I can still remember it like it was yesterday. My husband was at work, our girls were at school, and I was sitting on the couch staring out the window, reeling over the last couple of months, trying to come to grips with the sudden and unexpected death of my precious momma.
In an instant, the grey walls began closing in, and this lump slowly formed in the back of my throat, prompting a hot sting of tears. Then came a wave of heat, which washed over my body, causing me to break out into a sweat.
Next thing you know, I was finding it difficult to breathe. That of course caused panic, triggering my heart to beat right out of my chest.
Essentially, grief had landed me in a very messy state and a heap on the floor, fully believing I was having a heart attack. It was honestly one of the scariest moments of my life.
Wish I could say that was a turning point and that I was able to gather myself and work through my grief, but that wasn’t the case. Being prone to anxiety, which has led me to depression in the past, unfortunately, this moment was a starting point for an ugly downward spiral.
That day was not good! Not to mention, the deceiver was loud and tried so hard to claim victory. Yet, through it all, something prompted me to pray.
Honestly, that flailing and clumsy prayer was far from perfect, but it allowed me just enough strength to pull myself together, get a glass of water, and calm my rapidly beating heart.
From that day, it was a daily surrender to prayer because the enemy’s attacks continued to be brutal and were meticulously strategic.
Dear friend, if you are riding the turbulent waves of anxiety or in the deep and murky sea of depression, my heart breaks with yours. While I do not personally know what you are going through, I can attest that you are not alone.
Better yet, I can assure you that God not only is with you, but He goes before you (Deuteronomy 31:8). Thankfully, we serve a God that meets us exactly where we are — hurt, pain, grief, and all.
So, let’s find some calm in your storm and seek the One that can provide you sustainable peace (2 Thessalonians 3:16), and cast out the lies. Below are some go-to prayers and scriptures from the Book of Psalms to lean on when the all-too-familiar wave of heat strikes.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust (Psalm 91:1-2).
Good and Gracious God, I come to You in a place of uncertainty. My life doesn’t seem to make sense right now, and questions flood my heart. I come to You in my time of need. I desperately need You.
I need Your help. You are my hope and source of healing. You are my rest and hiding place from the storms I am currently facing. O God, please help me place my trust in You and know that Your plan for my life is indeed good.
Thank You for Your love and comfort, mercy and grace, and abundance of patience with me. You are a kind and gracious Father. Amen.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).
Faithful Father, You tell us in The Word that You long for the very nature of our heart (Proverbs 23:26), but as You well know, my heart is aching and misleading me at the moment. I ask that You please shield me from the fray.
Protect me from the darkness that surrounds me. Please stand beside me and go before me, leading the way, Lord.
Please forgive me when my heart flounders and becomes weak, bending and swaying to the ways of my flesh for false peace and comfort. Help me look to You and find refuge in You when my heart is weary. I love You, Lord. Amen.
Hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught (Psalm 55:2).
Dear Lord Jesus, I long to be transformed and renewed. I know that begins with my thoughts. While I want to put my old self away and be the person You created me to be, full of truth and light, I sadly fall into disillusionment and so often feed into the lies of the enemy.
So, God, I first ask for Your forgiveness when I fall short, entertain those destructive thoughts, and surrender myself to You.
I seek Your power that comes in the form of the Holy Spirit. Help lead, guide, direct, and transform my mind. Let me ponder on what is true, good, pure, and right. I ask this in Your precious Name. Amen.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3).
O Lord, I am so grateful that You are not only our source of hope but our ultimate healer. Not only does my heart ache and my mind struggles with faulty thoughts, but my body is tired, run-down, and in need of repair.
This anxiety and depression have led to physical suffrage, and so I humbly submit to You and seek Your mighty hand to restore me.
Please show me areas in my life in which I can create time to tend to this temple (body) You have so graciously given me. I yearn to care for it and do good work in Your name. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Amen.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3).
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears (Psalms 34:4).
Heavenly Father, when the tidal waves of depression wash over and consume me, it is so easy to feel overwhelmed and full of despair. This is where fear loves to creep in and stake a claim over me, striving to gain victory.
I need Your warmth and peace when my thoughts get out of control and take me down destructive paths that harm my soul.
As I lift my heart up to You today, I earnestly seek Your face. I ask that You break any strongholds that are trying to control me so that I can place my trust in Your faithfulness and unfailing promises. Amen.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalms 51:10).
Almighty God, the heavy weight of anxiety and depression are all-consuming and affect so many aspects of my life. I seldom find relief and can feel so alone in this trying time. It is a battle for my heart, mind, body, and soul which can lead me to places that feel hopeless.
Lord, I can sometimes feel as if I am drowning, easily forgetting that You have a plan and purpose for my life. So, I humbly ask that You provide me with a way to release this burden as I lay it all at Your feet.
I give it all to You and am so very thankful that Your yoke is easy, and Your burden is light (Matthew 11:28-20). I ask for rest. I ask for peace. I ask for so much more of You and less of me. I ask this all in Your Holy Name. Amen.
He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever - holy and awesome is his name (Psalm 111:9).
Father God, I’ve landed here again, in the pits of despair. My heart is heavy, and my mind is swirling with things I know to my core are not true, yet I listen to them all, and my soul is downright worn out. Yet, You are so faithful.
Your mercy is new each and every day. Your grace covers me. I want so badly to feel Your love. The calm, the peace, the freedom. But I am tainted and tormented by my past and sinful choices. My flesh is weak, and I have compromised who I know I am through You.
Lord, please forgive me where I have failed You. All the times, I have fallen short and looked for an easy out. Lord, console me and wrap me in Your presence today.
I seek Your face. I long to get right with You. I want to abide in You. I need You. Please forgive me. Lord, I love You. Amen.
Dear friend, when the waves of depression become too much to bear, the best thing we can do is pause and pray. If you can’t find the words, or these prayers don’t seem to fit what you are trying to say, then read Psalm 91.
Not only that, but read it aloud. There is so much power in our prayers, and when we declare them out loud, those words can penetrate deep into the wounds within our souls. It also causes the enemy to go silent and shutter at the sound of Your cries of help to our mighty Savior.
May God draw close to you in this time of need and remind you that you are so very special to Him and that as long as you have breath, He isn’t done with you yet! Hold on and hold tightly to Him.
For further reading:
5 Sneaky Lies Your Anxiety Tells You Are True
7 Ways You Are Letting Anxiety Control Your Day
Is God with Us in Our Depression?
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Finn Hackshaw