When Anxiety Rises: A Psalm 34 Devotional on Trusting God

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
— Psalm 34:4-8 NKJV

Psalm 34 Devotional for Anxiety: God Delivers

This Psalm 34 devotional reminds us that when anxiety rises, we can seek the Lord and trust in God to meet us with peace, help, and deliverance. David gives a threefold witness of what the Lord does for His people: God saves, He keeps, and He satisfies. David knew what it was like to feel fear before the trouble had fully unfolded, yet he regularly sought the Lord, and God delivered him from his fears. When he cried out to God, the Lord answered him and rescued him from the troubles around him. In Psalm 31:13, David said, “For I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side; while they take counsel together against me, they scheme to take away my life.”

Do you experience anxiety? Then, look to the Lord, for surely God will rescue you. Looking to the Lord is the same as seeking the Lord. When anxiety rises in your heart, remember that looking to Him by faith brings reward (Hebrews 11:6). Then He shines on us and blesses us. The Lord truly saves those who earnestly seek Him in faith.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”
— Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV

However, when we walk in doubt and unbelief, we become ashamed. But when we walk by faith, trusting in God and His promises, the Lord keeps us from things that would otherwise destroy us. And when we spend time with Him in prayer, the glory of God causes us to glow. People around us know that we have been with the Lord because our faces radiate His joy and peace, even when anxiety rises within us.

Trusting God for Protection and Peace

After the Lord saves us, He keeps us from evil spirits that plan to harm us by sending His holy angels to protect us (Genesis 48:16). And when anxiety rises, He sends ministering angels to strengthen us. In the Old Testament, the Angel of the Lord is Jesus, the Lord of the hosts of heaven’s angels (Exodus 14:19). Today, angels are ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14). Angels minister to us in ways we will never know until we get to heaven.

Seek the Lord today, for we are like sheep in need of a shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. Discover that our God not only saves and keeps us but also satisfies us. Indeed, the way the Lord saves us helps us appreciate His endless goodness. Psalm 34:8 invites us to “taste” the Lord. When we taste, we feed. When we taste the Lord, we feed on Him through His Word. Feeding on the Word of God helps us experience God’s goodness, especially when anxiety rises in life.

God always blesses us when He delivers us. He blesses us even more when He protects us after He delivers us. But we receive the greatest blessing when we draw near to God and enjoy His presence, and not just His gifts.

Today, bless the Lord, for He saves, protects, and satisfies His people. Indeed, the Lord is our Savior in unparalleled times of need.