Psalms for Anxiety

Two to start with: comfort when your thoughts multiply, and an invitation to let God search them. Some of the best psalms for anxiety are this short.

In the multitude of my thoughts within me, your comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:19

Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24

Lord, my thoughts are crowding in again. You see every one of them, even the ones I’m embarrassed by. Search me and know what’s underneath. Let Your comfort reach the places worry has taken over. Lead me out of this spiral, one step at a time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David didn’t hide it: pain, terror, trembling. Psalms about anxiety start with honesty.

My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me. Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me. Psalm 55:4-5

Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

God, I don’t have to pretend with You. My heart is pounding, and I’m scared. David told You exactly how he felt, so I will too. Then I’ll do what he did and hand You the weight. Hold me up when my legs won’t. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Depression in the psalms sounds like real life: “How long?” and “Why are you in despair, my soul?”

How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me? Psalm 13:1-2

Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:11

Lord, I relate to these psalms more than I want to. How long will this heaviness last? I talk to my own soul the way David did: hope in God. I don’t feel it yet, but I’m choosing it. Stay with me through the long days. Lift my head when You know it’s time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Out of the pit, onto a rock. For days when anxiety and depression come together.

I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh. Psalm 40:1-3

God, some days I’m anxious and low at the same time, and I feel stuck in the mud. I’m waiting for You, even if not very patiently. Pull me up. Set my feet somewhere solid. And when You do, give me a new song, so I can tell someone else what You did. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Whom shall I fear?” and “When I am afraid, I will trust you.” Psalms about fear and anxiety, the bold kind and the shaky kind.

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4

Lord, some days I can say “whom shall I fear?” and mean it. Today isn’t one of them. Today I’m afraid. So I’ll pray the line for shaky days: I’m afraid, and I’m trusting You anyway. You are my light, even when I can’t see. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For a mind that won’t switch off: a psalm for peace of mind, and one about a quieted soul.

In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety. Psalm 4:8

Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2

Lord, I want a quiet mind. Not an empty one, a quiet one. Still me like a child who has stopped fussing and is resting against You. Let me lie down tonight and actually sleep, because You keep me safe. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Don’t fret.” Psalms for worry, especially the kind that compares.

Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing. Psalm 37:7-8

God, I keep fretting about money, about the future, about people who seem to be doing better than me. You tell me to rest and wait. Help me stop rehearsing the worst case. Teach me to wait for You without the knot in my stomach. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When your spirit is overwhelmed. Psalms to pray when you feel overwhelmed, and calming psalms for a stressful day.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me. Psalm 142:3

In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears. Psalm 18:6

Lord, I’m overwhelmed. Too much to do, too many people needing something. But You know my path even when I can’t think straight. I’m calling out to You from the middle of it. Hear me. Calm me. Show me the one next thing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Psalms about sadness, for nights when you cried yourself to sleep.

I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears. Psalm 6:6

Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief. Psalm 31:9

God, I’m worn out from crying. Like David, I’ve soaked my pillow. I don’t need answers tonight. I need You to see me. Have mercy on me. Hold the grief I can’t carry, and let me rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The words Jesus prayed on the cross, and the darkest psalm in the Bible. Psalms for when you feel hopeless.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; in the night season, and am not silent. Psalm 22:1-2

Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you. Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry. Psalm 88:1-2

Lord, I feel forsaken. I’ve cried out, and it seems like You’re silent. Jesus prayed these same words, so I know I can pray them too. I’m still talking to You, the God of my salvation. That has to mean something. Don’t let go of me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

God doesn’t sleep. A psalm for reassurance at 3 a.m.

He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:3-4

I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8

Lord, it helps to know You don’t sleep. While I lie awake, You’re awake too, keeping watch. I’m setting You in front of me tonight. You’re right beside me, so I won’t be shaken. Let me rest, because You never have to. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Before the news and the messages.

Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you. Psalm 143:8

Good morning, Lord. Let me hear about Your love first thing today, before the news and the messages. I trust You. Show me the way to walk today, and help me walk it calmly. In Jesus’ name, amen.