Biblical verses for anxiety have become one of my favorite tools in our home. My daughter is infamous for crawling out of bed almost every night after putting her in bed. We’ve done routines, schedules, consequences, and extra love. But that girl takes forever to fall asleep.
My two boys on the other hand… once their head hits the pillow, they’re out! For the night.
But with my daughter, she can’t sleep because her mind is racing.
“Does that new friend really like me?”
“What if she never speaks to me again?”
“What if I’m not special?”
“Why can’t I ever fall asleep?”
The thoughts begin and sometimes start to spiral into things that aren’t going to happen. Ever been there?
I know in the last few years my diagnosis with anxiety has given me such compassion for those who are followers of Jesus but also struggle with crippling thoughts and racing hearts.
If you’re one of those people, this post is for you. If you’ve been told that you should just “have more faith.” Or “just get over it.” Then this post is for you. Biblical verses for anxiety are great tools to help you fight the struggle.
Yes, Jesus came to heal. But people struggle with mental and physical ailments their whole lives, and are able to use that struggle to lean in closer to Jesus.
If you’re struggling with anxiety, yes Jesus may take that from you and heal you. But it’s possible that he can use the anxiety in biblical ways. Today I wanted to share 5 Biblical verses for anxiety that I use to help me remember who I am, and that my anxiety doesn’t define my purpose God has for me.
Psalm 42:5
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”
I love this verse because it helps me understand biblical anxiety in a personal way. The Psalmist here wasn’t hiding his pain from God. He wasn’t sulking either. He was commanding his feelings to remember who God was. When I’m struggling and my heart is racing, I have to talk to myself. I have to tell myself and my soul who God truly is. He is my Savior.
1 Peter 5:5-7
“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.”
Casting all that anxiety on God is often difficult. We like to manage things. Hold tightly to things, sometimes even at our expense. But Peter tells us here to cast our anxieties on God. But why? Why God? Why should I trust Him to handle this overwhelming anxiety? Because He cares for you. Friend, God does care for you. Hold tightly to that truth, it allows you to release the control.
1 John 4:8
“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.”
This verse is similar to the 1 Peter verse above in that it addresses the root of our fear and why we can trust God to handle the outcomes in our life. Perfect love drives out fear. The outcomes and results in our life leave us feeling like we’re spiraling out of control. Sometimes in the middle of a panic attack I can hear a whisper, “there is no fear in love.” Rest assured my friend, He’s got you. Even if it doesn’t feel like it.
Luke 12:22
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
When diagnosed with anxiety we were about to lose our home, move in to live with friends, jobless and so much more. So now one of my triggers for anxiety revolves around being taken care of, financial stability. I have to preach this verse to myself often when I begin to struggle with the thought of bills, future choices and more.
Psalm 94:19
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
The Psalmist again states that even believers have times when their cares overwhelm their heart. I want to reiterate that trouble comes. Just because we are believers and we follow Jesus, doesn’t mean we aren’t going to suffer. In fact, being a believer is proof we will have suffering in this world. But what brings relief is our constant companion. His voice and His character that never changes is like salve to a wounded soul.
My daughter still wakes up after being put to bed, but having her write verses to remind her busy little mind that God is for her, loves her and provides for her needs has been a help to relieve the evening anxiety. The goal is to give her tools, you tools, to fight this Christian life in a victorious way. We may still have anxiety, but it shouldn’t mean we are left defenseless against it. These Biblical verses for anxiety can be an amazing tool in your own journey.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse that fights anxiety?