Bible Verses About Anxiety: Help for Troubled Times

Whether it is COVID-19, SARS, Ebola, a natural disaster, or something maybe even closer to home like the death of a loved one or the end of a marriage, we can often be attacked by fear or anxiety. When this happens, where do we turn? This article offers several Bible verses about anxiety to help you focus on truth when you’re feeling anxious.

Anxiety Defined

Merriam Webster defines anxiety in part as:

“1a(1): apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill : a state of being anxious

(2): medical: an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it

1b: mentally distressing concern or interest.”

Words for the Believer and Help for the Questioner

Even as Christians, we must remember as Ephesians 6:12 says:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

When fear or dread tries to attack, first remember that it is not simply a natural world phenomenon. It is brought about by the dark side in the supernatural realm. You are being tested, tempted and tried; but take a courageous stance from the Word of God.

2 Timothy 1:7 says:

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Jesus also tells us in John 16:33:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

How Do I Take Action?

Understand that part of what fear is, simply consists of:

• False
• Evidence
• Appearing
• Real

and to conquer it, you must stand in:

• Faith in the
• Almighty God Who
• Infuses you with the ability to
• Trust in
• His provision, love, and care for you and your household.

Bible Verses about Anxiety

When I am counseling a Christian client grappling with severe anxiety, perfectionism, feeling overwhelmed or like they never have and never will measure up, I often ask them to assemble a list of at least 3-5 Bible verses about anxiety, faith, and joy.

Here is a sample list from the Word.

. . . casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. – I Peter 5:7

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. – Psalm 94:19

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. – Isaiah 26:3

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

Once they assemble this list of Bible verses about anxiety and hope, I ask them to place it somewhere they frequent such as the mirror, refrigerator or dashboard of their car and read them aloud at least once per day to begin replacing negative or self-defeating thinking with the Word of God.

Why Scripture specifically? Well, in the Bible we read in Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (emphasis added)

One example of this is in Genesis 1:3:

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

We also see that Jesus will return and conquer the enemies of our souls. Yes “enemies,” Lucifer didn’t defect from Heaven all by himself. Reference again Ephesians 6:12 and Genesis 6. This is found in Revelation 19:15:

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 5:9

When we repeat and think about something consistently, it becomes our reality. Think about when Abram was called by God to become Abraham. Even though he and Sarai (who became Sarah) had to await the incarnate fulfillment of the child of the promise for about 2 decades, consider the reflection of this and the broader implications of Romans 4:17:

. . . as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

And consider Proverbs 23:7a:

for he is like one who is inwardly calculating

This speaks of a person whose heart is deceitful but what is in your heart, good or bad has an impact. Consider:

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. – Luke 6:45

Further, consider Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

We cannot conquer fear and anxiety apart from the Holy Spirit of God. We learn this clearly in Galatians 5:22-24:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

It is not the fruit of white-knuckling or somehow willing this in our own strength. Victory comes when we cooperate with and yield to the Holy Spirit.

Remember that Jesus said when He went back to Heaven to be with the Father, He would send the Holy Spirit to reside within those that accept Jesus as the Christ/Messiah to be their Savior and that He would be our Comforter (John 14:26-31).

Yes, we see horrors, scares, and dread all around us but listen to and reflect deeply upon what the Psalmist said in Psalm 91:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands, they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

If you remain in the Lord, you will find perfect peace that will remove all of your anxieties. It doesn’t mean that the enemies won’t attempt to trouble your mind. What it does mean is that you have the answer and can choose to steal away with Him, in that secret place of prayer, quiet reflection and an attitude of worship, letting Him minister to you as only He can do.

Remember that we are to be God’s hands, feet, and heart on display to one another. So, if you are plagued with fear or anxiety, reach out to a Christian therapist today. We are told to bear one another’s burdens and by doing so we are doing what Christ commanded (Galatians 6:2). Never doubt that you are more than a conquerer through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37).

I hope these Bible verses about anxiety have been helpful to you. I’ll leave you with this final thought from Joshua 1:9:

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.