5 Smooth Stones for Battling Anxiety
David knew struggle. From facing Goliath to hiding in a cave from King Saul, his story is about a man who suffered greatly, experienced intense turmoil and anxiety, and remained true to God. Just as David picked up five smooths stones to fight Goliath, here are five weapons we can carry with us to battle anxiety.
Prayer. David recorded his prayers for us in the Psalms. He “But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen” (22:19-21). And “Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God” (38:15). One effect of fear and anxiety is that it creates loneliness. We tend to think, "No one understands what I'm facing" or "No one really cares." David countered this feeling by talking directly to God. Prayer wasn’t a ritual or discipline; instead, it was a lifeline.
Writing. David used writing and creating as positive coping mechanisms for dealing with difficult emotions. Most of his struggle was recorded in songs, poetry, and prayer. Many contain a prescription such as, “For the director of music. With stringed instruments." Have you ever wondered, “Why would he reveal such internal struggle for everyone to read and even sing about?” One reason is he wanted others to know what God had done for him. “They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it” (22:31)! He wanted us to hope in God.
Another implicit reason is that writing is a good tool to pick up when we’re struggling. When we put words to a page, we’re forced to actually identify and name things. Inside can be a mixed bag of frustration, anger, discouragement, disappointment, betrayal, and so on. Deciding to write about your experience, will force you to name how you’re feeling in the moment and give some amount of control over a helpless situation.
David did this through writing song. You might not be a composer, but maybe you write in a journal or letters. Whatever form it takes, the point is to get those emotions out onto a page. It is therapeutic.Honesty. People ask, “How are you doing?” Instead of hearing, “Okay. How are you?” imagine it they responded, “I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes (6:6-7). There’s truth in the saying, “You can’t heal what you won’t reveal.” Warning: don't be brutally honest with everyone. Some people can't be trusted with your feelings and emotions. Instead, find someone you can trust. This might even mean finding a good therapist.
Singing. Studies has shown the positive effects of singing, but in reality this is probably the most difficult task for someone struggling with uncontrollable anxiety and depression. Singing and music are important for managing anxiety, stress, and fear. David found ways to sing--even while hiding in a cave. "I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble" (142:1-2; cf. Ps. 57). David tried hard to praise God in the darkness. “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?…But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise; for he has been good to me” (13:1, 5-6). He could do this primarily because he also:
Remembered. “In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame” (22:4-5). David--indeed, all of Israel--were continually reminded of the goodness of God. We quickly we forget what God has done in our past when the present pain is so raw.
George Mueller kept a prayer journal with two columns.[2] On one side he wrote his request, along with the date. Across from it, he recorded when God answered. It wasn’t a diary, just simple requests, and answers. I learned from him how valuable this is when your faith is depleted. Following his example, I write down my requests, along with the dates. Then leave space underneath to record God’s answers. I record the requests in black ink, but the answers in red so they stand out. When my faith is weak, I thumb through to read the red ink. God’s answers to my prayers act like kindling to a low flame. When David looked back upon what God had already done, he knew God would continue to do the same in his future.