sister, I have to focus on the positive. Since every day brings more and more bad news, I must mentally balance things out in my head.
Here’s what I do: I concentrate on the good – either in my own life or in the movement for equality.
Let the negative people be … well, negative.
Have you noticed how cynical people tend to respond to positive remarks as it pertains to racial progress?
In my life, the “doomsayers” always say something like “it won’t get better” or “that’s how ‘they’ are.”
It gets on my nerves a little. No, it gets on my nerves a lot.
Hmmmm…maybe they aren’t negative all the time. Maybe it’s the pain and grieving that’s has made them feel a sense of hopelessness I don’t know. Whatever their issue, I cannot let it affect me.
Again, it helps me to accentuate the positive regardless of how cliche or “corny” it sounds. I intentionally try to celebrate every, single incremental step, or else I will get stuck in the muckety-muck of despair. Do you know what I mean?
It’s hard to shake this depression and anxiety.
Normally I handled “hard stuff” rather well. I have a system: I just cast those cares on the Lord!
Not so much lately, thought.
Recently, I wake up and I’m heavy-spirited before my feet hit the ground.
About that time, I remind myself it’s okay.
It’s okay to feel “blah” sometimes because the world is not normal right now.
It’s also okay because people are suffering. I’m affected. There is nothing wrong with feeling “affected.” Yeah, that’s how I handle myself.
To be clear……
I’m not talking about becoming depressed, although that is a temptation.
It’s also important to tell you I’m not talking about clinical depression, but I mean the melancholy that ensues as we go through hard times like this. All I know is if I allow myself to stay negative I will definitely end up right there – in a season of depression.
The best reminder and Psalms for anxiety and depression
The most effective remedy for my anxious spirit is … JESUS!
It helps me SO MUCH to remember that God is all-powerful and always present in my hard times.
Furthermore, it helps me to remember He can stop anything He does not want to happen. He’s still sovereign.
Check out Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Here is a link to Psalm 46 in The Message translation!
Oh yeah. God is in charge. Rest assured, He’s got everything covered. It reminds me that He is ultimately in control and my life is not in the hands of men.
Recap…
That’s why I’m trying to monitor what I put into my mind and my spirit these days.
Along the same lines, I celebrate the small steps leading to the desired outcome. I can’t ever forget everything that has happened was filtered through God’s sovereignty. God is ultimately in control of EVERYTHING!
I pray and read my Bible too. Psalms are so soothing.
Each of the steps I just mentioned is necessary to navigate this season.
There you have it: 1) Psalms for anxiety and depression and 2) how I’m handling the strains of life. Hope it encourages you.
Do you do to handle anxiety, Christian Lady? Also, did you like my Psalms for anxiety and depression? Do you have a favorite Psalms?
