From Panic to Praise: A 5-Day Devotional From the PsalmsНамуна

Turn Your Panic into Praise

I remember lying in bed one night long ago, unable to sleep. Fear and worry were strangling me once again. I was on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. I wanted to trust God, I just couldn’t figure out how. I felt guilty for being worried and that only led to more worry. Ever been there?

Life can hurl at us the unexpected and leave us shaken to the core.

The psalmist King David wrote Psalm 3 when he was on the run from his son Absalom. His own son wanted to kill him! Can you imagine? David, poured out his heart to the Lord lamenting about the danger he faced. But then, David shifted his focus and made this glorious declaration about the Lord being his shield. David declared that he would not fear because He knew the Lord would sustain him. David turned His panic into praise.

The apostle Paul also talked about how to handle anxiety and fear. He wrote in his letter to the Philippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). Paul then goes on to tell us to shift our thinking to what’s true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). Stop for a moment and think. Who has all those characteristics? God does. 

The next time anxiety threatens to overwhelm you turn your panic into praise. Immediately begin praising God for every one of His characteristics. Here’s the thing, fear and praise can't co-exist in your brain. As you praise God for His faithfulness and goodness, He Himself will be a shield around your mind and give you peace. 

Selah – Pause and Reflect: Through the Psalms, you will notice the word, “Selah.” Some scholars believe this means pause and reflect. What reminders do you have of God’s faithfulness in the past that might prompt you to trust Him today?

Pray

Lord, the next time panic threatens to overwhelm me, help me turn my panic into praise. Remind me that you are with me. I take the shield of Your faithfulness to guard my thinking today.

 This devotional is adapted from Psalms for the Anxious Heart by Becky Harling.