Psalms To Get You Through It!

Sometimes I find myself overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, and feeling lost. I feel as though I don’t know what to do about life in general, and somehow fall into past regrets and mistakes. I talk down on myself and tell myself “I’m not good enough” or “I should’ve done this, or I should’ve done that”. Well should’ve, could’ve, would’ve! It’s in the past, and so it cannot be changed. I have no control over it. What I DO have control over, is how I respond. And sometimes I need to respond by reading my word and reminding myself that I serve a God that promises to rescue me out of my own anxieties…out of my own mind. No matter how far I’ve gone into the trenches, or how many negative things I’ve spoken over myself, God is there. God sees, hears, feels, and knows. He is the almighty Alpha and Omega, and there is nothing impossible for Him!

So here are some Psalms I read when I’m feeling overwhelmed, and even numb. They are Psalm 23-30, a group that focuses on the salvation and comfort of God when His people cry out. The scriptures remind me that God is going to get me through everything, no matter how big or how small. I hope you also find encouragement in them as well!

PSALMS 23-30

Psalm 23 is self-explanatory I think! The whole chapter is a reminder that God is our Good Shepherd, and Jesus is always ready to help and rescue us.

• My favorite verse is v.4: “For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (NKJV). It’s nice to remember that God is always with us, and Jesus is and always will be our comforter, along with the Holy Spirit (John 14:16).

Psalm 24: 3-5 “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness form the God of his salvation.”

• This verse reminds me that if I keep my integrity and resist the harsh words to myself, that I will receive salvation from God.

Psalm 25:2, and 20-21: “O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me.” “Keep my soul and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.”

• These verses remind us that when we trust and listen to God, we are His. And God has promised to never let his people be destroyed. The verses also help to remind God of His promise, and to strengthen our faith in His Word.

Psalm 26:1, and 11-12: “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip.” “But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me. My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the Lord.”

• These verses again remind me to continue to obey the Lord and trust His will. When we trust in God, our ways are set, and we have a firm foundation in Him (Matt. 7:24)

Psalm 27:8-9, and 14: “When you said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.” “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait I say, on the Lord.” 

• These verses remind us to seek the Lord at all times (Isaiah 55:6) and to cry out for Him. He hears our cries always, and he will never leave us nor forsake us. When we wait on the Lord, we are trusting Him to work, and not trusting ourselves. Only in the hope of the Lord do we find true strength to continue on.

Psalm 28:1-2: “To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: do not be silent to me, lest if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.”

• The beginning of this chapter is a cry out to God when we are at our lowest. I often say to myself “God, if I don’t have you, I don’t have anything. And if you reject me, then I might as well be lost.” We can do nothing without God, and we must be so desperate for God that nothing else matters.

Psalm 29:10-11: “The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.”

• These verses remind us that God is the King forever and ever. He was at the beginning, and He is at the end. He is the Supreme Creator and is worthy of all our praise. He is faithful to His people, and will give us peace always.

Psalm 30:1-5, and 11: “I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. O Lord, you brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.”

• These verses are so powerful, because they help us to give praise to God when we don’t feel like it. The promise that although we cry and feel as if everything is over, the morning comes, and we are greeted with God’s beautiful presence. God’s mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23) and we have a new chance to give Him the glory and trust in His works.

Remember that God is with you. He sees you, and he understands EXACTLY what you’re going through. You are NOT alone. God is with you, and He tells you, right in the Psalms!

-Sherry Amor