Trusting God When Anxiety Starts to Take Over (Psalm 34)

Evening Scripture

Psalm 34
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Evening Reflection

Our town erupts in the summertime, and the shoreline lights up with fireworks on the 4th of July. It's a stunning sight to see from the water, as the entire town puts on its own fireworks show. But for my sweet doggo, every pop causes her to shake in anxious fear. Fireworks don't have the same effect on me, but anxious thoughts sure do. I can feel the uneasiness grow as each one pops into my mind, explodes, and spreads like a firework bursting in the sky.

Praising the Lord immediately begins to relieve my anxiety. Verse 1 in the NLT translation reads, “I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.” It’s hard for me to concentrate on things momentarily, let alone at all times or constantly. But when I choose to consciously bring my thoughts back to who God is and repeat his rich truth over my life, my worries begin to fade. Just as soon as I start to drift again, into the worn-out worry tracks of my mind, the anxiety persists. It takes constant effort and prayer for me to wade through days when I feel deeply drenched in worry.

This is different from diagnosed anxiety, which requires professional steps to battle. I know. I’ve been down that road, too. But often times, I am simply overwhelmed with everything I have set before me for the day. When what I really need to do is focus on what the Lord has set before me …and no more. It’s a difficult task, but we aren’t left to our own devices to conquer it. We have encouragement from God’s Word, as in this Psalm we are meditating on this evening.

Reading through Psalm 34 line by line and meditating on the rich reminders in its verses calms our weary, worried hearts. It takes effort. “Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” (v14b) Whether with our own state or in our relationships, peace takes the partnership of our effort and the Holy Spirit’s strength to accomplish in our lives. The result is refuge.

Evening Prayer

Father,
I praise you! Anything and everything good in my life is all because of you, and meant to bring glory to you. I seek you, and you hear me. I know you are good because your character's words are written all over my story. Help me to seek peace, and pursue it. Adjust my perspective when it’s smudged by the worries of this world. Remind me of your closeness. Bring the truth of your Word to my mind, and cement it into my heart. I know what it feels like to be blindsided and betrayed, hurt and alone. But you have never failed to be the refuge I need to regain the strength required to keep stepping out into this world in faith … I love you, Lord. Help me to love the people you place in my life. Thank you for protecting me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

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