Anxiety

For everyone · Tell us where you are

1. How do I stop worrying?

   • Matt 6:25–34

     ²⁵Therefore 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? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Keep reading

   • Phil 4:6–7

     ⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

   • 1 Pet 5:7

     ⁷Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

2. What does God say about my racing thoughts?

   • Isa 26:3

     ³You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.

   • 2 Cor 10:5

     ⁵We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

   • Phil 4:8

     ⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

3. Can I find rest when my mind won't stop?

   • Matt 11:28–30

     ²⁸Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

   • Ps 4:8

     ⁸I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

   • Ps 131

     ¹A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me. ²Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Keep reading

4. Is anxiety a sin?

   Feeling anxious is not in itself sin. It is part of living in a fallen world, and Jesus Himself was in deep anguish in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33-34; Luke 22:44). Paul felt daily pressure and concern for the churches (2 Cor 11:28; Phil 2:28). Scripture's call is about what we do with anxiety: bring it to God in prayer with thanks (Phil 4:6-7) and cast it on Him because He cares (1 Pet 5:7). Worry becomes sin when it turns into settled distrust, carrying tomorrow without God (Matt 6:31-34). If anxiety is constant or overwhelming, that is not a verdict on your faith. Talk to a doctor or counselor too.

   • Phil 4:6–7

     ⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

   • 1 Pet 5:7

     ⁷Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

   • Mark 14:33–36

     ³³He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed. ³⁴Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” ³⁵Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him. Keep reading

   • 2 Cor 11:28

     ²⁸Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

   • Matt 6:34

     ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.