What Does The Bible Say About Worry And Anxiety

Principle #: My Anxiety Is Related To My Trust Level In God

After Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, the disciples and Jesus embarked on a ministry trip so that Jesus could teach His disciples and model for them the way of life that He was describing in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew records these stories one after another to make the case that Jesus alone has the power to intervene.;He was unlike the other religious leaders of His day.;At the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, Matthew adds that the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, not as their scribes.; He has real power to intervene in our troubles and Matthew wanted to make sure you understood the reason why Jesus could stand up and say dont be anxious. It wasnt just a slogan to make us feel better or distract us from our troubles.;Jesus really was different.;Peoples lives were really changed when they encountered Him.

The chart below from Matthew 89 represents the various conversations and encounters that Jesus faced on this trip. As you look at the conversations, you see His response to ordinary people with deep troubles and sorrows.;As a counselor, if I were to make a list of the most common worries that walk into my office on any given week, this list could have been written yesterday. ;;

Action step: God calls me to overcome anxiety by keeping my focus on trusting Him with my trials.

Peter : 7 Give All Your Worries And Cares To God For He Cares About You

This scripture tells you exactly what to do with your worries and concerns and that is to give them to Godbut how exactly do you do that?; For many people, worry and anxiety are a revolving door.; One minute they worrythen they shake it offthen a few minutes later theyre worrying again. So how exactly do you hand your worry over to God and keep it from coming back?; Well, doing this takes work and effort over a period of time.; Handing over your worries to God requires you to acknowledge your worries and tell him about them. ;Many people who worry or have anxiety have thoughts that constantly swirl around in their mind and never feel a sense of relief because they havent released them.; This is where doing things like journaling and writing down your thoughts helps.; If you want to give God your worries, start by writing them down daily. ;You cant give him something if you dont first acknowledge you have something.; Write in the morning when you wake up or before going to bed at night.; I recommend writing because it is a visual representation of taking whats in your head and releasing it onto paper.; You can pray over these things or even write down your prayers.; Once you talk to God about what you are worried about, then you can ask him to guide you and show you have to best handle those things.; Then your mind can begin to rest easier and not constantly carry around the mental chaos.;;;;;;;;

Joshua : 9 This Is My Command

In this scripture, God tells us to do something that he mentions 365 times in the bible and that is to fear not.; It is not a coincidence that we are told over and over and 300 times over not to fear.; Im sure God knew we would need to hear that time and time again because fear will come.; This scripture is a reminder when you become afraid and that fear leads to worry and anxiety to do it anyway.; To be courageous and strong and to go forth anyway.; That is how you overcome fear and anxiety and worry.; By moving forward day by day.; You beat it by having the thought and feeling the feeling, rationalizing it, and pushing through with Gods word in tow.; Being strong and courageous doesnt mean youre never scared, it doesnt mean youre this person who isnt bothered by anything, and it doesnt mean you dont have a tough or bad day.; Being strong and courageous and even fearless means despite all of that you dont quit, you keep working toward your goals, you continue to put yourself out there, you keep reminding yourself of Gods word. Take those deep breaths, because taking deep breaths are essential when you deal with anxiety. You do whatever it is that must be done in order for you to be great.; And the more and more you do it, the less and less you will be anxious because your life will become an example of God being with you and you can use your past successes as a reminder of how great you really are.

Read Also: What The Bible Says About False Prophets

What Does It Mean To Worry

We humans are inclined to worry. We worry about big stuff, small stuff and everything in between. And when we have nothing to worry about, we worry that we might be missing or have forgotten something we ought to be worrying about. Why is that I wonder?;

Life here on earth certainly offers a great many challenges and difficulties. Our health, finances, relationships, family, extended family, jobs, children, our cars, computers and other stuff, school, friendships each and all throwing us curve balls at any point in time. And I am quite certain you each could add to that list.

But

It is important for us to remember that Jesus quite explicitly taught we ought to not;worry–about anything. Matthew 6:25-34 clearly demonstrates Jesus teaching on the matter. Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life. Jesus continued, teaching we are not to worry about what we will eat, drink, or our bodies. He then made comparisons to how God takes care of the birds and lilies of the field.

In verse 27, Jesus asked, Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Then, in verse 34, tells us Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.;

Each day has enough trouble of its own. Boy, isnt that the truth!

Worry Is The Opposite Of Trust In God

The energy that we spend worrying can be put to much better use in prayer. The Christian life unhampered by worry is one of our greatest freedoms. It also sets a good example for unbelievers.

Live one day at a time and handle each worry as it comes–through prayer. Most of our worries never come to pass anyway, and those that do can only be handled at the moment and .

Here’s a little formula to remember: Worry replaced with prayer equals trust.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

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 Gods peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Read Also: What Does The Bible Say About Family Love

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?

• Final Thoughts

It Is A Matter Of Perspective

All of us can see the world, through a temporary perspective, or through the eternal perspective.

And he said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for ones life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. And he told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man produced plentifully, And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

Jesus says do not be anxious about this life, because it is foolish, and he provides the example of the rich fool who was very anxious about this life. He was so worried about this temporsy life, but he gave no thought to the next life, his eternal life.

His perspective was terrible. So it is for us, when we worry, we are demonstrating that we have the wrong perspective, because we are too focused on this life that will end.

Similiary to the rich fool, by worrying we are saying:

Recommended Reading: What Is The Chronological Order Of The Bible

God Cares About Our Anxieties

But God is far from condemning us, frail humans. The Apostle Peter writes, Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you . The word, care comes from the Greek and means: to throw up or to place upon. It indicates that the person who is hauling around a burden needs to actively take that burden and relocate it.

In our family, we had a son who was far away from the Lord and made some unwise life choices. His father and I continually prayed for him. But it wasnt until my husband figuratively placed my son on the Potters wheel that we were free from worry.;

The Bible spells out clearly the antidote for worrying. Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God . God commands us not to agonize over problems. Instead, we are to rush our troubles, stresses, and concerns to His immediate attention as Hes always available. And as we ask God for solutions, we do so in a grateful manner, showing we trust that He really will answer our prayers. Thats called faith. So simple, yet so difficult for us who want and choose to stew over problems. We worriers assume we have more power and control than we do. But true freedom from worry comes from releasing them to God.

Bible Verses To Remind Us

1. ;So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. ;I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~ Isaiah 41:10

2. ;When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” ;~ Psalm 56:3

3. ;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. ~ Philippians 4:6-7

4. ;Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. ~ John 14:27

5. ;For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

6. ;There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. ~ 1 John 4:18

7. ;When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. ~ Psalm 94:19

8. ;But now, this is what the Lord saysFear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. ~ Isaiah 43:1

9. ;An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. ~ Proverbs 12:25

10. 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

30. Jesus told him, Dont be afraid; just believe. ~

Peace.

Read Also: What Does The Bible Say About Helping The Homeless

How To Stop Worrying And Start Trusting God: 15 Helpful Tips

Writing about worry is difficult for me. Over the years, Ive spent more time succumbing to the numbing paralysis of anxious thinking and self-indulgent fretting than I have walking with God through the situations in life that make me afraid.

When confronted with a problem that feels daunting to me, my first instinct is almost always to run. But as has been the case with so many other topics Ive written about on our site, this presented me with an opportunity to study the scriptures, make decisions to change, and share about the experience. So what does the Bible say about worry and anxiety?

Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 NASB

Anxiety is defined as experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. The most challenging part of this scripture to me is the idea that there is action I can take to not give in to that unease. I like feeling like a victim, and if I can convince myself that my nervousness and worry is too strong, then I can successfully excuse myself from doing anything that pushes me out of my comfort zone.

God changes lives, he doesnt merely improve them.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Trusting God

Peace And Joy He Leaves Us

The thing is, when we worry, we are plainly not trusting God. Failing to trust means we are missing out on the incredible blessing that await us the peace of God that passes all understanding. Can you even fathom that? Me neither.

Now Im not saying that all your problems will go away. Neither am I saying that we can simply sit back and not deal appropriately with our problems. We will continue to have problems–God is not going to change your flat tire.;

What I am saying is, we can have the Peace of Christ with us at all times in all circumstances. We may have to change the tire, but we can do it with a joy that others wont be able to understand.;

Try to imagine having that kind of peace and joy in your life–in your heart, your soul. Deep down, where the real you lives. Imagine that kind of peace dominating your life? How much better would that be than the worried state in which we typically live? Not just for a moment, but for a lifetime.;

Yeah. Wow.

Read Also: What Does The Bible Say About Sex Offenders

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.