7 Bible Verses About Anxiety

Did you know that over forty million adults in the United States have an anxiety disorder? Anxiety is unfortunately a normal part of life, and we all experience it on different levels and for different reasons. Today, we’re going to take a look at the emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety, types of anxiety disorders, what causes anxiety, seven Bible verses about anxiety, and some different strategies for minimizing anxiety in our everyday lives.

The Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety comes in all shapes and sizes and can affect each person adversely. Let’s unpack the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety below.

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

• Pounding or racing heart
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Twitching
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Upset stomach or other digestive issues
• Frequent urination
• Diarrhea

Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety

• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Feeling tense or jumpy
• Feelings of apprehension or dread
• Anticipating the worst
• Being watchful of signs of danger

Types of Anxiety Disorders

There are many anxiety disorders out there, each coming with different symptoms and causes. Let’s explore the most common types of anxiety disorders below.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Some might mistake social anxiety disorder as shyness, but it goes deeper than just that. When someone has Social Anxiety Disorder, they experience intense fear about social interaction. These fears are often driven by irrational worries about being humiliated or not accepted.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized anxiety disorder is when someone experiences chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday life and daily tasks. This type of anxiety can consume a person’s days and interfere with daily living. Headaches, muscle tension, or nausea often accompany generalized anxiety disorder.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is characterized by frequent panic attacks and sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. Symptoms of a panic attack include:

• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Numbness
• Tingling in extremities

Anxiety Causes

Before diving into a few Bible verses about anxiety to see what the Word of God has to say on the subject, let’s take a look at some of the common causes of anxiety.

• Family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions
• Personality factors
• Ongoing stressful events such as work stress, job changes, change in living arrangements, family, or relationship problems, etc.
• Verbal, sexual, or physical abuse or trauma
• Death or loss of a loved one
• Pregnancy and giving birth
• Physical health problems
• Other mental health conditions
• Substance abuse

7 Bible Verses About Anxiety

As stated earlier, anxiety is a natural part of life. At some point in our lives, we are going to experience it. While it can’t always be avoided, we can learn how to process it through a Biblical lens.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”. Because Scripture is God-breathed, we can trust that it is always relevant to our current circumstances, including our anxiety.

God loves us (1 John 4:16), and He doesn’t want us living a life in the bondage of worry, fear, and anxiety. These 7 Bible verses about anxiety will give us a good look at God’s heart for us and what we can do when we are tempted to let worry consume us.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:33-34, NIV

In this passage, not only are we instructed not to worry, but we’re told to seek first the kingdom of God. The Lord knows that without Him, we won’t be able to battle our anxiety effectively. Matthew 6:33-34 is an invitation to draw near to God and seek Him first so that when the storms of life do come, we know Who to lean into.

When we learn to place God at the center of our lives, we are given peace for each day. We are given the ability to be present today without having to worry about what tomorrow may bring.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39, NIV

When anxiety comes knocking on the door of our hearts, we must remember Who God is. Trusting God and His love for us is how we can rest in the middle of chaos. Fear and anxiety truly don’t stand a chance against the love of God. When we receive the love God has for us, we can anchor ourselves to that love and trust that no matter what, we are held.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s 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, NIV

In this passage, Peter instructs us first to humble ourselves under God. This is an invitation to go to God and surrender all that we are carrying within. God wants us to come to Him and lay our burdens at His feet so that we have open hands that can grab hold of the loving power of God. As we cast our anxieties on God, our hearts grow lighter, and we can view our circumstances from a heavenly perspective.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6, NIV

The Apostle Paul, the author of the book of Philippians, instructs us not to be anxious about anything. But he doesn’t stop there! He tells us that prayer, thanksgiving, and presenting our requests to God are how we let go of our anxiety. Again, we see that God invites us to come to Him and lay down our worries. When we choose to look to Him and peel our eyes away from our anxiety, we can then receive God’s peace.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. – Psalm 34:17, NIV

What a comfort it is to know that God listens to our hearts. He bends His ear down low to hear our worries and He promises to deliver us from our troubles. This doesn’t mean that He promises to eradicate all heartbreak and tribulation from our lives, but it does mean that He will provide a way forward. The Lord is good, faithful, and loving, and listens to the cries of His sons and daughters. We can rest in this truth instead of ruminating on our worry.

…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. – 2 Timothy 1:7, ESV

God created us not to live in fear and anxiety, but to live a life in His strong power, love, and self-control. This promise should give us hope that even on our darkest days, on the days when our anxiety is the loudest, we were created for more. There is hope for a path to healing and living free from worry, fear, and anxiety.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30, NIV

These words from Jesus act like a healing salve to our weary, burdened souls. We are not called to carry our anxiety on our own. Jesus gives us the refreshment and rest we desperately need. We are invited to bring our worries into the light of His loving, gentle presence so that He can show us how to give them to Him.

How to Minimize Everyday Anxiety

Anxiety can feel like a lonely prison, especially when we try to carry it alone. But just as we’ve seen through the 7 Bible verses about anxiety, God doesn’t want us to walk this journey by ourselves. There are certain practices we can implement and steps we can take to minimize everyday anxiety.

Scripture Memorization

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12, NIV

For believers, memorizing Bible verses about anxiety and other passages of Scripture can be incredibly helpful in minimizing anxiety. There’s nothing more powerful than clinging to the truth of God’s Word amidst the shifting emotions of worry.

Memorizing one or two verses at a time and reciting them at times of high anxiety is one way we can talk ourselves down from panic. If Scripture memorization is new for you, pick one verse from the seven Bible verses about anxiety that we unpacked today and start there.

Deep Breathing

Practicing 5-10 minutes of deep breathing a day can significantly reduce the effects of anxiety. Deep breathing decreases the effects of stress and anxiety within your body by slowing down your heart rate and stabilizing your blood pressure. As your heart rate decreases, your body relaxes, and the anxiety melts away.

Exercising

Thirty minutes of some sort of movement a day can greatly reduce the symptoms of anxiety. When we exercise, our body releases endorphins which are natural stress-reducers. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy and try implementing it into your weekly routine, beginning with three days a week.

A few common forms of exercise you might try include:

• Running
• Walking
• Weightlifting
• Hiking
• Swimming
• Yoga
• Biking/cycling
• Pilates

Behavioral Therapy

Research shows that behavioral therapy is one of the most effective ways to combat anxiety. Meeting regularly with a licensed counselor or therapist can help you process how you feel while giving you the tools you need to work through your worry. Behavioral therapy teaches you how to deal with anxiety triggers, panic attacks, and healthy coping strategies.

Here at Little Elm Christian Counseling, our goal is to create a safe environment where you can receive healing and wisdom from a biblical perspective. If you’d like to schedule a counseling session, please don’t hesitate to reach out the reception team or one of the counselors in the online directory.