Verses for When You Feel Anxious

Your mind won't sit still. Here are eight verses for that, and what Scripture actually tells you to do with the thoughts, not just how to feel about them.

By SimpleBible Editorial 2 min read
A bedside lamp lit at night beside a phone and rumpled sheets, a closed Bible nearby

The short answer

Philippians 4:6-7 is the verse most people already know for anxiety, and for good reason: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." It doesn't tell you to stop worrying. It tells you where to take the worry.

Your mind won't sit still. Here are eight verses for that, and what Scripture actually tells you to do with the thoughts, not just how to feel about them.

The short answer

Philippians 4:6-7 is the verse most people already know for anxiety, and for good reason: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." It doesn't tell you to stop worrying. It tells you where to take the worry.

Eight verses for anxious thoughts

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

Guard, in the original language, is a military word. Something standing watch.

"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." (Matthew 6:34)

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

Care, twice in one sentence. Yours handed over, his already there.

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

Multitude. Not one anxious thought, a crowd of them, met with comfort anyway.

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

"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." (John 14:27)

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

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Get one matched to right now

There isn't yet a dedicated "anxious" mood in Today's Verse, the closest match today is Overwhelmed, which shares a lot of the same ground. Either way, the app matches a verse to how you're doing three times a day, out of a rotating set for that feeling, so it's never the same one on repeat.

Get today's verse matched to how you're feeling, right in the app.

A short prayer for anxious thoughts

God, my mind won't stop circling tonight. I'm not asking for every answer right now, just enough peace to get through today. Thank you for staying close even when I can't quiet down. Guard my heart the way only you actually can. Amen.

Common questions

What is the number one Bible verse for anxiety?

Philippians 4:6-7 is the passage most commonly cited, since it both names the anxious feeling directly ("be careful for nothing," an older phrase for "don't be anxious") and gives a specific instruction: bring it to God in prayer, and expect a peace that doesn't fully make logical sense.

Does the Bible say anxiety is a sin?

No verse states that feeling anxious is itself sinful. Philippians 4:6 is an instruction about what to do with anxious feelings, not a condemnation of having them. Scripture treats anxiety as something to bring to God, not something to feel guilty about on top of.

What does "take no thought for the morrow" mean?

Matthew 6:34 isn't advising against planning. In context, it follows a passage about God's care for basic needs, and the point is that tomorrow's specific worries don't need to be carried today as well as today's. Each day gets handed its own portion.

Why isn't there an "Anxious" mood in the app yet?

The app's current mood list uses Overwhelmed as the closest match for anxious feelings. If that's not quite right for you, Overwhelmed is still the best starting point until a dedicated Anxious mood is added.

Sources

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