Calm Your Anxious Heart: Three Verses to Fight the Fear at Three AM
My eyelids open. The sky is dark. My mind is awake.
“Not again,” I think as the time illuminates 3:00am and change. My heart and mind race as if there is a finish line, but I know how this goes. There is no ending point until I finally drift off again.
Sometimes I pull out my phone and write down spiraling thoughts, pressing to-do’s and creative ideas. The act of putting it down in writing should release the captive grip these thoughts maintain on my sleep. Most of the time I eventually feel the tension release, but for the times it continues to clasp tightly I use these prayers to return me to rest.
God, let your peace guard my heart and mind.
If you are like me, the darts of doubt can be all consuming at times. Never planned, these moments of wakefulness rattle my inner peace. Anxiety is never rational, but I still give some of my best energy attempting to reason my way through the what-if’s. I need a doorkeeper.
Let us remember that the peace of Christ not only fills us but guards us and even protects us.
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7 ESV
God, quiet me with your love.
In these moments of chaos, I recognize the necessity of a voice louder than mine, to interrupt and silence my inner dialogue. This verse has become a solace for me in moments of irrational panic and sleepless slumber alike. Let us remember that we can call upon God for help, but also for intervention.
He can and will be faithful to quiet our self-directed conversation and sing over us as a parent to a child.
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17
God, remind me that with you I dwell in safety.
How quickly I forget where my safety lies. So often I imagine I’m safer if I can predict the outcome or better yet, control it. If I’m prepared enough with a first aid kit in hand and responses rehearsed ahead of time, then I’ll be okay. But that is simply not true.
Let us remember the safest place we can be is in the presence of God. We can call to Him, draw near to Him, and lean on Him even in the middle of the night.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
Friend, during the interruptions of sleep or life, we can truly rest knowing He fights our unspoken battles, guards our restless minds, and sings peace over our anxious hearts.
May our thoughts be steadied as we learn to cling more tightly to His promises than our desire to solve it ourselves. And may we find rest.
Selah.