Fear and anxiety are uninvited guests who arrive at the front doors of our lives and don’t bother to knock. They often push themselves in and don’t take the subtle hints that they’ve overstayed their welcome. They don’t care about the destruction they leave in their wake, the knots they turn in our stomachs, or the constriction they place on our chests.
These unwelcome houseguests are so rude that they dominate our attention and distract us from the productive work we have to do. We don’t want them to stay, but we often feel powerless to kick them out. Knowing we’re not alone in experiencing these uninvited guests helps, but how can we overcome them? Is it possible to put these powerful foes in their place?
Dealing with fear and anxiety is part of the human experience. It was the first emotion Adam and Eve felt in the garden after they disobeyed God: “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid, so I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10). Fear can be a natural consequence of sin.
But sometimes, circumstances enter our lives through no fault of our own and bring with them these uninvited guests. Fear and anxiety can be debilitating and cloud our view of reality. When we’re desperate for comfort, hope, and renewed vision, God’s Word is where our hope is found. Consider these 20 Verses as a starting point of what God’s Word says about fear and anxiety. What other verses would you add to the list?
20 Bible Verses On Fear and Anxiety
- Psalm 34:4 (ESV)
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. - 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. - John 14:27 (ESV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. - Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Matthew 6:34 (ESV)
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. - Psalm 27:1 (ESV)
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? - Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. - Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - 1 John 4:18 (ESV)
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. - Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. - Psalm 55:22-23 (ESV)
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. - Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 54:17 (ESV)
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” - Lamentations 3:57 (ESV)
You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ - Matthew 10:28 (ESV)
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. - John 14:1 (ESV)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. - Proverbs 29:25 ESV
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. - Deuteronomy 3:22 (ESV)
You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.’ - Hebrews 13:6 (ESV)
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Kiss the Wave
Our fears and anxieties can be powerful foes that burst into our lives like uninvited houseguests. We might feel we’re at their mercy, unable to fight back and overcome them with faith. However, our fears and anxieties may be the tools God uses to remind us of our constant need for him. The next time fear and anxiety threaten to overwhelm you, use them as an invitation to turn your worries over to the Lord. Charles Spurgeon said, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”
Fear and anxiety may overpower us, but they are no match for Jesus. He’s your Rock and your firm foundation. Cast your cares on him, for he cares for you.
Cara
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- Comfort for Those Who Wait in Expectant Hope
- How to Set Your Hope Fully on the Grace
- Jesus is Our Living Hope
- Hope for the Doubting Thomases of the World
- 20 Bible Verses About Thanking God in Hard Times
P.S. Learning to cast our fears and anxieties onto the Lord is a renewed mindset. Consider how you can strengthen your mind and heart with the mindset of holy leisure. A pursuit of holy leisure is a mindset for how we engage with God’s Word. I invite you to download this free resource to learn more.
