In our fast-paced and information-overloaded culture, anxiety is almost unavoidable. Our minds and bodies were never designed to carry the burdens of the whole world. Only God is equipped with the power to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). The best way to find peace in a world that is screaming reasons for fear at us is to meditate on the scriptures and approach God in prayer, exchanging our worries for his peace. They are full of reminders of God’s faithfulness, his power, his plan for us, and powerfully offers our hearts peace that surpasses understanding.
In moments that I have battled nagging fear, taking time to commit my heart to memorizing God’s Word has helped to shift the narrative that threatens to overwhelm my mind and body. Rather than fixating on the darkness around us I am reminded that the light has come and is greater than the darkness (John 1:5). Instead of believing that the future is hopeless, I read that God has given me a hope-filled future that I can be excited about (Jeremiah 29:11).
What we fixate our thoughts on, that is what we see. If our practice is to fill our souls with negativity, news that we cannot change or control, and live without faith that God can do good works, we will be filled with anxiety and despair. As believers we have the chance to see a greater reality than what fills the headlines on our screens. We can trust in that the merciful God-of-the-universe is always at work. With him we are never hopeless!
Here are some quick prayers, verses, and meditations to remind us of God’s goodness when we are anxious:
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1. A Prayer against Anxiety
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
Father,
We thank you that we can bring our requests to you in prayer and you promise to exchange our anxiety with a peace the surpasses all understanding. You are so gracious to be willing to hear us and all our wandering thoughts. Our request to you is that you would lift the burden of anxiety from our lives. Replace our restlessness with stillness. Our frustration with contentment. Help us to release all the many unknowns we face over to you and trust your sovereignty. Guard our minds and hearts against the darkness that anxiety brings into our lives.
Amen.
2. A Prayer for Peace
"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." - John 14:27
God,
I thank you that you give us peace. When we know you and accept you as our Savior, we do not have to be afraid. We no longer trust in men but we find hope in the Lord! Give me strength to meditate on this truth. To find your peace in the details of this life. Let me appreciate the beauty in our world and not let my mind be overwhelmed by the troubles that can feel so overwhelming. Give me the wisdom I need to slow down and take time to be present with you and with the people I love. Let these moments be healing for my soul, reminding me of your goodness and love.
Amen.
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3. A Prayer for Thanksgiving
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." - Philippians 4:6
Father,
I come to you giving you my concerns. I know that you alone have control over what happens in the Heavens and here on Earth. I let these worries go and instead choose to give thanks for what you have done for me and for who you are! I thank you that you loved me so much to offer me salvation for hope that extends past the grave. I thank you that you are a God of justice and the things that grieve my heart also grieve yours. I praise you because you are patient, not wanting any of us to perish but all to come to know you and love you. I stand in awe of your many wonders that I can behold as your child. I give thanks because you are a good Father to me.
Amen.
4. A Prayer for Courage
"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.” - Joshua 1:9
Father,
Today I may feel dismayed. I may feel unsure. I may be afraid. But I know that you have promised to be with me wherever I go. Give me courage and strength to walk forward with you. Help me to be brave and faithful to the calling you have placed on my life. Help me not to look to things that may distract me but keep my eyes fixed on you alone. I invite you to make me strong even though I am weak.
Amen.
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5. A Prayer to Trust You with My Tomorrows
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Matthew 6:34
God,
I trust that tomorrow is yours. I believe that your mercies are new every morning. I give you every worry I have about the future. Help me to rely on you knowing that your grace is sufficient to meet all of my needs. While I may face troubles, with you I am never alone. Let me be content and present in this moment, not borrowing worries from a future that I have not yet seen. Increase my faith so I am able to live free of anxiety.
Amen.
6. A Prayer to Trust the Lord
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6
God,
I declare that I trust in you with all my heart. Let me set aside my own plans, my own understanding of my life, and choose to lean on you. Straighten my path. Keep me on the narrow road that is Heaven bound. Every step of the way helps me to do all I can to acknowledge you. Giving you the glory for every good gift I have been given. Asking for your strength when the path feels scary and uncertain. Go before me and hold me in your hand as I commit to trusting you with all my life.
Amen.
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7. A Prayer against Fear
"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." - Psalm 56:3
Jesus,
When I am afraid, remind me that I can trust you! Be my comfort. Be my light in the darkness that is too common in this world. Hold me close in the moments that I am afraid. In the waiting moments when things are unclear, let your presence rest on me. Offer your comforting Spirit as I process the emotions that you have given me to work through in this life. Give me wisdom to walk through scary circumstances. In every season of life show me your ways and teach me your path. I will always put my trust in you.
Amen.
8. A Prayer of Love
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39
God,
I thank you that your love is powerful and relentless. I cannot be hidden from you. My circumstances are never outside of your view. There is no place on Earth or power in the universe that is greater than your never ending love for me. Let that love cover me and comfort me. Wrap me in your love when I am tempted to live in fear. Remind me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by a God that made me on purpose with a purpose. You will never leave or forsake me. I can trust in you. Thank you for your relentless, never-ending love.
Amen.
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9. A Prayer Reminding Us of Heaven
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” - John 14:1-4
Father,
Remind me that my life on Earth is just merely the beginning, on my way to an eternity spent with you. When I am anxious, remind me that you have a place prepared for me in which we get to dine with you. You have made a room for me, thought ahead about all that I truly need, and have promised me that the best is yet to come. Let this Heaven-centered view give me hope as I live on Earth. Let me be a person who does all I can to bring a bit of Heaven down now.
Amen.
10. A Prayer to Not Be Anxious about Money
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” - Hebrews 13:5-6
Father,
Break me of my love of money. Let me embrace contentment, seeing what I have as enough. Let me live at peace, knowing that when I have a true need you are my helper and will provide for me. Give me the strength I need to set aside my trust in money and instead live a life that boldly trusts in you! All I have is from you and for you. Let that reality be reflected in the posture of my heart.
Amen.
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11. A Prayer for a Mind That Is Stayed on Him
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." - Isaiah 26:3
Jesus,
My mind is prone to wander. It even wants to fixate on the negative rather than believe that your goodness is more powerful than all the evil in this world. Give me a mind that is stayed on you. Grow in me a faith that will trust you, no matter what comes your way. Take my every anxious thought and through that growth let me be a person who can live with perfect peace. Amen.
12. A Prayer for God to Lead
"A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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." - Psalm 23:1-6
God,
Your way is better than my way. Your way leads me towards beauty. Towards restoration. Towards righteousness. Your Spirit shields me from the worst of the shadow. It comforts me in the most difficult of moments. When you lead me I am brave. I do not have to fear evil. God, I need you to lead me because I know your way is better. Let your will be done in my life.
Amen.
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Originally published Wednesday, 12 March 2025.