10 Verses to Easily Calm an Anxious Spirit (Psalm 111-117)
When worry threatens to overtake you, what, where, or whom do you turn to? It is common to default to our natural impulses. Some believe the Bible says you are not to ever feel anxious, but it’s a common emotion so how does that work when even David testified in various Psalms or the anxiety and turmoil he was experiencing? These 10 verses are highlighted to point you to the Biblical example of calming an anxious spirit.
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Anxious spirit…
While no one truly wants to live life with an anxious spirit, recognizing it and addressing it can help immensely. Be real with yourself, your struggles, your emotions, and the root of the anxiety.
While not everyone fits these broad examples, oftentimes we can see the deepest root of our problem when we analyze them Biblically.
- One who is anxious about losing their job or quitting for moral reasons, may be ultimately questioning if God will provide a new one or that if He chooses not to, then that a season of hardship is on the way.
- A person may worry about how they are going to pay their bills, but ultimately their worry is whether or not God cares about their situation.
- Sometimes, a move is on the horizon without a new home picked out, but will God get the timing right to provide it when we need it?
There are countless reasons for an anxious spirit and if that’s you, keep breaking it down until you get to your faith.
Faith…
Faith is an often overlooked connection piece from living in an anxious state to living with trust. Similar to temptation, having an anxious moment happens to the best of us, but it is what we do with it that counts.
Will you live in that anxiety, brooding it and encouraging it’s growth? Or will you step back, recognize that you’re feeling that way for a reason, and put your mind on things above? Will it make your earthly problem go away? No. But it will put your heart in a place to recognize that the God who made EVERY single thing and person on this earth cares for you!
This may not come as second-nature to you, but more of a practiced discipline and that is okay!
We would do well to take a page from David’s book. He often feared for his life and learned to turn his anxious thoughts toward a Heavenly mindset.
My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!
Psalm 57:4-7
A motto that should hold fast to every area in our lives… why not grab a daily reminder to boast of Our King!
Where is your focus…
Psalms 111-116 (some scholars include 117 also) are coined as the Hallelujah Psalms. Consider Psalm 111 with your own Davidic mindset toward tribulations and trials.
Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Psalm 111
No matter what…
The path we walk holds similarities, but is uniquely ours. What one may struggle with, another may have been granted comfort. That can serve as a great reminder that although it may be tempting to think “If they had my problem, they would…”, it can soften our hearts to realize their path holds different trials that we may know nothing about.
Our trials are meant for a deeper purpose than merely enduring through them. They give us the opportunity to step forward and live out our heart’s desire, that God would teach us and grow us so we are more like Christ. This is not an easy process, often not a fast one either. A challenge to our status quo can rock us or bolt us to the Rock. The choice is yours!
Consider…
David’s heart was steadfast in the midst of trials, he felt anxious, but his anxiety did not control him or cause him to lose focus. I mean, c’mon, he even sang melodies when fleeing from Saul. How much better or an example could we have to imitate with this mindset he shows us here?
The prior 7 Psalms taught us to see God everywhere and these 7 Psalms offer practical application for praising the God who is everywhere.
So consider the greatness of our God, it is He who will sustain us and grow us.
Attributes…
While being constantly reminded through nature to always see God, let it remind us of His ultimate authority, sovereignty, and overall greatness. Think through the attributes listed in Psalm 111:
- He is full of splendor and majesty is His work;
- His righteousness endures forever;
- He has caused His wondrous works to be remembered;
- He is gracious and merciful;
- He provides food for those who fear Him;
- He remembers His covenant;
- He has shown His people the power of His works;
- He gave them the inheritance of the nations;
- His work is faithful and just;
- His precepts are trustworthy and established forever;
- He sent redemption;
- He commanded His covenant forever;
- And even His name is holy and awesome!
The world doesn’t hold a candle to the magnificence of the God we serve!
Contrast to the world…
So let’s consider what the world serves as master.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
Psalm 115:4-8
To whom do you serve? A worthless idol or God Almighty? The world does not hear, does not smell, does not feel, do not walk, and are mute… they are a representation of the god(s) they serve.
Our lives represent the God we serve, of whom we are also made in His image. We are a likeness of Him (though fallen, yes), but of ones striving to be more like Him!
A steadfast spirit…
A steadfast spirit is one guided by Truth that only a sovereign God can provide. Let our minds be open to these truths so we can move forward when facing an anxious heart to be granted wisdom to learn from these seasons.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Psalm 111:10
May your anxious spirit be transformed through your fear and reverence of the Lord into a steadfast spirit like David!
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Steadfast is such a great word, and I fall so short on a day to day basis… Gos is gracious.
I needed this today. Thank you.
Thank you for hosting! In today’s crazy world we definitely need to know how to give all of our anxieties to Jesus because he cares for us!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I needed to hear this blessed lesson today. Blessings.
~Selah ~
So needed. Thank you for this.