Bible Verses for Anxiety: 12 Passages for When You’re Worried

12 Bible verses for anxiety

Each verse below is quoted from the World English Bible, with a line about where it comes from. A verse is easier to lean on when you know who first said it and why.

• Philippians 4:6–7. “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” Paul wrote this letter from prison.
• 1 Peter 5:7. “casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.” The sentence begins in the verse before, with a call to humble yourself under God’s care.
• Psalm 94:19. “In the multitude of my thoughts within me, your comforts delight my soul.” Comfort that arrives in the middle of racing thoughts, not after them.
• Psalm 55:22. “Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.” From a psalm about being betrayed by a close friend.
• Psalm 56:3. “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” David wrote this psalm after the Philistines seized him in Gath. Fear and trust sit in the same sentence.
• Isaiah 41:10. “Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.” God’s promise to his people, spoken through the prophet Isaiah.
• Psalm 34:4. “I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” A song of thanks after a frightening escape.
• Psalm 46:1. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The next verse says “we won’t be afraid” even as the earth gives way.
• Joshua 1:9. “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Said to Joshua as he took over from Moses.
• Isaiah 26:3. “You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.” Peace here grows from a mind that keeps returning to God.
• 2 Timothy 1:7. “For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” Paul’s encouragement to Timothy, a younger leader facing hard work.
• Psalm 4:8. “In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me live in safety.” A verse for nights when worry keeps you awake.

What does the Bible say about anxiety?

The Bible doesn’t pretend anxiety isn’t real. The Psalms are full of fear, sleeplessness and racing thoughts, and Paul admits to “anxiety for all the assemblies” he cared for (2 Corinthians 11:28). What these passages offer is a direction: tell God what you’re carrying, ask for help, and remember that you aren’t alone.

That is why so many of them are prayers. You can read Psalm 56:3 or Psalm 94:19 as your own words, out loud, in the middle of the worry rather than after it has passed.

A simple way to read when your mind is racing

When it’s hard to concentrate, read less, not more:

1. Choose one verse from the list above. Just one.
2. Read it out loud slowly, twice. Hearing it helps when you can’t focus on a page.
3. Read the paragraph around it, so you know who is speaking and why.
4. Turn it into a sentence of prayer in your own words.
5. Keep one phrase with you, on a note, a widget or your lock screen, and come back to it later in the day.

Psalms to read on an anxious night

These whole psalms are worth reading start to finish when you can’t sleep:

• Psalm 4, an evening prayer that ends with lying down in peace.
• Psalm 23, about the shepherd who stays close in the darkest valley.
• Psalm 46, a song of steadiness when everything shakes.
• Psalm 121, which begins, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?”
• Psalm 131, three short verses about a quieted soul.

For a short bedtime routine and more verses for the night, see our Bible verses for sleep.

When anxiety needs more than a verse

Scripture can steady you, and it is not a replacement for care. If worry is affecting your sleep, work or relationships for weeks at a time, talk to a doctor or counselor and tell someone you trust. Getting help is not a lack of faith.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, contact emergency services now. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any hour.

For the harder days in between, our list of Bible verses for encouragement covers grief, tiredness and waiting.

Common questions