I don't know about you, but it only takes one look at my planner to lose perspective and peace. I want to be proactive but I also don't want to be a slave to my schedule. I don't have monumental answers to this struggle of stress, but what I do have I offer you: psalms of encouragement. The psalms teach us how to praise God, remember all He's done for us, and cry out with assurance that He's listening. That's where true peace is found: in thankfulness, remembrance, honesty, hope, and trust. Whether you are a believer or not, we all could use some reassuring that thankfully the world doesn't hinge on our ability to complete to-do lists.

I invite you to open up a Bible and read along!

1. "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." ( Psalm 9:9-10)

He has not left you, dear child of God. No matter how bad circumstances appear, trust that the Lord works beyond our limited vision. Haven't you ever been surprised by the outcome of a situation you thought would turn terrible?

2. "For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights." (Psalm 18:31-33)

Standing on the Rock brings the utmost security.

3. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7)

Some trust in bank accounts and some in successful achievements, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

4. "My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare." (Psalm 25:15)

The focus of our mindset determines how we see the world. Will we see hope or despair?

5. "I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:13-14)

Waiting is one of the hardest things to do. And hope is so difficult to sustain after disappointments. Who else besides me needs to cling to this verse? Let's use the long waiting process to our benefit instead of trying to rush through it to the results.

6. "I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul." (Psalm 31:7)

God sees our affliction. He is Immanuel, "God with us," the Word made flesh, so He feels our hurt along with us. Sometimes that assurance is worth more than theologically correct answers.

7. "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psalm 46:1-3)

He is strong, reliable, and ever-present. Therefore, we will not fear, though relationships crumble and job interviews fail, though the world seems full of evil and suffering, for He is our refuge.

Bookmark this article so you can turn to it in the good and bad days ahead!