On a quiet Saturday morning, you drop a piece of bread in the toaster, brew a cup of coffee and collapse into the most comfortable chair in your apartment. You have an entire weekend ahead—with plenty of time to run errands and visit family. But on this day, you lack motivation. And you feel uneasy.

Seeking inspiration, you make a list of places you want to go and people you want to see. But when you think about the errands you need to run, you’re reminded of your near-empty bank account. And when you think about visiting family, you’re reminded of your father’s battle with Alzheimer’s, which has worsened in recent months. With no reason to leave your chair, you grab a magazine, sip your coffee and make yourself more comfortable.

Have you been here before? No matter where you go, you simply cannot avoid the nagging pit in your stomach. And no matter what you do, you can’t help but feel consumed by your fear and anxiety.

In these moments, you can respond by seeking the Lord in prayer, just like the writer of Psalm 69: “Save me, O God! The water is up to my neck; I am sinking in deep mud, and there is no solid ground; I am out in deep water, and the waves are about to drown me” (69:1-2, GNTD).

These four prayers will get you started:

1. Lord, take my anxiety away.
   Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful to me, because I am lonely and weak. Relieve me of my worries and save me from all my troubles. - Psalm 25:16-17 (GNTD)
2. Lord, give me peace when I am distressed.
   Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. - John 14:27 (GNTD)
3. Lord, help me to feel your presence when I am afraid.
   Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me. - Psalm 23:4 (GNTD)
4. Lord, I put my trust in you, even when I am anxious.  
   This God—how perfect are his deeds, how dependable his words! He is like a shield for all who seek his protection. - 2 Samuel 22:31 (GNTD)