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15-Minute Quiet Time for Anxiety: Finding Peace in Psalm 23

 Anxiety has a way of wrapping itself around your chest and whispering that everything is spinning out of control. When you are in that state, even the thought of sitting down to "have a quiet time" can feel overwhelming.


But what if, instead of adding one more thing to your to-do list, those 15 minutes became the place where you could actually breathe again?


This post walks you through a practical 15-minute quiet time designed specifically for moments of anxiety, using Psalm 23 as your anchor. If you are new to the 15-minute quiet time structure, you can read the full framework in our first post: 15-Minute Quiet Time Workflow with ScriptureSide.


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### Why Psalm 23 for anxiety?


Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known passages in Scripture, and for good reason. It is short, deeply comforting, and presents a picture of God as a shepherd who leads, protects, and provides.


When anxiety tells you that you are alone and exposed, Psalm 23 gently reminds you:

- The Lord is your shepherd

- You lack nothing

- Even in dark valleys, He is with you


This psalm does not deny the presence of danger or difficulty. Instead, it anchors your heart in the reality of God's steady, loving presence in the middle of it all.


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### A 15-minute quiet time structure for anxiety


Here is how you can use the 15-minute framework with Psalm 23 when anxiety feels heavy.


#### Minutes 1–3: Settle your body and invite God in


Anxiety often lives in the body as much as the mind. Before you even open Scripture, take a few deep breaths.


- Breathe in slowly for 4 counts, hold for 4, breathe out for 6

- Do this 3–4 times

- Then pray something simple like:

  "Lord, I feel anxious right now. I invite You into this moment. Please quiet my heart with Your Word."


You are not trying to "fix" the anxiety in these first few minutes. You are simply making space for God to meet you in it.


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#### Minutes 4–7: Read Psalm 23 slowly, twice


Open Psalm 23 and read it once, slowly. Then read it again.


As you read the second time, pay attention to:

- Which verse makes you pause?

- Which image stands out? (green pastures, still waters, the valley, the table, the oil, the cup)

- Is there a phrase that feels especially comforting or especially hard to believe right now?


Do not rush to analyze. Just let the words settle.


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#### Minutes 8–11: Ask a few gentle questions


Now, choose 1–2 of these questions to reflect on:


- What does it mean that "the Lord is my shepherd" in this specific situation I am anxious about?

- Where in my life right now do I need to trust that "I shall not want"?

- What would it look like to let God lead me "beside still waters" today, even if just for a few minutes?

- In verse 4, David says "I will fear no evil, for You are with me." What would change if I truly believed God is with me in this anxiety?


Write down a sentence or two in response. Do not worry about making it sound profound. Just be honest.


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#### Minutes 12–15: Respond and pray


Finish by writing down:

- One truth from Psalm 23 that you want to hold onto today (example: "God is with me, even when I feel afraid")

- One small, concrete step you can take in the next few hours to trust that truth (example: "When I feel my chest tighten, I will pause and whisper 'The Lord is my shepherd'")


Then close with a short prayer:

"Lord, thank You that You do not leave me alone in my anxiety. Help me trust that You are leading me, even when I cannot see the path clearly. Amen."


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### Using ScriptureSide for anxiety-focused quiet times


If you find it helpful to have a digital space for this kind of reflective work, ScriptureSide can support your anxiety-focused quiet time in a few ways:


- Open Psalm 23 inside ScriptureSide and read it in a distraction-free environment

- Use the note area to write down your responses to the reflection questions above

- Save your "one truth" and "one small step" so you can return to them later in the day when anxiety rises again

- Over time, you will build a record of how God has met you in anxious moments through His Word


You can start a quiet time for anxiety right now at: https://www.scriptureside.app


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### A closing thought


Anxiety often makes us feel like we need to do something big and urgent to fix everything. But sometimes, the most counter-cultural and healing thing you can do is to sit down for 15 minutes, open Psalm 23, and let God remind you:


You are seen.

You are held.

You are not alone.


If you try this 15-minute quiet time for anxiety, I would love to hear how it went. Feel free to share in the comments: Which verse in Psalm 23 spoke to you most clearly today?

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