Understanding God's Hope and Help For Anxiety
Are you feeling overwhelmed and out of control? Is anxiety and worry interfering with your daily life? Hand your burdens over to God and let Him give you a deep sense of peace as you work through your issues with anxiety.
Give Your Anxiety to God
Once sin entered the world, God knew life was not going to be easy, but He promised he wouldn't leave us to navigate things on our own. He tells us to hand our anxious thoughts to Him.
Bible Verses About Anxiety
Philippians 4:6-7 - 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.
1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Matthew 6:25-34 - Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Psalm 46:10 (TPT) - Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.
"How Do I Give My Anxiety to God?"
If you are thinking, that sure sounds good, but how exactly do I give God my anxiety to God? There are three parts to this answer.
Through prayer. Talk to Him as you would a friend. Ask Him to help you, to give you strength, to calm your fears. For more on prayer read: How to Pray
Seek Him. If you want to hear from God, reading the Bible is how He talks to us. When you open his word your eyes will also be opened to the reality of his presence beside you. “And if you search for him with all you heart and soul, you will find him.” (Duet 4:29). Here is one girl's journey to giving her anxiety to God: How to Cling to God in the Midst of Anxiety and Worrying.
If you are wondering how to start reading the Bible this could help: How to Read the Bible
Trust and Believe. You must believe in His promises. If you don’t believe in God, how can you expect to feel His peace? BUT if you believe then you trust that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do, and that will provide tremendous peace. This peace will come from knowing that you can rest in the hands of a good and loving God. Where is God in the Midst of Tragedy and Suffering
God Is with You
When you are facing anxiety in your life, it is important to remind yourself of the promises God makes in His word. These verses will remind you to trust in God, knowing that no matter what you are experiencing, God will take care of you.
Hebrews 13:6 - So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Psalm 55:22 - Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Psalm 37:7 - Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Psalm 121:1-2 - I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
"You say God is with me. Why don't I feel him?"
First, have you given your life to God and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If you haven't given your life to Him, you likely won't feel His presence in your life. If you would like to give your life to him, you can do so today. You don’t need to first clean up your act or get everything right in your life. You don’t need to have a spiritual epiphany. You just need to pray. Here’s how: Salvation Prayer.
Second, this is where faith comes in: Faith is not based on feelings. Our faith is based on the fact that God came to earth in Jesus, died for our sins, rose from the dead and even today reigns as Lord over all. Nothing can change that truth. Not feelings, not a bad day, not an argument with a friend. Nothing.
It is O.K. to feel things. God created us in His image and as emotional beings. We can be honest with God about how we feel. However, don’t let what you are feeling keep you from believing the truth of God’s word. Remember, as strong and as fluctuating as your feelings may be, God’s Word is truer than anything you feel and truer than anything you experience. The Bible has withstood the test of time and never changes (unlike our feelings). Beyond the verses on this page, here are more truths you can hold onto when times are tough: Loving God in Painful Times
Peace From God
God also promises to give us his peace. When your mind is racing, ask God to fill you with the peace that He promises.
Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Psalm 94:19 (TPT) - Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control, the soothing comfort of your presence calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 - Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 11:28-29 - 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.
Romans 8:28(a) - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.
"How do I get this peace God promises?"
You can experience this peace when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You can do this by asking for his forgiveness, believing Jesus’ death on the cross covers your sins, and committing your life to Him.
Once you give your life to Christ, the verses on this page are TRUE for every believer. And that brings peace.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Still have questions about all this? Please read: Learn More About God
