Jimbo's Jots

“I cry to the Lord; I call and call to him. Oh, that he would listen. I am in deep trouble and I need his help so much. All night long I pray, lifting my hands to heaven, pleading. There can be no joy for me until he acts. I think of God and moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. I cannot sleep until you act. I am too distressed even to pray!” (Psalm 77:1-4, The Living Bible)

This Psalm was part of my Bible reading for today (Thursday). Reading through the Psalms as part of my daily reading plan has opened my eyes to how much David may have struggled with anxiety and mood disorders. Over a third of the Psalms are lament Psalms. Out of David’s darkness and sadness came out songs of despair and praise. As I was reading through this Psalm, I couldn’t help but think about how anxious of the world we live in.

Even before the pandemic of 2020, one study related to adolescents stated that the percentage of 12-18 years diagnosis of anxiety or mood disorders increased by 52% between 2005-2017. I have seen an increase of new clients over the past year, not just children and adolescents.

When I was a kid growing up in central Illinois, I hated storms. The weather man would come on and say there was anything related to TORNADO, my stomach would start churning. It could be two counties over, but still TORNADO!! Sometimes, my anxiety would “expel” itself by . . . well, think Jonah coming out of the whale.

People handle the anxiety of the “storms” of life differently. Some will internalize their anxiety so that no one will ever know. Sometimes this works, other times, it can backfire. Some just don’t know how to manage their anxiety and over this past year, the anxious soul has turned to counselors/therapists for guidance.

Some, like David, have found an outlet for their anxiety. With David, he was able to look inside himself and really ask some deep questions of God and how he saw God working in his life. BUT, he never stayed there.

“You have redeemed us who are the sons of Jacob and of Joseph by your might. When the Red Sea saw you, how it feared! It trembled to its depths! The clouds poured down their rain, the thunder rolled and crackled in the sky. Your lightning flashed. There was thunder in the whirlwind; the lightning lighted up the world! The earth trembled and shook..” (77:15-18, The Living Bible)

When David felt the storm, he saw God in the storm. When we have those moments of the anxious storms rising inside of us, look for God in the storm. Look to see how God is working in the storm. And trust when he says, “Peace, be still.”

May you find blessings in your storms! Be a blessing to others in their storms!