Bible verses about anxiety
The Bible tells anxious people to bring every worry to God in prayer instead of carrying it alone. Philippians 4:6-7 says to pray about everything with thanksgiving, and promises that the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds. Jesus also taught not to worry about tomorrow, because the Father knows what you need.
In the King James Version, the word for anxious worry is usually 'careful' or 'take thought.' So when Paul writes "Be careful for nothing," he means do not be anxious about anything. Knowing that makes many of these verses easier to read.
The verses below are grouped by what you may need right now: Jesus' own words about worry, permission to hand your cares to God, help when fear rises, peace for a busy mind, and rest at the end of the day.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 · KJV
What Jesus said about worry
Most of this comes from the Sermon on the Mount and a visit to the home of Martha and Mary.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Matthew 6:25Jesus names the everyday worries of food, drink and clothing, and reminds us that life is more than these.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Matthew 6:26The birds do not sow or store up grain, yet the Father feeds them, and Jesus says you are worth much more.
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Matthew 6:27A gentle question: worry cannot add even one cubit to a person's height, so it cannot fix what it frets over.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Matthew 6:31-32Your heavenly Father already knows you need these things before you ask.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:34Take one day at a time; tomorrow will bring its own concerns, and today has enough of its own.
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Luke 12:25-26Luke's version adds: if worry cannot do the smallest thing, why let it rule the rest.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:41-42Jesus speaks kindly to Martha, who was careful and troubled about many things, and points her to the one thing that is needful.
Bring your cares to God
Scripture does not tell anxious people to try harder. It tells them where to put the weight.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7Pray about everything with thanksgiving, and the peace of God will guard your heart and mind.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7Cast all your care on God for one simple reason: he cares for you.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22David tells us to cast our burden on the LORD, who will hold us up.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Psalm 62:8You are invited to pour out your heart before God, all of it, at all times.
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Psalm 86:7A short prayer to keep for the hard day: I will call, and you will answer.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19When thoughts multiply and race, God's comforts can still bring delight to the soul.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2Written for the moment the heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
When fear rises
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
Psalm 56:3David does not pretend he is never afraid; he decides what to do when he is.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10God gives a reason for each command not to fear: I am with thee, I am thy God, I will help thee.
For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 41:13A picture of God holding your right hand while he says, Fear not.
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4David's testimony that seeking the LORD delivered him from all his fears.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7Fear is not what God gives; he gives power, love and a sound mind.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27Jesus offers his own peace, unlike the world's, and tells his friends not to let their hearts be troubled.
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Mark 4:39-40In a storm on the sea, Jesus says Peace, be still, and the wind stops.
Peace for a troubled mind
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3Perfect peace is promised to the one whose mind is stayed, or fixed, on God.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8Paul gives a practical list of what to think about: what is true, honest, just, pure and lovely.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33Jesus is honest that the world brings trouble, and he says to take heart because he has overcome it.
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16A blessing asking the Lord of peace to give peace always and by all means.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 42:11The psalmist talks back to his own disquieted soul and tells it to hope in God.
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Proverbs 12:25Heaviness bends the heart down, but a good word makes it glad, which is a reason to speak kindly to the anxious.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:28Even Paul carried a daily care for all the churches, so anxious feelings do not mean you are alone or unusual.
Rest and sleep
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30Jesus invites the weary and heavy laden to come to him and find rest for their souls.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8A bedtime verse: I will lie down in peace and sleep, because the LORD keeps me safe.
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
Psalm 3:5The heading of this psalm ties it to David fleeing from his son Absalom, and still he slept and woke because the LORD sustained him.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Psalm 127:2Rising early and staying up late with the bread of sorrows is in vain; God gives his beloved sleep.
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
Psalm 116:7The psalmist tells his soul to return to its rest, remembering how kindly God has dealt with him.
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8The one who trusts the LORD is like a tree by the river that is not careful, or anxious, in a year of drought.
How well do you know Anxiety in the Bible?
7 questions, every answer checked against the King James text. Play it here, then try a full book quiz.
Common questions
What does the Bible say about anxiety?
It says to bring anxious thoughts to God in prayer rather than carry them alone. Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:7 are the best-known passages, and Jesus speaks to worry directly in Matthew 6:25-34.
What does 'be careful for nothing' mean?
In 1611 English, 'careful' meant full of care or anxious. So Philippians 4:6 means do not be anxious about anything, but pray about everything.
Is feeling anxious a sin?
The Bible treats worry with compassion. Jesus spoke gently to Martha about it, the psalmists pour out troubled hearts to God, and Paul describes his own daily care for the churches. The invitation is to bring the feeling to God, not to hide it.
What is a good Bible verse for anxiety at night?
Psalm 4:8 is a common choice: "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." Psalm 3:5 and Psalm 127:2 are also about God giving sleep.
Should a Christian get help for anxiety?
Yes, seeking help is wise. Prayer and Scripture go well alongside talking with a pastor, a trusted friend, or a doctor, especially if anxiety is lasting or affecting daily life.
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