Turning to the Psalms to Ease Anxiety

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It’s Hurricane Season.

In South Louisiana, there’s always a tense feeling that rises up when we hear that a “Tropical Depression” is brewing.

But when we hear a Category 5 is headed near the gulf?

All the feelings and emotions from Hurricane Katrina begin flooding back in.

Anxiety. Fear. Insecurity.

The disaster the storm left behind was almost bigger in our hearts than in our city.

There was so much loss and destruction.

And today, we sit again anticipating a similar storm that may enter the gulf.

How do we handle it?

What do we do to ease the anxiety in the storms?

Not just the physical storms, but the storms of life?

A divorce. A loss of a loved one. A financial downturn.

How do we keep our heads above water when we feel like we are being pulled under?

We can turn to the Psalms.

This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to cling to this book of the Bible.

Just like many of us, David was a man who knew the anguish that comes in the storms of life.

But he also knew his God.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need to be reminded of who my God is.

When times get tough, the circumstances before me can seem big.

Almost bigger than God.

It reminds me of a story in Mark 4:37-40.

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

The disciples had been with Jesus for a while. They had seen miracles; they knew who He was.

He had just assured them that they were heading across to the other side.

However, when the storm came, they freaked out.

They had God in the flesh in the boat with them and they thought they were going to die.

I can’t say I blame them for feeling that way.

They catch us off guard and we momentarily forget that we have access to the Creator of all.

Much like the disciples, we need to be reminded of who is in control.

The Psalms are full of scriptures where David is reminding himself of who God is.

This week Dani from Free Indeed shared 7 of these Psalms. Each one takes us a step closer to the true character of who God is in the midst of our storms.

She states,

A common thread in the psalms is that God is near, ready to act on our behalf according to His glorious will. We only have to call upon Him.

I completely agree.

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