“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalm 94:19, NIV)

We have all experienced moments or seasons of anxiety. The psalmist is no stranger to this. In today’s scripture, he describes his anxiety as “great within me,” highlighting the internal nature of fear and worry, how they can consume our inner world, our thoughts, and emotions.

But he also gives us a powerful testimony of God’s consolation. Consolation, in this context, can refer to comfort, solace, or the alleviation of grief or disappointment. The psalmist experienced this divine consolation amidst his anxious thoughts, and it was powerful enough to bring him joy.

Fear and worry have a way of clouding our vision, isolating us, and creating a sense of despair. But the psalmist’s words remind us that there is an antidote to this. God’s consolation does not necessarily remove the source of our anxiety, but it can change our experience of it. It reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles, that God sees and understands our plight, and that His comfort is powerful enough to bring joy amidst adversity.

The source of this joy is not necessarily the resolution of our problems, but the presence of God. It’s about having a sense of God’s love, compassion, and faithfulness, and knowing that He walks alongside us in our journey. It is the deep, profound joy that comes from knowing that the Creator of the universe cares for us intimately.

God’s consolation does not promise an easy life, but it does promise us a renewed perspective and emotional resilience. It shifts our focus from the enormity of our fears to the vastness of God’s love and comfort. When anxiety wells up within us, may we, like the psalmist, find joy in God’s consolation.

Wonder in the Word

Can you recall a time when you experienced God’s consolation amidst anxiety? How did that change your perspective or experience of the situation?