5 Psalms to Pray When You are Feeling Sad

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Psalms and prayers to help you take your burdens to God when you are feeling sad. It's a blessing that He wants us to honestly take everything to Him in prayer ... trusting that He will help and strengthen us. #EmotionalHealth #Sadness #Prayer #Psalms #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #PrayerforStrength #PrayerforPeace #FeelingDown

I want to be totally honest with you today. Okay, let me rephrase that because I’m honest with you every day…

I guess what I’m going to do today is make myself a little more vulnerable because I want you to know that like you, I struggle.

I have battled fear, worry, anxiety, and general sadness off and on for much of my life. I have BIG emotions. BIG HAPPINESS and sometimes BIG SADNESS!

Maybe you’re a BIG emotions person, too.

Even if you’re not a person who wears your emotions out there for everyone to see – you still feel life and at times those feelings are going to be sad. It’s inevitable. Everyone has times when their current difficult circumstances or past painful memories are enough to bury their joy and happiness under a pile of junk!

But this is the thing…

By God’s grace, we aren’t alone. God welcomes you and me into His throne room through prayer—not only when we’re praising Him with gratitude and joy but when we’re approaching Him with heavy hearts full of sadness.

I love that David and the other writers of the Psalms consistently tell us how about the blessing of taking everything to God in prayer – even our sadness.

  • Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. (Psalm 55:17)
  • Give your burdens to the Lord. (Psalm 55:22)
  • I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. (Psalm 61:2)
  • The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (Psalm 9:9)
  • He has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned His back on them but has listened to their cries for help. (Psalm 22:24)

If your heart is heavy today, weighted with a burden of sadness … if you’re feeling sad, please join me as I go to God asking for His covering of comfort, strength, peace, and love…

5 Psalms to Pray When You are Feeling Sad

Psalms and prayers to help you take your burdens to God when you are feeling sad. It's a blessing that He wants us to honestly take everything to Him in prayer. #EmotionalHealth #Sadness #Prayer #Psalms #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 34:18

Father, My heart hurts today. I’m not even sure why exactly. Past problems and pain gnaw at my heart. My worries about the future agitate and unsettle me. And today, well today has had plenty of its own problems. So, I’m run to You … clinging to the promise that You are close to the brokenhearted.

I know all sin breaks Your heart. My sin, other people’s sin, and the sin and decay that affects Your beautiful creation. Yet You promise to rescue those who come to You in repentance. Through Jesus, You rescue and heal me when I am crushed by the sadness of sin.

Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for holding me close when I’m feeling sad.

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name.

How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!

Psalm 147:3–5

Father, Creator of all, You know the exact number of stars in the universe and call each one by name. Your Word says You know me, everything about me … even the number of hairs on my head. (Matthew 10:30)

You care about the condition of my heart … You know my thoughts when I’m happy and even when I’m sad. Thank you for understanding me even better than I understand myself. Thank you for caring … for loving me, holding me, and healing me by You mercy and grace.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    You are still with me!

Psalm 139:17–18

What an awesome and amazing thought, Lord. You have limitless loving thoughts about me. You call me Your precious child. And You promise to be with me. Thank you!

Please hold me close, Lord. My sadness feels like a heavy weight. You said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) I need that rest today! I need Your help to carry this sadness.

Thank you, for all the times You have helped me and given me Your peace and strength in the past. I am clinging to Your promises and bringing You my burden of sadness today.

I love you, Lord; You are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.

Psalm 18:1–2

Father, I love You! Thank you for helping me by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank you for reminding me to pause and remember the ways You have faithfully been my strength, my savior, and my protector.

Thank you for reminding me that I can run to You, my place of safety, even when my emotions fall far short of happiness and joy. You know my thoughts and feelings and invite me to honestly and openly talk about them with You. Thank you for loving me the way I am and thank you for loving me so much You want Your very best for me.

I believe Your best for me today, is that I lay my sadness at Your throne of grace trusting You to give me everything I need that I might rise up with the strength and power only You can give.

You changed my sorrow into dancing.
    You took away my clothes of sadness,
    and clothed me in happiness.
I will sing to You and not be silent.
    Lord, my God, I will praise You forever.

Psalm 30:11–12

And I believe, Father, that You are changing my sadness into joy and that You are clothing me with future happiness. Because I am secure in You. Although, my happiness and even my sadness come and go … You remain the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I trust that You have collected my tears in a bottle and recorded each one in Your book. (Psalm 56:8) You know my past and You see into my glorious future. A future I am promised because of Your gift of love—because of Jesus.

So, I will thank and praise You today. I will focus on my past and current blessings. By Your grace and with Your help, I will praise You forever and always. In Jesus, name. Amen.

Psalms and prayers to help you take your burdens to God when you are feeling sad. It's a blessing that He wants us to honestly take everything to Him in prayer ... trusting that He will help and strengthen us. #EmotionalHealth #Sadness #Prayer #Psalms #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #PrayerforStrength #PrayerforPeace #FeelingDown

I can’t tell you how often I’ve had to walk through the process of surrendering my sadness at the throne of grace … how often the Lord has held me close and given me His strength when I cried out to Him in prayer.

But there is something important you need to know…

I have also had times when my sadness was deep and lasting … times when I began to question if I was going to carry its weight for the rest of my life.

That’s when…

I got help!

I didn’t try to fight the battle alone. Besides praying, I was honest with the people who love me. I talked to my doctor and I went to a Christian counselor.

God often uses other people to help us carry our burdens.

So, if you’re starting to feel a sense of hopelessness in your sadness … please seek help.

One of the things I love about our Heavenly Father is that He doesn’t waste our pain.

Your feelings. This experience. And those God uses to help you may all be the very things He will use to help you help someone else.

I’m asking God to hold you close and comfort you with His blessings of comfort, strength, peace, and joy!

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19 Comments

  1. Hiram Moore says:

    Hello Deb thank you for your encouraging post and Godly wisdom, I’m a man torn up by my divorce, I tried so hard to save my marriage but it still ended in divorce being a man it seems like that I’m weak for wanting someone who doesn’t want me, I prayed, prayed and prayed, I’m okay but at times I weep, so please pray for God to heal me and to bless my ex-wife. I still love her even though she has moved on,it really hurts when you give your all and it still wasn’t good enough.

    1. I’m so sorry, Hiram. I think the pain of feeling rejected is one of life’s greatest hurts. I’m praying for you and asking God to be your Comforter and the Healer of your heart. He has healed my broken heart … I believe He will heal yours as well. God be with you!

  2. Diane D Krause says:

    Wonderful write Deb…I too, am overcome with sadness…for past, present and now future life and family and relationship dynamics. Why oh why…but then why not me? God is with me. I love Him so. I love His Word. It is always comforting and empowering. I am so blessed to be a Child of our Lord and Savior…so in Him, I seek comfort, discernment, peace, healing and peace despite it all. I know Satan is always at work. Thank you for much for your blog. Each and everyone really is so very helpful!

    1. What a beautiful attitude, Diane! I believe that is right where God wants us to be. Even when our circumstances are difficult, we have everything we need through His all-sufficient grace. I am so very thankful that when I throw my hands in the air feeling like I just can’t deal with the junk any longer … the Lord finds me and reminds me of His loving provision. I’m learning, with His help, to keep my eyes focused on the Lord in the midst of the junk. It’s a slow process but thankfully one filled with grace, mercy, and love. Thanks for your kind encouragement. God bless you!

  3. Oh, Deb, I can’t begin to tell you how these words of wisdom, grace and peace consoled my heart as I read. Just learned that my daughter and her husband are considering a huge move for the opportunity of a better job. This means that my proximity to my grands will be limited. My heart is breaking right now, and I have been praying that God will hold me close, prosper them, and keep us all under His loving care. I know that change is inevitable, but I must confess, this is the change I do not like. May the Lord give me the grace to accept what happens, and continue to love.
    Blessings!

    1. I’m sorry, Martha! Those kinds of changes are hard. I know how close you are to your children and granddaughters. I’m stopping to pray for you all this morning and asking God to bless you as He works in your lives for His glory! God bless you, my friend!

  4. Lisa patterson says:

    Deb, god is always on time every time. I am sitting st the nursing home with my elderly mother. She is declining and my heart is so heavy. These words were just what I needed this morning.

    1. I am so sorry, Lisa! It’s hard watching those who have nurtured and taken care of us decline in health. I am praying for you and for your mom! Asking God to hold you close and fill you with His comfort and peace. Thanks for your kind encouragement! God bless you!

  5. Julie Sanchez says:

    Thank you for being a blessing. Your words are so encouraging and full of hope. May God bless you always.

    1. Oh, Julie, thank you! Your encouragement is truly a blessing. I am so thankful to be able to do what I do each day. I love sharing my story and the ways God is working in my life. He is so gracious and good! God bless you!

  6. The psalms in the heart of the bible for the heart of man (and woman.) God is into big emotions and into you!

    1. You’re so sweet! His love is overwhelming! I love your explanation of the Psalms. It’s perfect! The heart of the Bible for our hearts! Amen! God’s blessings, my friend!

  7. God is so faithful to lay before me that which I need at the moment. Thank you, Deb, for being faithful to Him. Since before the holidays, the depth of my sorrow grew and grew this year. Since January began, I can see the uplifting He is doing in my spirit. I am getting better with each day. Thank you for being a part of this.

    1. Linda, I’m so glad this blessed you. You went through so much last year, I’m there were parts of the holidays that were very hard. I’m praying for you and thanking the Lord for the ways He works in and through you! God bless you!

  8. The Psalms are such a comfort for the hard places in life. I’m not exempt and even now I’m being encouraged.
    This post felt like a warm hug!

    1. Oh, thank you, Nylse! I love the Psalms … especially when I need comfort and strength. Blessings!