Psalm 94:19 - Anxious Thoughts (Devotions)

Psalm 94:19 (NASB95) When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.

Psalm 94 is called an "imprecatory psalm." That's a fancy word that means, "a prayer against one's enemy's.' The psalmist asks God to crush enemies who would crush the weak and defenseless.

But there are many types of enemies: 
Debts erode finances.
Grievances break relationships.
Wrong-doing destroys harmony with God.
Illness attacks one's health.
And as Paul puts it, "the last enemy to be destroyed is death itself" (1 Corinthians 15:26, NASB)

Each new day brings new to worries. There is always gossip or news reports: friendless information to eat away at one's soul. Even when we shut off those outside reminders, one's own mind can be relentless, coming up with new anxieties.

God's response is "I will comfort you ...as a mother comforts her child." (Isaiah 66:13, New Living Translation) God doesn't hand us a dose of medicine and say, "There you go, swallow this and you'll feel better." No, God gives us Himself -- like a mother who takes her child in her arms, wipes away their tears, and hugs them until they are calm. 

That kind of consolation turns worries into joy.

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
  Leaning on the everlasting arms!
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
  Leaning on the everlasting arms!
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
  Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
  Leaning on the everlasting arms!
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
  Leaning on the everlasting arms!
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
  Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
                          -Elisha A. Hoffman (Stanzas 1 & 3)

"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, 
May Your consolations delight my soul." Amen