The Mood Mender

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19

As I waited at the train station for my weekly commute, negative thoughts crowded my mind like commuters lining up to board a train – stress over debt, unkind remarks said to me, helplessness in the face of a recent injustice done to a family member. By the time the train arrived, I was in a terrible mood.

On the train, another thought came to mind: write a note to God, giving Him my lament. Soon after I finished pouring out my complaints in my journal, I pulled out my phone and listened to the praise songs in my library. Before I knew it, my bad mood had completely changed.

Little did I know that I was following a pattern set by the writer of Psalm 94. The psalmist first poured out his complaints: “Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. . . . Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?” (Psalm 94:2, 16.) He didn’t hold anything back as he talked to God about injustice done to widows and orphans. Once he’d made his lament to God, the psalm transitioned into praise: “But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge” (V. 22).

God invites us to take our laments to Him. He can turn our fear, sadness, and helplessness into praise. Linda Washington

Lord, I pour out my heart to You. Take my hurts and my anger.

and grant me Your peace.

Praise has the power to lighten our heaviest burden.