Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. We’re human. But sometimes, fear creeps into our thoughts when we’re having a rough day, things aren’t going our way, or we experience a stressful event. Learn how to calm your anxiety with these 25 best Bible verses to calm anxiety and peace of mind.
What does God say about fear and anxiety?
In Psalm 56:3-4, David says, “What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.” And he continues in verse 5 with this truth: “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.”
The Bible teaches us to trust God even when we’re afraid. Psalm 118:6 says, “The Lord is for me; I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Psalms 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (KJV).
Bible verses to calm anxiety
Here are the 25 Bible verses I recommend to readers struggling with anxiety. I tried to choose poems that offered guidance and inspiration to their lives.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Present your request to God through prayers.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Paul encourages us to hold fast in prayer and thanksgiving to God in all situations. Today, life may seem harsh or rigid, but we should understand that Jesus Christ is with us every step of the way, so we should not let anxiety get the best of us.
Psalm 94:19 – Consolation in God.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:19
As Christian, we should not worry too much or be anxious about anything, for we are comforted by the love of Christ in all we do. This love that was shared on the cross for everyone is our consolation.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Do no lean to your understanding.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
King Solomon writes telling us that we should trust in God rather than believing in our understanding and power.
We will pass through challenges in life, and we must learn to trust in God at all times during such a period.
1 Peter 5:6-8 – A solution to all anxiety
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-8
This Bible verse encourages us to stay humble in his mighty hand no matter what we may face in life.
His mighty hand is a security umbrella for our coverage from fear and anxiety. Wait on God (which requires patience), and he will lift us in due time, his promises are sure, and God never fails.
John 14:27 – Don’t let your heart be troubled.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
As Christians, we are encouraged not to fear nor let our hearts be troubled because God has assured us his ultimate peace.
The world could give us peace and take it back or give us peace accompanied by sadness, but the lord has encouraged us to be steadfast and not be afraid of the surety of his vacation.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 – God’s peace in a troubling time.
Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
The Bible assures us of God’s peace in troubling times, during anxiety, and when sadness comes knocking.
In God’s peace, we find comfort and consolation in difficult times and joy in times of pain. His presence is promised to us all, so we should never fear, for the Lord is with us always.
Psalm 23:1-6 – The most calming verses for anxiety.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:1-6
This verse refers to Christians as sheep with our Lord God as our shepherd/guide in times of fear and our provider in times of want and need.
During troubled times, the Lord assures us of safe passage by still waters that best describe his peace; hence, there is no need to fear, for the Lord is with us as he directs our paths.
The Lord has also shielded us from our enemies through his great anointing, which overflows; his love is now and forever more.
Proverbs 12:25 – Living in the Word of God.
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25
When fear and anxiety set in as believers, it could cause depression and prolonged sadness which is unhealthy, but the lord has listed his excellent word as an antidote and cure to anxiety.
Christians who face anxiety should read God’s word often, for in his excellent word can we find peace and encouragement during sad times.
Hebrews 13:6 – The Lord is your helper.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13:6
In our service to God, we might face persecutions and threats as Christians, but the Lord has promised to be our guide and helper.
This verse also encourages us not to be afraid as he will always protect us, so we can always be bold to acknowledge our helper at all times.
Isaiah 41:10 – The Lord strengthens you.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
This Bible verse encourages us as believers not to be afraid because God is with us always. Even when faced with difficult situations or trapped, we should be conscious of God’s presence as he will always lend out a helping hand to us.
Bible verses to calm fear and anxiety.
Given the stressful world we live in, it’s no surprise that countless numbers of people suffer from fear and anxiety. Unfortunately, anxiety is the most common mental illness in America. The excellent news is scripture can be a source of comfort and hope during any time of challenge and distress. Here are some Bible verses to calm fear and anxiety that my wife found inspirational during her time-fighting cancer.
Luke 12:22-26 – The need to worry less.
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Luke 12:22-26
God has assured us of his general provision for food, shelter, and good health. Sometimes we worry about how we will feed, what we will wear or how we will sort out life’s issues, but if God can provide food for the birds of the air that do not plant or harvest, he can provide for us in abundance.
Therefore there is no need for us to worry or be anxious as God’s children as he has plans for us.
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1
David is affirmative of his faith in God during troubled times as he sees God’s continuous faithfulness on many accounts. This should encourage Christians to shun fear and hold on to God, our light, and salvation.
Psalm 55:22
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”
Psalm 55:22
God has encouraged us in this verse to take our problems to him and to believe in his promises. A righteous person is someone who does things right and believes in God; this is a quality that a true child of God must possess to access his sustaining grace. He will never let his children fall because they are under his divine protection and care.
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
The Lord has commanded us to stand firm and trust him for strength during challenging times. His presence is assured in our life’s journey, and there is no need to fear or allow anxiety to take the best of us because God will never leave or forsake us. His presence is indeed everywhere.
Isaiah 41:13-14
“’For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 41:13-14
God knows that we could be afraid at some point in our lives, but he has promised us his divine protection during these times.
Fear is not an option because the Lord our Redeemer has declared always to be there to help us in times of trouble and distress.
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
The reality is that we will be faced with problems and challenging times, it might seem as if our life is over, but God grants us hope and strength. He is always there to help us and be our saving grace in times of trouble, our refuge and guide.
Psalm 118:6-7
“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper.”
Psalm 118:6-7
David had troubled times when enemies wanted to attack him, but he drew his strength and faith from the promises of God. He knew that no harm could come to him. No matter what we face in life as Christians, God will always be our helper and guard in times of trouble.
Proverbs 29:25
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”
Proverbs 29:25
When the fare of man increases, our faith in God reduces. Fear begins with doubt, giving room for negative thoughts and actions. Fear should be conquered to give room for faith to grow and flourish. The Lord has given us his mandate of protection and guidance when we trust and believe him.
His promises are genuine; therefore, we should nurture our faith in God so that anxiety won’t set in.
Bible verses to calm an anxious heart.
From Job to Jeremiah, the Bible is filled with quotes from worried people. They struggled with anxiety, stress, and fear. How did they cope? Below are helpful Bible verses to calm an anxious heart.
Mark 5:36
“Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Mark 5:36 (NKJV)
In This bible passage, God instructs us to shun fear and have faith in God at all times.
Faith works with belief. This is an Armour that a true child of God must always wear to conquer fear and anxiety.
Luke 1:37
“For nothing will be impossible with God”.
Luke 1:37 (HCSB)
No matter what we go through in life or our doubts, the Lord has assured us of possibilities and breakthroughs even when we have a task and can’t accomplish it.
God has a way of solving problems, and there is nothing God can’t do or situations he can’t handle. So we only have to believe.
Psalms 27:14
“Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!”
Psalms 27:14 (NKJV)
This is a commandment to wait on God for his divine intervention in situations we can’t handle. Therefore, patience is the watchword and the critical message in this passage.
When waiting on God for his promises, he also instructs us to be courageous, stand firm, and believe in his promises.
Isaiah 46:4
“I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is grey. I made you and I will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you.”
Isaiah 46:4 (GNB)
The Lord loves and cares for us; even when we are old, feeble, and unable to cater to ourselves, he has promised to nurse us just as a mother would help her little child.
When we are weak, our lord will always help us stand up again, even if we fall, or when we are lost, he will find us and rescue us.
Isaiah 43:1-2
“Do not be afraid – I will save you. I have called you by name – you are Mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burnt; the hard trials that come will not hurt you.”
Isaiah 43:1-2 (GNB)
Sometimes fear, anxiety, and difficult times might come our way, but God has promised to save us in the midst of it all. The lord has also said that trying times will come, we might be full of doubt in the process, but we are encouraged to stand firm, have faith, and rest in his comforting arms.
Exodus 33:14
“Then He replied, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”
Exodus 33:14 (HCSB)
As God’s children, we would be on life’s path and have a few hurdles, but God has assured us of his presence at all times and given us rest. Therefore, rest in this contest best explains God’s peace in exchange for fear and anxiety.
Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (HCSB)
The Lord has commanded us to take all our burdens, problems, and anxieties to him.
He has promised us rest in return, this is the ultimate exchange, and we should always talk to God rather than allow fear or anxiety to take the best of us.
