Psalms for Worry, Anxiety, and Anguish

Psalm 55

Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide from my pleading; hear me and answer me.

My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and rouse their fury against me.

My heart is in anguish within me, the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.

And I said, “Who can give me wings to fly away and be at rest? Look, I am fleeing away to the faraway, I will dwell in the desert.”

I hasten to escape before the storm and tempest.

Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never allow the just to stumble.

Psalm 77

I cry aloud to God, cry aloud to God that he may hear me. In the day of my distress I sought the Lord. My hands were raised at night without ceasing; my soul refused to be consoled.

I remembered my God and I groaned, I pondered and my spirit fainted. You withheld sleep from my eyes. I was troubled, I could not speak. I thought of the days of long ago and remembered the years long past.

At night I mused within my heart. I pondered and my spirit questioned: “Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he show us his favor no more?”

Has his love vanished forever? Has his promise come to an end? Does God forget his mercy or in anger withhold his compassion?

I said: This is what causes my grief; that the way of the Most High has changed. I remember the deeds of the Lord, I remember your wonders of old.

I muse on all your works and ponder your mighty deeds.Psalm 6

O Lord, do not reprove me in your anger; punish me not in your rage. Have mercy on me, Lord, I have no strength; Lord, heal me, my body is racked.

My soul is racked with pain. But you, O Lord… how long? Return, Lord, rescue my soul. Save me in your merciful love.

For in death no one remembers you; from the grave, who can give you praise?

I am exhausted with my groaning; every night I drench my pillow with tears, I bedew my bed with weeping. My eye wastes away with grief; I have grown old surrounded by my foes.

Leave me, all who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will accept my prayer.

All my foes will retire in confusion, foiled and suddenly confounded.