What does the Bible say about anxiety? Scripture to encourage the anxious heart

If you had asked me whether I struggled with anxiety five, even three years ago, I would have probably answered no.

But having small children has a way of bringing heart attitudes to the surface! In recent months and years, I’ve become increasingly aware of the underlying feeling of anxiety that I deal with on an almost daily basis - whether it’s toddler tantrums, breastfeeding challenges, social situations, or difficult decisions - there is always a myriad list of circumstances that can create that feeling within me.

Living in a generation that is more anxious than ever, I know I’m not the only one facing this. Perhaps it’s something that you struggle with too.

Where then, should we turn?

As with every area of life, God has a lot to say about anxiety. His Word is full of encouragement, exhortations and instructions. So let’s dive in!

What does the Bible say about anxiety?

‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.’ (Philippians 4:6, NKJV)

This verse contains:

• A command not to be anxious

• An (implied) encouragement that it is possible not to be

• The antidote to anxiety

Let’s start with the command.

‘Be anxious for nothing’.

How does this make you feel? Guilty? Discouraged? Dubious?

The reaction that it produces in us will depend on how we see God.

If we see Him as a mean taskmaster, who wants to taunt us and watch us fail, we will perhaps read this as a harsh and impossible ‘standard’ that we are supposed to live up to.

If, however, we see Him as a loving Father who only asks us to do things that He has also equipped us to do, we will read this as a gentle reminder: ‘Don’t be anxious…because I’ve made it possible for you not to be!’

But how?

How can we obey God’s command to ‘be anxious for nothing’?

Reading on to the next part of the verse, we find the antidote God gives us.

‘But in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.’ (Philippians 4:6, NKJV)

What does this look like on a day-to-day basis?

When you’re facing financial difficulties; your toddler is having yet another meltdown in public; pregnancy carries complications; your workplace is an unpleasant and stressful environment...

Pray, pray, pray. Talk to Him. Give Him every little worry. Share every concern. Make your requests known - ask Him for help - for provision - for wisdom. And thank Him.

Thank Him that He has already made provision - He has already provided the strength, the wisdom, the peace, the joy that we need. We don't need to beg Him for it. All we need to do is turn to Him, receive it and give thanks.

Peter adds to this instruction:

…Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7, NKJV)

Did you notice that word ‘cast’? We don’t just cautiously and timidly push our anxieties to one side. No, we throw them as far away from us as we possibly can. We hurl them at Him!

Why are we commanded to do this?

Because He cares for us!

Counsellors, psychologists, friends and family can be a listening ear, and can help in many ways, but the only one who is able to handle ALL our anxious thoughts - all our problems - all our burdens - is also the One who cares deeply, intimately, knowingly for us.

He knows our inward thoughts. He knows the concerns and burdens we have. He sees them all and He cares so much that He invites us to cast them on Him so that He can carry them Himself.

The Almighty God - the King of the universe - literally gave His only son for you so that you might be free of all that holds you back, including these anxieties.

What happens when we cast our cares on God?

Let’s go back to Philippians chapter 4.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7, NKJV)

The result of casting our anxieties on Him is peace which doesn’t make sense. It can’t be experienced or explained by those who do not know God.

What does that peace do? It guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It becomes a gate that monitors our hearts and minds.

Jesus gives us that gift of peace. In John 14:27, He addresses His disciples - knowing that very soon, he will be leaving them.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27, NKJV)

This peace is not the same peace as the peace that the world seeks. The world is in a constant search for peace but they can never fully know true peace because peace like that is only found in Jesus.

He is the giver of true and complete peace. Perfect peace - shalom shalom. Utter wholeness and completeness, restoration, harmony with others, justice for the oppressed, and ultimately the fulfillment as the Messiah comes to make all things new.

This is what we can experience in Jesus. This is what He offers us, just as He offered it to His disciples.

And because of this gift of peace that is given freely to us, we don’t need to have anxious thoughts.

He commands us to ‘let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid’ (John 14:27). He doesn’t give that command glibly with no alternative or solution. The very reason that we can choose not to be troubled or afraid is because He gives us His peace.

As we reflect on this incredible truth, let’s be women who cast all our cares upon the Lord, knowing that He cares for us deeply; He provides for us fully and He brings peace like nothing else in this world can offer.