When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” (Ps 56:3)

I’m honestly really battling anxiety. Putting on positive for others, holding their anxieties, loving, caring. As a teacher, wife, parent, friend, sister, daughter. But my chronic illnesses make me understandably afraid to be around people. I have no idea what the future holds. I can’t make any plans…at all. That all makes me desperately anxious.

Absorbing Psalm 56, words David wrote to battle his understandable fears become my own as he prays for rescue and help. But David’s words take typical turnarounds into praise interruptions as he begs God for help. His words fill my musician’s heart with songs.

Will you praise Him with me, in your battle?

It’s so logical. 

This I know, that God is for me” (Ps 56:9b).

Yes! For a believer, in Christ,

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31b).

I know You are for me. 

“In God, whose word I praise” (Ps 56:4a, 10a).

God, Elohim, Creator, King, Judge, Savior, filled with grace, compassion, faithfulness, power, majesty, we praise You for who You are. Yes! We praise You for Your word, what You say to help us battle. You know our anxiety (v. 8) and You know this battle is real.

In the LORD, whose word I praise” (Ps. 56:10b).

The Lord, JehovahYahweh, I AM. You were, You are, You always will be. You are sovereign, infinite, eternal. Yes! We praise You for who You are, never-changing and over all things.

An offering of praise

So we can praise Him, we really can, even feeling anxious. So we WILL praise Him, as an offering, as a sacrifice in the battle. In fact, we must (Ps. 56:12). It’s so logical. We need to move past the prayer for help into praise. Why? How?

In Jesus Christ

For You have delivered my soul from death…that I may walk before God in the light of life” (v. 13).

In Jesus Christ, we are eternally alive with You! You have rescued and delivered us already. You ARE the light of the world, You ARE the Word (Jn. 8:12; Jn. 1:1-5). 

Praise interruptions

Bursting into praise, in the anxiety. Like David, we know again who You are and what You have done and will do. Here come the songs! Deep assurance, once again. Therefore, we can and will praise You, in the midst of fear. 

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine…

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine… Heir of salvation (Gal. 4:7), purchase of God (Gal. 4:5), born of His Spirit (I Pet. 1:23), washed in His blood (Col 1:14)! 

This is my story, this is my song! Praising my Savior, all the day long!

It’s so logical. All day long…

Interrupt anxiety with praise.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” (Ps 56:3).

We CAN put trust in Him through praise, through the Word, bubbling over in song. 

What songs on your playlist infuse Scripture into your heart?

What Scriptures become your praise interruptions today as you battle anxiety?

Comment below and let’s encourage one another!


4 Comments

Rachel · April 24, 2020 at 1:20 pm

God has been speaking to me so much through His Word! One passage that has really spoken to my trembling heart is 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” My love is fickle, my heart constantly wandering. This verse points to Christ and HIS perfect love- His perfect love casts out my fear, not my own attempts! Come to Me, He says, and I will give you rest. True soul rest! Praise Jesus for what He’s done!

    Lauri Hogle · April 24, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    Praising Him with you! I love the true soul rest, the inward tranquility that Jesus gives even in the midst of the heavy-laden, the burden, the fear. It’s utterly amazing, isn’t it? I wrote a thing on that earlier in the week, as a matter of fact – stay tuned! The original Greek language there is very special!

Jacquelynne McClelland · April 28, 2020 at 12:20 pm

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy!” Psalm 94:19 Praying your heart is at peace in the strength of God during this trying time.

    Lauri Hogle · April 28, 2020 at 1:00 pm

    What a beautiful Scripture! His consolation, His comfort, His commiseration, His help for believers. He understands, He knows, and He comforts us. Thank you for sharing with all of us!

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