Bible Verses About Anxiety: 40 Scriptures and Prayers for Worry

The Bible speaks to anxiety directly and often. The verse most people look for is Philippians 4:6-7: "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." Close behind are 1 Peter 5:7 ("Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."), Matthew 6:34 and Isaiah 41:10.

Below are 40 Bible verses about anxiety, worry and fear, grouped by need: worry, fear, peace, depression, sleep and trust in God. Each verse is quoted from the King James Version, which is in the public domain, with a short note on its context and how people use it. After the verses you will find six prayers for anxiety written for this page, practical ways to use Scripture when anxiety is high, and a note on when faith and professional help go together.

Short Bible verses about anxiety to memorize

Short verses are easiest to recall in the moment. Many people write one on a card, a phone lock screen or a sticky note on the bathroom mirror.

• 1 Peter 5:7 – "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
• Psalm 56:3 – "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."
• Psalm 94:19 – "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul."
• Psalm 46:10 – "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
• Matthew 6:34 – "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."
• 2 Timothy 1:7 – "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
• John 14:27 – "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."
• Isaiah 26:3 – "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

Bible verses about anxiety and worry

8 verses that speak directly about worry and what to do with it.

Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV): "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."

Paul's instruction is the most quoted answer to anxiety in the New Testament: bring every concern to God in prayer, with thanks, and the promise is peace that guards both heart and mind.

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV): "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

"Care" here means anxiety. The reason given for handing it over is simple: God cares for you.

Matthew 6:34 (KJV): "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."

The close of Jesus' teaching on worry in the Sermon on the Mount: deal with today, not every possible tomorrow.

Matthew 6:25-27 (KJV): "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? 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? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"

Jesus points to birds that do not store food and asks whether worry can add a single moment to a life.

Luke 12:25-26 (KJV): "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's version of the same question: if worry cannot change the smallest thing, why let it rule the rest?

Psalm 94:19 (KJV): "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul."

An honest verse for a racing mind: the psalmist admits a "multitude of thoughts" and finds comfort in God in the middle of them.

Proverbs 12:25 (KJV): "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad."

Wisdom literature recognizes what anxiety does to a person, and how much a kind word can help.

Psalm 55:22 (KJV): "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

A call to cast the burden on the Lord, with the promise that he will sustain you.

Bible verses about fear

8 for moments when anxiety feels like fear.

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV): "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."

Five promises in one verse: God is with you, is your God, will strengthen, help and uphold you.

Joshua 1:9 (KJV): "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Spoken to Joshua before an overwhelming task; the courage it asks for rests on God's presence, not on feeling brave.

Psalm 56:3 (KJV): "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."

One of the shortest prayers in Scripture, and one of the easiest to memorize for a panicky moment.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV): "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Paul reminds Timothy that fear is not what God gives; power, love and a sound mind are.

Psalm 27:1 (KJV): "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

David asks two questions that answer themselves when the Lord is light and strength.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (KJV): "And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."

Moses to Israel and to Joshua: the Lord goes before you and will not leave you.

Isaiah 43:1-2 (KJV): "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

Waters and fire will come, the prophet says; the promise is not that they never come but that God is present in them.

Psalm 34:4 (KJV): "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

A testimony verse: the psalmist sought the Lord and was delivered from all his fears.

Bible verses about peace

7 verses to read when you need calm.

John 14:27 (KJV): "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."

Jesus' words to his disciples the night before his death: a peace unlike the world's, and a direct "let not your heart be troubled."

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV): "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

Perfect peace is promised to the mind that stays on God and trusts him.

Colossians 3:15 (KJV): "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Let the peace of God "rule" in your heart, with a reminder to be thankful.

Psalm 4:8 (KJV): "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety."

A bedtime verse: lying down in peace and sleeping because the Lord keeps you safe.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (KJV): "Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all."

A blessing you can pray for yourself or someone else: peace always, by all means.

John 16:33 (KJV): "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."

Jesus does not promise a life without trouble; he promises peace in him and says he has overcome the world.

Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV): "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."

The ancient priestly blessing, often read at the end of services and easy to pray over a child or friend.

Bible verses about anxiety and depression

7 for heavy days when worry and sadness come together.

Psalm 34:18 (KJV): "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, a verse many people return to in grief and depression.

Psalm 42:11 (KJV): "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."

The psalmist questions his own downcast soul and answers with hope, a pattern you can use in prayer.

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV): "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."

Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to him for rest.

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV): "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Strength renewed for those who wait on the Lord: running without weariness, walking without fainting.

Psalm 147:3 (KJV): "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."

God heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV): "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

Written after disaster, these verses hold on to mercies that are new every morning.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (KJV): "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;"

Paul describes pressure on every side that still does not end in despair.

Bible verses for sleep and nighttime worry

4 for when anxiety is loudest at night.

Psalm 3:5 (KJV): "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me."

David lay down and slept and woke again, because the Lord sustained him.

Proverbs 3:24 (KJV): "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet."

A promise of sweet sleep without fear for those who keep wisdom.

Psalm 121:3-4 (KJV): "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."

The one who keeps you does not slumber or sleep, so you can.

Psalm 91:1-2 (KJV): "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

Rest in the shadow of the Almighty; a psalm many families read at bedtime.

Bible verses about trusting God

6 for anxiety about the future and decisions.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV): "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Trust with all your heart instead of leaning only on your own understanding.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV): "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Spoken to exiles in Babylon, a promise of a hopeful future that believers have long applied to their own uncertainty.

Romans 8:28 (KJV): "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

All things work together for good to those who love God; a verse for when the pieces do not make sense yet.

Psalm 46:1 (KJV): "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

God as refuge and strength, "a very present help in trouble."

Psalm 46:10 (KJV): "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

"Be still, and know that I am God" — a verse many people use as a breath prayer.

Nahum 1:7 (KJV): "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.

Prayers for anxiety

These prayers are written for 77.today readers and may be prayed as they are or in your own words. The brackets are places to name what is on your mind.

A prayer for anxiety

Lord, my mind is racing and my heart is heavy. You told me to bring everything to you, so I am bringing this: [name what you are worried about]. I cannot carry it well on my own. Thank you that you care for me. Give me your peace, the kind that guards my heart and mind when I do not understand what is happening. Help me take the next small step today and leave tomorrow with you. Amen.

A short prayer for a panic or anxiety attack

God, I am afraid right now. Be with me in this moment. Slow my breathing, steady my heart and remind me that I am not alone. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Amen.

A prayer for anxiety at night

Father, the day is over and my thoughts will not settle. I give you what I could not finish and what I cannot fix. You do not sleep, so I can. Let me lie down in peace and rest, and meet me in the morning with new mercy. Amen.

A prayer for someone with anxiety

Lord, I lift up [name] to you. You know the worries they carry and the fears they may not say out loud. Surround them with your peace, give them people who listen, wisdom to seek help and rest for their body and mind. Let them know they are loved by you and by us. Amen.

A prayer before a stressful day

God, I do not know everything today will bring, but you go before me. Give me a clear head, a calm voice and courage for the hard conversations. When I start to spiral, bring me back to what is true. Thank you that your grace is enough for today. Amen.

A prayer for anxiety about the future

Lord, I keep trying to solve tomorrow. Help me trust you with plans I cannot see and outcomes I cannot control. Show me the next right thing and give me peace to do it. My times are in your hands. Amen.

How to use Bible verses when anxiety is high

Pick one verse, not twenty

When your mind is racing, a long list is hard to hold. Choose one verse that speaks to what you are feeling and stay with it for a week. Psalm 56:3 and 1 Peter 5:7 are short enough to say in one breath.

Pair a verse with slow breathing

Some Christians use a "breath prayer": the first half of a short verse on a slow breath in and the second half on a slow breath out. For example, "Be still" on the inhale and "and know that I am God" on the exhale. Slow, steady breathing is also one of the most common first steps therapists teach for anxiety, so the two fit together naturally.

Write it down

Copying a verse by hand, then writing one sentence about what you are anxious about and one sentence of what the verse says to that worry, turns a vague feeling into something you can pray about.

Read the whole passage

Many anxiety verses are part of larger passages that give them meaning. Matthew 6:25-34 is a single teaching about worry; Philippians 4:4-9 moves from prayer to what to think about; Psalm 46 and Psalm 91 are whole poems about refuge. Reading the full passage keeps a verse from becoming a slogan.

Say it out loud with someone

Reading a verse with a friend, spouse, small group or pastor, and praying for each other, is part of how the early church handled burdens (Galatians 6:2: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.").

Use it as a reminder, not a test

Feeling anxious after reading a verse does not mean your faith failed. The psalms are full of people who were afraid and prayed anyway.

What the Bible says about anxiety

• Anxiety is expected, not shameful. The psalms record fear, sleeplessness and despair without hiding them (Psalm 42, Psalm 55, Psalm 77).
• Worry is met with an invitation, not a rebuke. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6 points to God's care for birds and flowers and asks his listeners to seek God's kingdom first.
• Prayer is the main practice. Philippians 4 links prayer and thanksgiving with peace; 1 Peter 5 links handing over anxiety with God's care.
• Present-focused living. "Take therefore no thought for the morrow" is not a ban on planning but a call to live one day at a time.
• Community matters. Bearing one another's burdens, confessing and praying for each other (James 5:16) are part of the picture.

Faith and professional help

Many pastors and Christian counselors say plainly that prayer and treatment are not opposites. Anxiety disorders are common medical conditions, and the National Institute of Mental Health lists psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication as effective treatments. If worry or fear is constant, interferes with work, school, sleep or relationships, or comes with panic attacks, talk with a doctor or licensed therapist; many counselors are glad to include faith in therapy if you ask.

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or feel you cannot stay safe, call or text 988 (the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any time, or call 911 in an emergency. For the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack, see our guide panic attack vs anxiety attack; for physical symptoms such as chest tightness, see anxiety chest tightness.

Bible verses about anxiety for specific situations

Situation	Verses to start with
Before a test, interview or surgery	Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 31:8
Can't sleep	Psalm 4:8; Psalm 3:5; Psalm 121:3-4
Worry about money or provision	Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:19; Psalm 37:25
Worry about children or family	Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 91; Proverbs 3:5-6
Health anxiety	Psalm 46:1; Isaiah 26:3; 2 Corinthians 4:16
Grief together with anxiety	Psalm 34:18; Psalm 147:3; Matthew 5:4
Anxiety about the future	Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:34

Want to send one of these verses to someone who is struggling? You can put a verse on a free card in our card maker, or find words of encouragement in get well wishes.