When darkness closes in and the clutches of anxiety and worry grip our hearts, covering ourselves with God’s steadfast promises can lead us through the dark tunnel to the light of complete trust in the Lord.
Finances. Loss of loved ones. Raising children. Day-to-day tasks. Seemingly insurmountable obstacles. There are so many things to be anxious about these days. The worry can overwhelm and suffocate us.
As Christians, however, we do not have to face anxiety alone because we have the promises of God!
Some of these scriptures about anxiety have been my mantras for letting go and letting God. It was crippling anxiety about life crossroads during my senior year of high school that led me to seriously pursue a relationship with God for the first time. While I wish my anxiety disappeared with my conversion experience, overcoming my anxious thoughts has been a constant battle over the last two decades.
I want to share these Bible verses for anxiety in hopes you can meditate on them and give your worries to the Lord, letting him shoulder the burden for you. Because God cares for us, we can allow him to take away our fear and replace it with rest and peace.
Bible Verses for Anxiety and Worry
We should cast out cares and anxiety on the Lord rather than bear the burden ourselves. He cares for us, even in the little things.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” -1 Peter 5:6-7
”Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” -Hebrews 12:1-2
God is sovereign and is bigger than our worries! He will never leave our side. Trust in Him to lead you through.
“Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” -Isaiah 35:4
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” -Proverbs 3:5-6
“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” -Proverbs 29:25
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” –Isaiah 41:10
“You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.” -Deuteronomy 3:22
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” -Deuteronomy 31:6
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” -John 14:1
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'” -Hebrews 13:5-6
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?…For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:31, 38-39
When we lean on the Lord, He will give us peace and rest from our worry.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” -2 Thessalonians 3:16
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” -Jeremiah 17:7-8
We have no reason to fear because God’s perfect love casts it out. Meditate on his promise that His love for us will overcome our worry and anxieties and present struggles. He is faithful and on our side.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” -1 John 4:18
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” -1 Peter 3:14
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” -1 Corinthians 10:13
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” -2 Timothy 1:7
Jesus’ sermon on the Mount in Matthew presents a whole section filled with words and verses to combat anxiety. Luke also mirrors this Sermon on the Mount Passage in Luke 12:22-31 if you’re looking for another account.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” -Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew then follows up with more a bird reference once more.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” -Matthew 10:29-31
Jesus constantly impressed upon his disciples the importance of faith and belief instead of fear and anxiety!
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” –John 14:27
“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’” -Mark 4:39-40
“But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.'” -Mark 5:36
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” -Philippians 4:13
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” -Proverbs 12:25
What do the Psalms say about anxiety?
The honesty and relatability of the Psalms calm my anxious heart with every reading. The heartfelt laments to God followed by confident expressions of God’s goodness in times of fear and worry remind us the Lord is our hope and strength.
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” -Psalm 138:8
“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” -Psalm 16:8
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” -Psalm 23:4
“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
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” -Psalm 34:4-7
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.” -Psalm 46:1
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” -Psalm 55:22
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” -Psalm 56:3
“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” -Psalm 94:19
“He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” -Psalm 112:7
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.” -Psalm 118:6-7
“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
Bible Verses for Anxiety – In Conclusion
Now that you’ve meditated on God’s scriptures about anxiety, I pray your anxious mind and heart are calmed with God’s reassurances. Our troubles may seem insurmountable to us, but to God, they are nothing He can’t handle!
Just like it says in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”