Bible Verses for Anxiety and Worry

The Lord does not ask the anxious to carry their worries alone. He invites you to cast every care on Him, because He cares for you.

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What the Bible says

Paul does not tell the anxious heart to try harder; he tells it where to take its cares. “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). Then comes the promise: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Worry is answered by prayer, and prayer is answered by the peace of God.

Peter and David use the same word. Peter writes, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). David writes, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee” (Psalm 55:22). The burden is not cast away into nothing; it is cast upon the Lord. The reason given is not that the trouble is small, but that the One who receives it cares for you and will hold you up.

Jesus speaks to worry in the Sermon on the Mount. “Take no thought for your life” (Matthew 6:25), He says, and points to the birds: “your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26). He gives a better pursuit: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). And He closes the door on tomorrow: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow” (Matthew 6:34).

Anxiety scatters the mind; God’s peace gathers it to Himself. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). Jesus said to a busy, troubled Martha, “thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful” (Luke 10:41–42). That one thing is sitting at His feet. And He gives what the world cannot: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).

14 verses, King James Version

  1. Isaiah 26:3

    Perfect peace for a mind stayed on God

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

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  2. John 14:27

    The peace Jesus gives

    27Peace 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.

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  3. Matthew 6:33

    Seek His kingdom first

    33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

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  4. John 14:1

    Let not your heart be troubled

    1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

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  5. Philippians 4:6–7

    Pray about everything, with thanks

    6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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  6. 1 Peter 5:7

    He cares for you

    7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

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  7. Matthew 6:25–27

    Your Father feeds the birds

    25Therefore 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? 26Behold 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? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

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  8. Matthew 6:34

    One day at a time

    34Take 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.

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  9. Psalms 55:22

    Hand your burden to the Lord

    22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

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  10. Luke 10:41–42

    Jesus gently calls Martha back to Him

    41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

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  11. Psalms 94:19

    His comfort for racing thoughts

    19In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

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  12. Psalms 61:1–2

    A prayer for an overwhelmed heart

    1Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

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  13. Psalms 139:23–24

    Invite God into your thoughts

    23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

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  14. Proverbs 12:25

    Worry weighs; a kind word helps

    25Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

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Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.