Bible Verses About Worry: How to Handle It God’s Way

Looking for Bible verses about worry? You’ve come to the right place. Of the many human experiences we have in common, worry is probably one of the more common.

Even those individuals who tend to be unshakeable in a crisis find themselves, in certain circumstances, pondering what is to come, what might happen next, and the best strategy to face this possible future. Worry seems to be a common human struggle that takes up a lot of head space and can make life harder than it has to be.

Our lives today are quite fast-paced, and there are a lot of moving parts that make up the whole. We are bombarded by news, viral social media stories and clips, and more every hour of every day. These often tell us how things could go wrong at any moment, whether it’s our health, relationships, finances, or the future of our planet. But no matter what the topic, the predominant theme is to be worried or concerned. Christian Counseling Allen understands these challenges and offers support for those seeking clarity and peace amidst the chaos.

It’s no wonder we are anxious about ourselves, our lives, and what coming next. Challenges are real, but maybe there’s a different way to deal with them. The Bible offers us a different way, one gives us both comfort and practical wisdom along the way.

Why Worry Isn’t Good for You

When things seem like they are larger than life, immediate, and possibly life-altering, one of the strategies we can employ is to worry about them. Maybe it gives us a sense of control or mastery over the situation but worry seems to be how we naturally respond to anything that is uncertain or may pose a threat to us and our well-being.

Worry isn’t necessarily all bad. Being concerned about the future can motivate you to act and begin making moves to prepare for upcoming challenges. Being uncertain about an outcome can push you to try and make that outcome as certain as humanly possible. Worry can move you to think about your situation carefully and to start creating solutions to problems. Worry can be a help.

The downside of worry is that when you don’t rein it in, it starts to cloud matters instead of bringing them into sharp focus. A bit of worry to get you thinking can be helpful, but past a certain point, worry starts to derail clear thinking. You can start imagining unhelpful scenarios that drum up more fear than motivation, and you can wind up chasing your own tail without getting anywhere.

When you worry a lot, it can take space, time, and energy that you could use in other pursuits. Have you ever had a night spent worrying about something, only to get up in the morning and things haven’t moved an inch? All you’ve managed to accomplish is to lose sleep and enter the day less rested, and more prone to emotional outbursts due to fatigue.

Not only does chronic worry affect your relationships with the people closest to you, but it can also seriously affect your health. Worry has been linked to issues as significant and as diverse as cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal issues, or a weakened immune system which leaves you more vulnerable to further illness.

The Roots of Worry, According to The Bible

There is a physiological way to describe and explain worry, including why we worry even when it becomes detrimental to our well-being. It’s helpful to understand this perspective, but it’s also helpful to consider the biblical perspective on why we worry. At its root, worry stems from a fear of the unknown. We don’t know what is to come, and we lack control in being able to direct the future.

These limitations are one of the many realities of human existence. For whatever reason, God has decided that the humans He created would have limitations in their faculties and abilities. One possibility this creates for God’s creation is trusting in God’s provision and management of the world. At the heart of worry is the nagging feeling that maybe things aren’t going to be okay and that it’s up to us to ensure that they are.

Instead of leaning into fear or being overly concerned that we don’t know what is to come, what humans are called to is to trust that God loves us, and He’s got this. If you think about it, that’s what the temptation in the garden was about – can we leave things in God’s hands and do things His way? Is He trustworthy? The first humans chose to do life on their terms, opening us up to the world as we know it today (Genesis 3).

We are daily confronted by a similar choice; whether to trust in God’s plan and provision or not. Jesus addresses this directly in Matthew 6:25-34, urging us not to be anxious or worry about our lives, what we will eat or drink, or about our bodies. He reminds us of how God provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, emphasizing and reminding us of our value in His eyes, and His provision.

Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) says “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Anxiety or worry creates an emotional burden that the Lord wants to relieve. Not only does worry affect us emotionally, but physically and spiritually too. Have you ever found yourself worrying instead of praying, or thinking about what to do instead of stepping forward in simple obedience to what the Lord has said? Worry can do that in your life.

How to Handle Worry God’s Way

Worry can be damaging in several ways. However, there is a way to find peace and overcome worry. Some of the strategies the Bible gives us include the following:

Pray instead Scripture points out that worry can be directly addressed by pointing our hearts, minds, and spirits toward the Lord. In Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV), Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

We are reminded to turn our worries into prayers, focusing our attention away from our challenges and toward God’s power and peace. Throughout the Bible, the Lord promises His people peace. In John 14:27, Jesus tells His disciples of the peace He gives them. This peace He gives is not dependent on our circumstances but rests on the Lord’s power and goodness, which never changes.

Recognize God’s care Implicit in these passages is that God will give you peace because He cares that your heart finds rest. In 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV), Peter writes, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” It’s one thing to throw your prayers out into the void, and quite another to be choosing to address them to a God who knows you and cares for you. You aren’t alone in your struggles.

Trust the Lord Over and over again, Scripture says that the antidote to worry is trust. Yes, we don’t know what will come next, but the Lord knows. While undergoing unbelievable hardship, Job uttered these words:

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! – Job 19:25-27, NIV

Job trusts despite what he’s going through, and there are certainties upon which he’s banking his life. Those certainties include knowing who God is, His character, and His sovereignty.

Practice gratitude Thanksgiving is one of the habits the believers are to cultivate (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Ephesians 5:4; Hebrews 13:15). Giving thanks for what we have can help to ground us in the here and now, remind us of how God has already provided, and help us to trust the Lord with whatever comes next.

Seek community Life isn’t meant to be lived alone, and that includes the life of faith. You can seek spiritual nourishment in community with others (Hebrews 10:24-25), in recognition that we all need support and companionship (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

Seek help There are times when worry is overwhelming, and you need the help of a professional Christian counselor in Allen, Texas who can help you understand why you’re worrying and give you tools to handle it better.

Your counselor at Texas, Christian Counseling in Allen can help you leverage your faith to alleviate worry, grounding your relationship with the Lord. You can grow to face the future with confidence and hope in His caring provision. For more information and to schedule an appointment with a counselor contact our office today at Texas Christian Counseling, Allen.