Anxiety and worry have become defining struggles of our time, fueled by constant headlines and personal challenges. Even as believers, we’re not immune, but Scripture offers hope and practical steps for navigating life’s uncertainties. Discover where to turn when fear takes hold and how God’s Word can anchor your heart in His promises.
We live in uncertain times. Between record layoffs, staggering statistics of loneliness and depression among young people, and “epidemics” of isolation and comparison via social media, society has never seemed more fragile. It appears nearly every new headline gives us something else to worry about, with every issue magnified and accessible through the phones in our pockets and the broadcasts around us, whether we want to see them or not. In this climate, is it any surprise that our nation is facing a historic rise in anxiety and worry?
As much as we sometimes wish to pretend otherwise, Christians are not exempt from this struggle. We might like to pretend that we are immune to anxiety, and perhaps our pulpits even wrongfully preach to us that “good Christians” don’t face it, but these are false realities. The truth is that millions of Christians struggle and have struggled with anxiety, worry and fear, and the Bible holds dozens of stories from men and women who struggled just the same as us.
And yet, despite the validity of these fears and the strength of our uncertainties, a life condemned to letting anxiety rule over us is not what believers have been called to. Heroes of the faith like David, Elijah and even Paul grappled with these issues, and yet we see their lives used for God’s glory, not just in spite of them, but in part due to this unique testimony. The despair that may begin to sink in, whether due to societal worries or deeply personal pains, is not destined to win out in the end.
No, we know how our stories end in Christ, and with that knowledge, we are given an enduring hope that can be the light at the end of what may be an overwhelmingly-dark tunnel. For the Christian struggling against anxiety and worry, know that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) Whether you’re dealing with difficult days or finding yourself unable to sleep long into the night with worry, you are not alone; the Word can be a lamp unto your path.
Perhaps Scripture will even encourage you to take further steps – such as pursuing telehealth counseling through Medi-Share, or perhaps it simply stores up defenses in your heart. However it may transform you, for the Christian struggling and unsure where to turn, start with these five Bible verses for anxiety and their lessons to support you and comfort you when you need it most.
The Impossible Truth, God's Peace - Phillippians 4:6-7
How our minds long for peace, especially when they seem at war against themselves! With this passage, Paul reminds us that when faced with anxiety and worries, peace is attainable, but only when we bring these fears before the Lord instead of holding on to them ourselves. When we do this, we bring our brokenness to God while still proclaiming that we trust Him over our present circumstances. This is the key to finding God’s peace in peaceless situations. In doing this, Paul tells us that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
While this verse is often misused to dismiss or downplay worries or fear, Paul here acknowledges that we will have genuine hardships and requests to bring before the Lord. He would not write this passage if we had no reason to struggle with anxiety! But this peace that he speaks of is not ours to maintain or hold on to; God guards our hearts through this peace that only He can produce in our lives. We do not have to try and be perfect or find peace in ourselves. Instead, our calling is to give God our brokenness, our fears and our hardships, and recognize that His power is greater than our circumstances.
Burdens Aren’t Ours to Carry – 1 Peter 5:6-7
Much in the same way as Paul’s encouragement, this verse from Peter is both a validation and a lifeline. He writes, “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.” Here, Peter doesn’t debate that his audience shouldn’t have anxieties or that they somehow are failing in their faith for struggling with them. Instead, he affirms that they will struggle with anxiety, but they are not to carry the burden of it alone.
How refreshing and encouraging are these verses! Here we are told not only that we can share our burdens with the Lord, but that he truly desires for us to do so because He cares for us! Our Lord is not a God who has left us to face these battles alone; He stands ready, arms outstretched, to take these worries and anxieties from us and walk through them with us. Sometimes, all that keeps us back is our own shame, but Peter writes these words to pierce through our pride and stubbornness and move us out of isolation and into the Father’s arms.
The Strength of Repetition – Psalm 42:5
The pain from the battle against anxiety and worry is that while we may know the truth deeply in our hearts, it feels as though our minds betray us. What we know about God and his sovereignty sometimes feels locked away, and our mind seems to revolt against what we know is true, telling us all manner of disaster and despair. King David, described as the “man after God’s own heart,” was no stranger to this feeling. In fact, many of his Psalms are written about the conflict of his heart while holding to his faith in God, making them some of the most meaningful scriptures for worry that have been encouraging Christians for centuries.
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” These are the words of a man struggling with what his heart knows and what his mind fears, just the way many of us do when anxiety wages its war in the mind. Yet, David writes here to affirm what he knows is true about God and the salvation he has already received. Through affirming truth and speaking it through these struggles, we too can remind ourselves what we know and believe about our God even when we don’t feel it. He is our Salvation, our God, and if we look at all the times He has delivered us in the past, how shall we doubt Him to fail us now?
Be Still – Psalm 46:10a
One of the deepest and most difficult commands in the Bible comes from David’s writings in the Book of Psalms: “Be still and know that I am God.” These words, short as they may be, have so much power. More than even believing in God, we are able to know – deeply within our soul – that He is who He says He is. David’s words here come after a long passage describing God’s mighty, breathtaking power over nature, over his judgement of evil and over all aspects of His creation.
When faced with everything of who God is, we see how everything else – including our own trials and sufferings – pale in comparison. How can we fear the power of this world when our eyes never move from gazing into the depths of God’s power? How can we worry or stress on our own, when we truly see God’s control over all things? This understanding of God commands us to stop and fall in worship, realizing that we do not have to keep trying on our own. Only with eyes fixed firmly on Him can our minds be still in response. We can be still, truly still, and find peace in knowing that He is God over every trial and hardship.
An Always Present Rest – Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” These words, spoken by Jesus to a crowd of listeners struggling under Roman occupation, religious fundamentalism and a fear that their God had abandoned them, are some of the most relief-giving words in all of history. They tell us that finally, we may one day have rest, true rest, that transcends all earthly trials, all suffering and all pain. All we have to do is come to him and bring our burdens to him, exchanging what we carry for the carrying of his yoke, one that may not be easy, but one that is deeply worthwhile.
When we struggle through medical trials and challenges, we long for rest. Sleepless nights, uncomfortable tests and procedures or physical ailments can all drain us physically, leaving us exhausted and frustrated. Yet, Jesus’ words provide comfort that we can grasp; He is a source of rest for us, in this life and the next, through casting our cares and troubles on Him and holding Him tight.
