On Anxiety and Fear

What does the Bible have to say about anxiety?

 

Did you know anxiety and depression plague millions, maybe billions, of Americans.  Most people I have known struggle with either anxiety or depression.  I have also at times struggled with both.  For some reason these are particularly an issue here in the states.  I think it is because of how fast paced we try to live our lives.  We rarely take time to relax and unwind.  Americans in general are very ambitious, tend to care more what others think of them, and focus on becoming successful and well-liked, which leads to anxiety and depression.

 

Generally anxiety comes when we see people as big and God as small.  When we fear people, instead of God, that causes anxiety.  But "if God is for me, who can be against me."  Right?  And Paul says, "If I were still trying to be accepted by man I would not be a servant of Christ."  We need to have a fear of God instead of a fear of man.  Fear and anxiety are of Satan, but peace is of God.  Satan wants us to live in fear, but God wants to give us his peace.  Amen :)

 

Great verses on anxiety and fear:

  

 

Isaiah 41:10   

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.                 

Philippians 4:6-7         

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.         

Psalm 56:3         

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.                   

2 Timothy 1:7         

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

         

Matthew 6:25-34         

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.                 

Deuteronomy 31:6         

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”                  

1 Peter 5:6-7                    

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.              

Psalm 34:4         

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

         

1 John 4:18         

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.                      

Joshua 1:9         

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.                

Isaiah 35:4         

Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”              

John 14:27                    

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.              

Matthew 6:34         

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.              

Proverbs 12:25         

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.              

Psalm 23:4         

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 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?              

Romans 8:31-39         

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Nothing can. :)             

Psalm 27:1-14         

Of David. 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? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.             

Psalm 55:22-23         

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.              

Romans 15:13         

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.             

Isaiah 43:1         

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.              

Luke 10:19        

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.              

Hebrews 11:1         

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.                 

Hebrews 4:14-16         

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.              

Psalm 94:19         

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.              

Psalm 91:1-16         

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.           

Isaiah 54:17         

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute 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.”                    

Exodus 14:14         

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”                

Job 11:14-15         

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.              

Psalm 111:10         

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!                 

Romans 8:1-39         

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.              

Matthew 28:20         

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”                

Psalm 118:6         

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?         

Isaiah 26:1-21         

     You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. For he has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust.              

Matthew 10:28         

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.                  

Acts 18:9-10         

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”                 

Psalm 121:1-2         

    I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.