In the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander tells his friend Jacob, “Worrying means you suffer twice.”
For those of us who have been plagued by worries, we understand what he means. The majority of what we fret about are events in the future, or at least our perception of these events. We suffer twice because not only are we going to experience these events, which may involve discomfort, but we have already suffered through excessive mental preoccupation with the events. Worrying only increases our problems.
Although we cannot control worries from popping into our minds, we can control how we respond to events that cause us to worry. The Bible directs us on how to respond while also giving us comfort and encouragement.
Before examining Bible verses that can help us not to worry, though, we need to understand a few things. Unlike self-help books, Scripture never promises us that reading verses will make anxiety and fear vanish. Turning to the Bible during tough times does not instantly solve all our problems. However, it can change our perspective and refocus our attention on God instead of on our struggles. We can cling to the truth of what the Lord says because His Word is solid and unchanging.
In addition to recognizing that reading Bible verses will not miraculously change our circumstances, we also need to recognize that, in some instances, excessive worry could be part of an underlying mental health issue. We do not need to guilt others into believing they lack faith in God because they are struggling with anxiety and worry due to mental health. These symptoms may stem from conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or depression. When worrying becomes unmanageable, we should pray and read Scripture but also seek out medical help. Doing so is not unspiritual nor does it mean a person lacks trust in the Lord.
The following five Bible verses may not take away our worries or fix our problems, but they can anchor us. Whenever we face the surging sea of anxious thoughts, we can cling to these truths and find firm footing.
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1. "The Lord himself goes before you. . ."
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" (Deuteronomy 31:8).
After he had finished speaking to the Israelites, Moses encouraged Joshua in his new leadership role. The old prophet and leader of Israel would not be joining the others in the Promised Land. Instead of instructing Joshua to trust in physical strength or military strategy, Moses reminded him of the Lord’s presence. God would go before him, and all of Israel. Because of that truth, Joshua was to take courage and not fear.
Although this verse is set in a historical context that applied to Joshua and the Israelites, it is still applicable to believers today. The author of Hebrews quoted from this passage, reminding Christians that the Lord is with us and will never leave us (see Hebrews 13:5-6). Since the Lord is our Helper, we do not have to be afraid or anxious.
The message of this verse is vital in times of worry. Often, we dwell on tasks or events in the future, wondering how we will accomplish or achieve our goals. As these thoughts simmer, we become fearful and paralyzed with feelings of inadequacy. Pausing to meditate on the words that Moses told Joshua can help us remember that it is by God’s strength that we can do anything. He is with us, regardless of the situation.
Take heart, the mighty God of Israel who led Joshua across the Jordan River into the Promised Land is the same God who is with you today. He is a faithful and loving Helper.
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2. “When anxiety was great within me . . ."
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy” (Psalm 94:19).
In this psalm, the writer is calling for God’s vengeance on the wicked. He sees an abundance of violence and injustice in the world (see Psalm 94:4-7). Despite the evil around him, the psalmist finds reassurance in God’s righteous judgment.
He trusted that the Lord was his Helper in times of distress (Psalm 94:17). God’s comfort brought him joy whenever the psalmist experienced a multitude of anxious thoughts due to the prevailing wickedness (Psalm 94:19). He could take comfort knowing that the Lord would punish the evildoers and not forsake His people.
A lot of our worries could also be due to the injustices and suffering we see in the world: Poverty, racism, murder, human trafficking, forced adult and child labor, and child marriage. We could also worry about wars and pandemics, especially considering the events in the past few years. Like the psalmist, we feel overwhelmed by the wickedness in the world. Evil seems to be winning.
As the church, we should feel sorrow and anger over these injustices. However, we can find comfort in the Lord, knowing that He is good and cannot tolerate evil. He sees all things and promises to bring justice. Evil may seem to prevail currently, but a day is coming when Jesus will return and make everything right (see Revelation 22:12). One day, evil, suffering, and death will be no more (Revelation 21:4).
If your mind is filled with worries and fears about the condition of the world and those who are suffering, then take comfort in God. He is not indifferent to the wickedness in the world. Jesus came to conquer sin and death and will return soon to stop all evil and suffering.
Until then, may we comfort others with the comfort the Lord gives us, and use our resources and opportunities to help those who are oppressed, enslaved, and in need.
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3. "Do not worry about your life . . ."
"Therefore 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?" (Matthew 6:25).
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus taught the disciples about why they should not worry about the necessities of life. He gave examples from nature to show how God provides food for the birds and beautiful adornment for the fields (Matthew 6:26-30). If God does this for animals and nature, then we can trust that He will provide us with food, clothing, and other needs.
In addition to teaching us that a disciple should not worry as the pagans do (Matthew 6:32), Christ also warned us that worrying adds nothing to life (Matthew 6:27). It does not increase the years of our life. Instead, fretting causes us to lose focus on what matters--living for the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).
For many of us, the daily worries we encounter are often related to the necessities of life. We may worry about how we will pay for groceries, bills, or rent. These anxious thoughts can plague us and make us lose sight of seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else. Although we should be wise about our money and responsible about working to provide for ourselves and our families, we need to remember that provision in life comes from the Lord.
He is the One who enables us to work and make money to buy the things we need. Every good thing comes from Him (James 1:17). He has also set in place a community of believers who are there to help us when life is challenging and to assist those in need.
Instead of allowing your mind to drift into anxiety about food, clothing, shelter, or other necessities, set your thoughts on pursuing the Kingdom of God.
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4. "Instead, pray about everything . . ."
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT).
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul instructs us not to worry or “be anxious about anything.” He is not telling us to live carelessly. He also does not mean that we will live without worries or anxieties. Instead, he is warning us against excessive worry that distracts us from living for the Lord. This teaching mirrors what Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 6.
To alleviate our anxiety, Paul exhorts us to pray about everything. We can tell the Lord about our fears and needs while also thanking Him for His loving provision. The prayerful position of gratitude changes our perspective and reorients us away from excessive anxiety.
Sometimes our anxious thoughts can run through our minds in endless loops. During those times, we need something to disrupt the loop and refocus our attention. Praying can help us do this. When we talk to God about our worries, we are trusting Him with our fears. He listens and cares.
Also, praying forces us to think about the Lord instead of remaining preoccupied with our worries. Our fears about the future may seem gigantic, but God is always bigger. He has taken care of us in the past and He will continue to do so in the future. No matter what happens, He has promised to always be with us (see Matthew 28:20).
When you find yourself worrying, pause and tell God about your thoughts. The act of praying will help you refocus and find hope in the Lord.
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5. "Give all your cares and worry to God . . ."
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT).
Like Matthew 6:25 and Philippians 4:6, 1 Peter 5:7 instructs us not to worry, but to instead cast our cares and anxieties on God. Peter quoted from Psalm 55:22, which tells us to “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you” (NLT). We are not meant to carry unnecessary worry that distracts us from living in obedience to God.
To cast our worries on God means that we trust Him with whatever is causing us to fret. For many people, this can be difficult, especially if they think they should be self-dependent. However, we need to recognize our dependence on the Lord and trust Him to work in the situation according to His perfect plan.
Even if we acknowledge our dependence on God, we could still wonder if He cares about our worries. This is not a new question. Multiple people asked the Lord Jesus whether He cared about what was happening to them during His earthly ministry. The disciples asked Christ if He cared they were about to drown (Mark 4:38). Similarly, Martha asked Jesus if He cared that Mary was not helping her (Luke 10:40). As humans, we are prone to wonder if God cares.
As this verse reminds us, God does care. He cares about each individual just as much as He cares about the disciples, Martha, and Mary. Hence, the Lord invites us to address our worries in the context of a close relationship with Him. He wants us to come to Him with what we are feeling and the things we are concerned about.
Worrying is natural. But, in the moments when you find yourself worrying, remember that the Lord is with you and cares about you. He does not want you to be weighed down or distracted by the worries of this life, but to follow Him and pursue His Kingdom. Turn to Him in prayer, trusting that He is greater than any anxious or fearful thought.
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Originally published Friday, 26 January 2024.