My brain scrambled to form a sentence, but couldn’t find any words that fit together.
Blue. Frog. Toast. Marble. Pepsi.
Nothing made sense, and I was certain I was experiencing some sort of stroke. The room tilted and white spots peppered my eyes. Air slithered slowly from my lungs while my hands and legs shook like a puppy hiding from fireworks.
Before the panic attack gripped me, I wasn’t feeling anxious or worried. I felt invincible. Powerful. I ticked off at least twenty items from my to-do list before noon and was ready for more. Except I wasn’t.
Overwhelmed and tired, my body fought against my will and knocked me still for a few minutes.
The nonsense words traded places with three words:
Hold. Me. Jesus.
The melody of that sweet Rich Mullins hymn washed over me, and I repeated those words until the rhythm of my heart slowed.
Hold me, Jesus, because I’m shaking like a leaf. You have been King of my glory, won’t you be my Prince of Peace.
I haven’t experienced many panic attacks, but when they do occur, I’ve learned that the best way to fight them is with peace. Telling myself not to worry is the same as putting one more thing on my to-do list. In the middle of an anxiety attack I need to fill my mind with basic truth that soothes. I’ve found that song lyrics like the ones above and short Scripture verses about God’s power to be most edifying when I struggle.
Here are three easy-to-remember Scripture verses that I find helpful when life’s demands spin me upside down.
“Your Word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” {Psalm 119:89, NIV}
When everything around me shakes, I find hope in remembering that God and His Word are firm. Always. God is strong. God is forever. God is my father.
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” {Jeremiah 29:11, NLT}
This verse reminds me that there is more for me that what I’m experiencing right now. God has plans and they are good and filled with hope.
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.” {Isaiah 41:10, NLT }
Often, anxiety gets a hold on me when I think I can handle everything on my own and then realize that I cannot. Knowing that God is with me always quiets my soul.
What about you? Which verses best calms you during moments of anxiety?
(The situation I shared above was an isolated incident. If you are experiencing frequent panic attacks or struggle with anxiety, depression, or intrusive thoughts on a regular basis, please reach out to your pastor, doctor, or a counselor. You are not alone)
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Angela,
I do have an anxiety disorder and when life gets stressful and overwhelming and then the anxiety kicks in on top of it…it can be downright tortuous. I am feeling a lot of that right now with this setback after surgery. I’m sure you’ll not find it coincidence that I have been carrying around Isaiah 41:10 with me as comfort. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I know it by heart, but it helps me to focus by reading the words. I love the other verses as well, and will think on these things…God’s truth.
With thanks and blessings,
Bev xx
Hi Bev, I’m a panic disorder survivor. I found the verse Phil 4:8 helps me. To stay positive and to journal my problems, put them on paper, do something physical with them and then give them to God.
Blessings, Christy Mobley
Thanks Christy…xx
Thank you for sharing, Christy.
Bev, Thank you so much for sharing Isaiah 41:10 in its entirety here as your go-to verse for panic attacks.Not a coincidence at all. 🙂 I struggled with an anxiety disorder daily as part of my postpartum mood disorder and I am so sorry that you are experiencing it presently. My prayers are with you.
By God’s grace, doing better today. Thanks for your sweet words and prayers! xx
How can I thank you enough for this devo? It is amazing to me how God continues to provide exactly what I need at the exact moment I need it. I am a teacher and mom, back to school last week and trying to balance all the demands of family and career, along with school worries for my three kids. Didn’t sleep well last night. This is just what I needed to hear and the tools I can use in the days ahead. Replacing “Don’t worry” on my to-do list with scripture and praise songs. Ahhhhh…..brilliant! God bless.
Oh Sarah, I’m so glad that you found encouragement here today. Blessings to you.
“Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
AND
“Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
These two scriptures help me ride out the episodes of negative thought bombardment. I seek Him for help and grace to hold thoughts captive and He hears me. Then I’m reminded His word is truth and I can bank on it!
Miriam — I love how you referred to anxiety as “negative though bombardment.” So true! And thank you for sharing truth from Numbers and Psalms.
Many times, I get anxious because I’m not seeing a situation clearly or I’m fretting about something that hasn’t even happened yet. In these cases, praying Psalm 43:3 calms me and helps me focus on what’s real: “Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.”
“Send light and truth …” perfect words to help your focus stay on what is real. Thank you for sharing.
Dear Angela,
I too have anxiety disorders as well as depression and PTSD! They are all three less active than they use to be for I have returned to my first Love which is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! But sometimes I find my self experiencing paninc attacks so sever I find myself wanting to crawl under the sheets and sleep it all away. I hear that still small voice telling me that what I’m feeling has been delt with already and that I need to “Submit myself therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from me!” James 4:7
I’ve had myself under the impression for years that since it was hard for me to remember my studies in school that I could never memorize scripture! God showed me otherwise! I’ve been saved for 29 years come September the 30th and am just now learning how to memorize scripture! I’ve learned fourteen so far in just the last month! My favorites so far are Isaiah 25:1; Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27; Luke 10:19; and 2 Corinthians 12:9-10! I thank you for the one you shared, for they will be of great help to me! I’ve put at the top of my list of verses to memorize next!
Thanks,
Clifton Williamson
Thank you so much for sharing, Clifton. Praising God for His work in your life!
Angela,
Thank you for this! Anxiety is a joy and peace stealer for sure! Satan tries to use it to suck the life out of me regularly (and sometimes succeeds).
Thank you for reminding us that God’s Word has power to sustain us in times of fear, panic, and anxiety. Thank you also for acknowledging that anxiety can be a chronic illness that requires medical attention. So many live captive to it and don’t have to.
There are 2 verses that I like to turn to
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”
and
John 8:32
“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”
Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Place my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart. In me you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11 28-30.
Matthew 28:20 …and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4, I agree with Miriam, God does not lie, but that wicked one does. He will tell you any lie to stop you from receiving God’s best, healing, deliverance, protection. He worms his way in through the cares of the world. So cast your care on Jesus and rest in Him. Memorizing verses is great, but read it over and over, post in on the fridge, in the car, and most of all speak it! God will hear you! And if you can, pray in tongues as much as you need to, it refreshes you. It is a powerful gift, one, I was once afraid of, but now could not do without. It is His perfect will, and He will help deal with your past, present and future, the traumatic and the mundane. He loves us, God bless.
Thank you very much for your post. I have struggled with anxiety a lot over the past year due to thyroid/hormone imbalances and I’ve found this verse in Philippians to be very comforting for me, I pray a lot when anxiety comes on it has helped me a lot.
Philippians 4: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I’m still fighting a 28 yr.old battle with panic, anxiety disorder and depression. As I have gotten older, I have had some agoraphobia develop so that I am unable to leace the house without my husband. In times of great panic and despair or when my entire emotional system is shutting down, it is always difficult for me to remember scripture verses, even short ones. My thought is always Jesus’ voice promising, “I will not abandon you.” Those few words are enough to make a knot at the end of my rope and He gives my hands the strength to hold on.
Angela,
Thank you for a great, thoughtful, open and honest post! People often think oh, you’re a Christian so you don’t have any problems. Wrong!! I believe we have more problems because as we mature in Christ and read the Bible daily the evil one works overtime to stop all that and to confuse us! I don’t have “panic” attacks as such. Last year I had so much stress with my aging dad moving into assisted living, his many medial issues that landed him in ER 4 times. Add to that I dreaded my job and certain co-workers and my hubby was about to lose his job. I run to Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:6.
I told my hubby that God has never forsaken him and always allowed him to keep his job. Let’s just pray about all this and see the hand of God work miracles. He did!!! My hubby was able to go back to hospital (CT) (ER) and work. God then lead him to another position out of the hospital and closer to home. Fearing another job loss he found work at another hospital-still within the same company. God is Great Always Faithful!! As for me I was able to quit my job this year and be more available for my dad. Good thing as we had to put him on hospice two weeks after I quit. Now he is doing well and I can be there for my in-laws! GOD IS FAITHFUL!!
Blessings to everyone!!
One that is close to my heart is: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal. 5:1) ~ He didn’t redeem me so that I could live in bondage to fear and anxiety. He actually purposed for me to live in freedom when he set me “free.” Love Him. <3
Angela, Panic Attacks used to be a huge part of my life. Every day I thank God that His peace, strength, and mercy has delivered me from it’s paralyzing grip. Thank-you for this post. There are so many who suffer, and do not know what to do about it. Bless you!