The Bible tells worried and frightened people to bring that weight to God. In the Greek of Matthew 6 and Philippians 4 the worry is named with one verb. The passages do not describe an anxiety disorder, and they do not say that a person who still feels afraid has failed.
The King James wording will look, at first, as if it is about something else. “Take no thought” and “be careful for nothing” are that translation’s way of saying the worry the other two files call anxiety. Use the wording switcher and read them together.
If you might act on thoughts of harming yourself, contact local emergency services. In the United States, call or text 988. This page is not a physician, and it is not a pastor who knows you.
About 40,500 monthly US searches. This page also answers “Bible verses about anxiety.” Also asked as: what does the bible say about anxiety; bible verses about anxiety.
The Berean text is the default. The other two wordings are the same verses from the other files.
Paul writes from prison. The peace in the last verse is a guard, not a mood the reader must produce before praying.
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near. 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.
4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 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.
4Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” 5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
See also Romans 12:12 · Philippians 3:1 · Matthew 5:12 · 1 Peter 4:13
In the Sermon on the Mount, after treasure and before judging. The worry he names is food, drink, and clothing.
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? 28And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.’’
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? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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.
25Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? 27“Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? 28Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, 29yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? 31“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
See also Philippians 4:6 · Romans 8:32 · 1 Peter 5:7 · Psalms 55:22
Casting the worry hangs on the command to humble oneself. The care is answered by care.
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. 7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; 7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
See also James 4:10 · Luke 14:11 · Proverbs 29:23 · Matthew 23:12
A psalm about betrayal. The burden is to be thrown onto the Lord.
22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
22Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
See also 1 Peter 5:7 · Psalms 37:5 · Matthew 6:25 · Psalms 62:6
Included because people search it for anxiety. It is a commission to Joshua after Moses’ death. It is not a general ban on feeling afraid.
9Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
9Have 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.
9Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
See also Genesis 28:15 · Deuteronomy 20:1 · Psalms 46:7 · Isaiah 43:1
A row is printed only where a primary document has been opened. A sermon habit is not a row.
What is thy only comfort in life and death? Answer. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ;
Question 1 says comfort, in life and in death, is not being one’s own, but belonging to Christ. The letters in parentheses are footnote marks in this public-domain edition. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 1, Question 1.
This unresting anxiety is the greatest evil which can happen to the soul, sin only excepted.
In part IV, chapter 11, de Sales describes anxiety of mind as a trouble that grows when a person becomes hot and eager to be rid of it, and he calls that unresting anxiety the greatest evil to the soul except sin. He is writing spiritual direction, not a medical diagnosis. Introduction to the Devout Life, part IV, chapter 11.
