How Many Verses In The Bible Talk About Anxiety
One of the most echoed commands in the scriptures is Fear not!. In his book, Your Best Life In Jesus Easy Yoke, Bill Gaultiere indicates that this command is mentioned over 366 times in the Bible. According to him, in the KJV, the word fear is mentioned over 500 times. What he means here is that the Bible not only teaches us to fear not but also to fear God.
Fearing God doesnt mean being scared of Him but rather fearing Him in reverence. In other words, He commands us not to let anything or anyone have power over us it should only be Him. It goes back to His command in Exodus 20:3 that we should have no other gods besides Him. Isaiah 44:8 supplements this where God tells us not to tremble nor be afraid because there is no other God nor Rock besides Him.
Bible Verses About Anxiety And Fear
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
Is anxiety a sin? What does the bible say about anxiety and fear?
Sometimes, fear and anxiety eat up all our energy. They take over lives for a period of time, leaving us with no other option but to cry and succumb to depression.
But feeling afraid and being anxious is never a sin. How can it be when you try your best every day just to have control over what you are feeling?
So during those times when anxiety attacks, how do you become happy?
There are a lot of ways to combat these negative feelings. One of them is to attend church services and read the Bible regularly. If you cant control the things that stress you out, let go and let God.
In this article, we share with you 41 Bible verses about anxiety and fear, and how to overcome them. These words of wisdom and encouragement may help you reduce whatever negativity you are currently experiencing.
First, we give you a list of verses about fear. What is the spirit of fear in the Bible? What does God say about it?
Help For Christian Burnout
Feelings of worry and stress are common for everyone. However, it can be tough for Christians if we think it is unspiritual or it may ruin our witness. Christians have a tendency to ignore our anxiety instead of facing it with Gods help.
Pastor burnout statistics show that 90% of pastors are frequently fatigued or worn out on a weekly or even a daily basis and 71% constantly fight depression . Pastor depression and burnout is indicative of a greater Christian problem, because if our spiritual leaders dont know how to find peace, what hope do we have?
I have created a book and online course to help caregivers maintain their motivation in giving to others. This material will be an excellent help for pastors and other Christians, who are often giving of themselves for the sake of others. The study will look into the lives of Abraham, David, Paul, Elijah, and many of Bible stories to find help to overcome anxiety and stress. The study is called, The Academy of Powerful Caregivers.
Read Also: What’s The Bible Say About Cremation
Bible Verses About Replacing Worry With Gods Peace
Worry doesnt have to be a constant struggle if we allow the peace of Christ in our hearts.
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.- Corrie Ten Boom
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you he will never permit the righteous to be moved
Bible Verses About Overcoming Fear And Anxiety
Do not be afraid of them the Lord your God himself will fight for you. Deuteronomy 3:22
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22
Read Also: Bible Race Mixing
Bible Verses For Those Feeling Anxious
Anxiety can be crippling, but we can replace it with thankful prayers and thoughts, and look to Christ for peace.
A hundredload of worry will not pay an ounce of debt. George Herbert
Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a mans heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Philippians 4:6-7 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.
Bible Verses About Anxiety Soothes An Anxious And Worried Heart
At one point or another, we all have to deal with worry and fear. But we dont have to be paralyzed or be chained by it. Thankfully, there are Bible verses about anxiety that can soothe our fearful and worried hearts.
The promises of God and His assurance through His Word work their way in us as a healing balm. Through the scripture, He reveals His desire for us to live in His peace and find rest in His presence.
Read Also: Strong Women Scripture
Bible Verses About Anxiety And Depression
Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
Prayer For Anxiety Worry And Fear
Since stressful situations and spiritual burnout is real, this prayer for worry and stress can lead you back to the peace of Christ. When you are anxious, saying this prayer can bring your mind back into a Biblical perspective and remind you of Gods provisions and protection. Try saying this prayer daily or as needed during your times of worry and stress.
You May Like: Books Of The Bible In Historical Order
Anxiety In The New Testament
In the New Testament, Jesus talks about faith versus anxiety. Matthew 6:26 says, Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan? He continues saying in verse 28, And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Hes telling His followers that Hes got it covered, and if they have any doubt, they need only notice the carefree attitude plants have.
He teaches us to look and learn from them, for how much more will He care for us when He cares so much for the lilies of the field? Its a reassurance that He cares about our anxieties, that they are not greater than He.
And in the book of Philippians, it tells us to be anxious for nothing but in all things give thanks for this is the will of Christ Jesus . Paul couldnt have stated it clearer, in other words: Heres my will for my church to always be thankful. And heres what I dont want for them to be anxious. So, if we believe the dictionarys definition of sin is a state of nature in which the self is apart from God, then anxiety is a sin.
However, as stated above, it is a subtle habit of the mind, one that is not always an active choice, or a choice at all, but a reality, nonetheless, that entered the world once humanity fell .
What Does God Say About Stress And Anxiety
The bible talks about stress and worry many times. Over and over again, Jesus tells us not to be worried or anxious about our lives. What we will eat, or what we will wear, even what tomorrow will bring.
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
We are to give our worries to Him, because He walks through things with us.
1 Peter 5:7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
You May Like: Maryland Bible College & Seminary
Scriptures To Help Reduce Anxiety
Are you a worrier? Let me make sure you read that correctly, not a warrior , but a worrier. You know, one of those people who constantly have racing thoughts, who replay things over and over in your head, who often fear experiencing the worst-case scenario, and who feels anxious when you begin to think about different aspects of your life. While it is normal to worry sometimes, for some of us, worry is taken to another level and turns into anxiety and panic. For many, worrying is a full-time job that never ceases, but Im here to share with you one of the ways I tackle worry and anxiety because thats my thing! Along with therapy, one tool I recommend to help others tackle anxiety and worry is spirituality. Im going to share with you a few of my favorite scriptures to help with fear, worry, and anxiety and show you how to take these words and turn them into action to implement in your everyday life.
How To Overcome Worry With The Bible
1. Pray. Spend some time talking to your Heavenly Father. Tell Him your heartache. Tell him what you’re worried about. I promise you that He has good in this for you, and it’s okay to ask Him what that good is.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28
I have prayed and prayed and prayed. I sent an email to the prayer team at my church. I went up to the altar during our service and women laid hands on me and prayed more.
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.
Philippians 4:6
2. Believe in God’s plan. Our God is a miracle worker. He can part waters, move boulders, heal the dead , save, destroy, bless, and curse. He can do anything, everything, things beyond our comprehension.
And He has you in the palm of His hand.
So that’s it. It’s a lack of faith. If we believe in God’s plan and provision, we have no worry.
I have often meditated on these verses over the years as I’ve worried about our finances. Are we putting enough money into savings? Are we paying enough on our credit card debt? Just like now, the thoughts come and I don’t know how to stop them.
My pastor preached a sermon on worry not too long ago. He said that worry is a sin.
You May Like: Bible Verses About Verbal Abuse
Practically How Do We Deal With Worry
Tinctures are little vials of needed ointment or medicine, readily available. They are usually small so that you can store them with you as you travel. Do you have Biblical tinctures, in the mind and in the heart? Ready to draw from as you walk through your day? You should. This could be memorized passages or notes of a verse in your wallet, or a screenshot of a verse you look at on your phone.
We cannot avoid stress, anxiety, and worry in our complex lives. But we can, with the help of God, deal with them faithfully. We are to, with the tinctures of the scriptures in 1st Peter 5:7, Matthew 6, and Philippians 4:6, pour these Gospel truths into our hearts. In so doing, we learn that God is tender. God is in control. Gods hand is big and mighty and over all the earth. And He will take care of us even if the circumstances we find ourselves in stay dark.
We have a hope in Gods attributes that are not contingent upon our circumstances changing, but it is a hope that sustains us in the midst of them, especially when they stay dark.
As these biblical truths mix with the worry of our hearts, it will create a combination of faithful fret. And when it does, you go to God. You take whatever combination you have to Him. Maybe its very small worry. Or maybe the worry is so thick the biblical truths cant mix. Regardless, you take it to God. For He cares for you.
Do not neglect your time with God in the age of worry. It is the only thing that will keep you afloat.
Josh.
Bible Verses To Help Your Fear Of The Unknown
It is a rare situation in which the whole world feels anxiety at the same time, but now is one of those times. The COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping across the world, across this nation, taking thousands of lives and making hundreds of thousands sick. And because of it, many of you are on edge, with a collective fear of the unknown.
There are many unknowns about when you will be able to go back to work and provide for your families. There are unknowns regarding when the children will get to go back to school. There are unknowns about being able to pay bills or when life will go back to normal again. There is so much uncertainty, so much fear of the unknown.
The world has shut down. Many of you may have lost your jobs. You may be quarantined because you are sick. You may not be able to see your elderly parents, and you are worried about them. You may be overwhelmed because you are suddenly homeschooling and trying to work from home, and it is just not working. Maybe you are grieving the loss of someone or something you were looking forward to.
Recommended Reading: How Many Psalms In The Bible
Lift Your Anxiety To God
Our anxiety can play tricks in our minds. We can imagine situations that havent happened yet because of the fear of what might happen. Sometimes its hard to control our thoughts. Thankfully, we can go back to Bible verses about anxiety, such as Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:7, which reminds us how God wants us to lift our fears and worries to Him.
Is It Sinful To Have Anxiety
These types of teachings regarding the sinfulness of worry/anxiety are often pulled from one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible, Philippians 4:6:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Our minds will, if we are not careful, compound guilt upon us because the verse says do not be anxious! But I am anxious! I must not have enough faith! But this is the importance of looking at all that the Bible says about a given topic before coming to conclusions. What else does the Bible say?
Also Check: Bible Say About Depression