Bible Passages To Heal Your Anxiety
Scripture provides both teaching and commandments, as well as examples of people using faith to overcome fears and anxieties.
1. In Matthew 14, the disciples of Jesus are stuck on a boat during a storm. All are trembling in fear. Jesus begins to walk towards them, treading on top of the water, with his arms open. Jesus said to Peter, “Come,” and Peter got out of the boat. For a moment, he too was walking on top of the water. He kept his eyes fixed on Jesus and not the storm. Once his focus went from Jesus, he immediately sank. This passage reminds us to always keep our eyes on Jesus, no matter what, and we will be okay.
2. Another example is in the Gospel of Matthew. Chapter 6:25-34, it reads: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,[b] or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[c] 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God[d] and his[e] righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
This passage reminds us that God has our backs. He will provide everything we need, and we just need to put our faith in Him. Verse 27, “and can any of you by worrying add a single hour onto your life span?” is one of my favorite verses.
3. 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath: 37 David said, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you!”
44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.” 45 But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
David should not have defeated Goliath. That’d be like a middle schooler entering the ring with Mike Tyson…when Tyson was in his prime. Our anxiety often appears to be this Goliath in our lives. This overwhelming, seemingly unstoppable foe. But like David, faith in the Lord can help us defeat the Goliath.
4. Isaiah 41:10 reads: “do not fear, for I am with you,
do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
Yet, another reminder that God is good and loving and will help us. It is also a reminder that God will always win. The price has been paid and victory has been secured for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Let’s cling to the victor.
5. 1 Peter 5:7 reads: “7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” Here we have a direct calling for us to cast all our anxieties onto Christ, simply because he cares for us and loves us. He is also strong enough to take them all from us, just as he took the sin of the world for us.
6. Last, but certainly not least. Philippians 4:13 reads: “13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
This is a verse that I personally use before doing something I know will be hard and painful. It is a reminder that I can do all things, no matter what, if I cling to Christ before, during, and after the difficult event.
