Feeling Anxious? 7 Scriptures for Anxiety

Much of what happens in the world is upsetting and leaves us feeling anxious. A glance at the headlines will confirm that things seem out of joint, and that can be cause for concern. There’s been a recent spike in mental health concerns because of the global pandemic, and anxiety has been among some of those concerns. Our hearts and minds are unsettled by events that are bigger than us, but our daily mundane experiences can also be a cause for anxiety.

When anxiety grips us, it affects us not only emotionally and mentally, but physically as well. Anxiety is an intense and persistent worry about situations we may find ourselves in, and it can bring about physical responses such as sweating, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and feeling tired.

Typically, anxiety rises in situations such as before and during a public speaking engagement, a first date, or because of a test we’re taking. If anxiety becomes excessive by being omnipresent, all-consuming, and interfering with everyday living, it may indicate an underlying issue that may require the diagnosis and intervention of a mental health professional.

If you find your anxiety is unwieldy and preventing you from enjoying life, consider reaching out to a professional. A life filled with anxiety is not what God intended for us, because anxiety steals our joy and the ability to enjoy the moments we’re in.

One of the many helps on hand that shapes our thinking about anxiety and can also help to relieve our anxieties is Scripture. While Scripture does not replace the intervention of a mental health professional, it is a vital tool to deal with anxiety, whether it’s the simple or excessive kind.

By reminding us of who God is, and our place in the world, we can face even challenging circumstances with confidence and peace. Here are a few Scriptures to reflect and lean in for those times when anxiety rises and threatens to overwhelm you.

Scriptures to help when you’re feeling anxious

The Bible deals with many different life circumstances over thousands of years, and through them, all God has been faithful. Trusting God may be challenging, but that is the only foundation upon which we can build our lives reliably. Our anxieties often stem from uncertainty about the future, but what we learn repeatedly is that the Lord holds our future in his hands; he is faithful and good to lead us toward life. Below are 7 Scriptures to aid you in dealing with anxiety.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. – Psalm 73:26

This verse is a reminder of the enduring reality that we may lose everything, but we’ll still have God, and that is enough.

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – but even in darkness, I cannot hide from you. To you, the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. – Psalm 139:7-12

No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, God sees us and is present with us to strengthen and support us. We are never alone, nor are we left to deal with the hardships of life by ourselves.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely, he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. – Psalm 91:1-7

These verses remind us to look to God as a refuge in times of distress. We may be feeling overwhelmed and in need of rescue, and this portion of the Bible reminds us that God is a God who can and does rescue us from dire circumstances.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:35, 37-39

Anxiety can make you feel like you’re losing control of your own body, and that circumstances threaten to overwhelm you. This passage in Romans reminds us that there’s nothing in all creation that can move us to a place where God’s love cannot reach us.

God’s love will forever be present to us. Sometimes repeating a phrase can help to calm anxieties, and the idea that nothing can separate us from God is a helpful thought to repeat to yourself when you’re feeling anxious.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:6-9

It’s not usually helpful to be told, “stop being so anxious!” If it were as simple as that, anxiety wouldn’t be such a huge deal. These verses from the letter to the Philippians go beyond simply saying “stop being anxious” they point to what can be done instead, and why that matters.

When feeling anxious, it helps to have something else to focus on – for some people, slowing down and focusing on the pattern of the carpet or the lines of their palms helps them to calm down and slow their breathing. Paul is encouraging believers not to worry but to pray to God and to fix their thoughts on the good and beautiful things.

Keep your lives free from the love of money. Be happy with what you have. God has said, “I will never leave you or let you be alone.” So, we can say for sure, “The Lord is my Helper. I am not afraid of anything man can do to me. – Hebrews 13:5-6

In Matthew 28:20, the last thing Jesus said to his disciples before he was taken up into heaven was, “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” God’s promise that he will never leave us or let us be alone can be comforting when we are feeling anxious or worrying about circumstances in our lives.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. – 2 Timothy 1:7

Speaking to his young protégé Timothy, Paul reminds us also of who we are, and what God has given us as his beloved daughters and sons. We’ve been given the Holy Spirit, a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline, and not a spirit of fear. Reminding ourselves of this truth in those moments when we feel overwhelmed, fearful, and anxious is a glorious reminder of who God intends us to be, and the freedom he wishes us to possess.

Conclusion

Anxiety affects our hearts and minds, disturbing our peace and unsettling our joy. God intends for us to live lives of carefree dependence upon him, lives filled with peace, and joyful expectation of all that God will do on our behalf.

Reminding ourselves of these truths from Scripture can help us in those moments when anxiety threatens to rob us of our peace. Make that first move away from a life marked by feeling anxious, and step into the joy and peace that God intends for all people.

If you find that anxiety is undermining your ability to live life and enjoy the world around you, consider seeing a licensed therapist who can walk with you and help to address the root causes of the anxiety. If you are a believer and you want your therapist to apply a biblical framework to your treatment plan, many Christian therapists do just that while applying evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).