If I’m being honest, there are times when I go to Scripture as a last resort. I hate to even say that, because deep down I know the truth. God’s Word is living and breathing. It is healing. It gives strength.
But still, I often try to work things out in my own power first when overwhelm sets in. I press, plan, and push until I’m exhausted. (Anyone else?) Then, when I’ve finally reached the end of myself, I remember: the strength I can tap into through Scripture and through a living God is so much more than anything I could ever muster on my best day.
That’s why the psalms for strength have become my refuge lately. They remind me that I was never meant to carry all the things on my own, and that I can operate through the strength of my God. While originally written as songs, I see the psalms as a collection of raw, real prayers. They’re words that rise from the depths of human struggle and point our hearts back to the One who strengthens us.
Here are four psalms to cling to when you need this reminder as well.
1. Psalm 3: The Shield That Surrounds You
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Psalm 3:3–4
Have you ever had a moment when you literally begged God to be your shield? When it felt like proverbial arrows were flying from every direction … relationships straining, plans crumbling, and nothing seemed to be going right?
That’s the space David was in when he wrote this psalm. His own son had turned against him. He was surrounded by betrayal, grief, and fear. And yet in that moment, he didn’t numb out—he cried out. He turned to God for help.
He acknowledged God as his shield and then he went on to say in verse 5, “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.”
Don’t you want that assurance and ability to rest in the Lord? To know that even though the battles may still come, He’s got you covered. God Himself can stand between you and what’s trying to take you out.
When you’re tempted to let your head hang and stare at all that’s gone wrong in you and around you, He’s the one who lifts your chin and reminds you to look up to Him. He’s truly the lifter of my head.
2. Psalm 27: The Light That Drives Out Fear
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Fear has a way of shrinking our world. It whispers worst-case scenarios and steals our confidence. But Psalm 27 reminds us that our very salvation comes from the Lord and He is our stronghold.
When I find myself worrying about what’s next or trying to control what I can’t, I come back to this truth: the One who holds the future also holds me.
You can pray this psalm aloud when anxiety rises or uncertainty clouds your thoughts. Let its rhythm reset your heart: “The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
3. Psalm 46: The Refuge That Holds Firm
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
If you’re searching for psalms for strength, this one might become your anchor. Psalm 46 doesn’t say that life will be calm. It says that even when the earth shakes and the waters roar, God remains unmoved.
He is our refuge and our safe place to run to. And He’s not a distant helper. Verse 1 says He is “a very present help in trouble.” Right here. Right now. Even in the moment you’re reading this, He is near. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
When chaos overwhelms, take a deep breath and remember: you don’t have to fix everything. You can rest in the One who holds all things together.
4. Psalm 121: The Keeper Who Never Sleeps
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1–2
This psalm is a gentle reminder that even when you feel forgotten and help seems nowhere to be found, God has not left you. Your help doesn’t come from circumstances improving or people coming through for you. Your help comes from the Lord, the One who made heaven and earth. Let that truth settle deep in your heart!
He’s the same God who spoke galaxies into being and still sees you. He’s watching, keeping, and sustaining you even now. From the very beginning, He has had His eye on you. When you lift your gaze toward Him, you’re not hoping into thin air. You’re anchoring your faith in the Creator who never sleeps and never slips.
Sometimes, that’s all we can do: lift our eyes off our worries, off the noise, off the weight of what we can’t control. We lift our eyes up toward the One who helps.
How to Use These Psalms for Strength
If you’ve been in a season where your strength is running out, don’t lose hope. These psalms for strength are more than ancient poetry. They’re promises.
Here are a few ways to use them to renew you:
- Read one psalm each morning before your day begins.
- Pray its words back to God when you feel overwhelmed.
- Memorize one verse that speaks to your current struggle.
- Pause at the word “Selah” and simply breathe in His presence.
Allow the words of the psalms to bring you deep peace. And don’t let God’s Word be your backup plan or last resort but instead the starting place to tap into a strength that can only come from Him and His Word.
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3
He is strong enough for you today.
Looking for Even More Encouragement from Scripture?
If you’re leaning on God for strength today, you’re not alone and we can help. Here at Esther Press, we have many articles, devotionals, and Christian women’s books to help you grow in courageous faith no matter what you’re facing today. Keep filling your heart with His truth through these related articles:
- 10 Inspiring Bible Quotes about Courage and Strength in Hard Times
- 5 Scripture-Based Prayers for Strength
- A Woman’s Prayer for Strength is a Powerful Thing
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