I love to read the way in which frazzled and depressed King David settles himself down in Psalm 13. He feels forgotten, scared, lonely, and unseen. He feels mistreated. He chooses to remember true things in this moment. He writes:
“But I will 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.”
Years ago, in the margin of my Bible, I wrote to myself: Settle down! Just like David knew how to calm himself with the truth of God’s unfailing love (unfailing!!!), His salvation (we’re saved!!!), and goodness (so good!!!), I know how to diminish the reactive emotions and stir up the truth.
So untrue things stay settled while I rouse up the truth!