What the Bible Says About Anxiety

Today I want to talk about what the Bible says about anxiety........Read more below

The Bible talks about anxiety multiple times and gives us powerful tools for how to manage it. One of my favorite passages, the one I will discuss today, is in Matthew 6, from verses 25 through 34. It’s a larger section that gives us great guidance. One thing that is discussed in this passage is anxiety we can experience related to our physical needs of food and clothing. It talks about how God provides for the birds and the flowers, and how God cares about us even more and will provide for our needs.

We can trust God to provide for us

I especially love verse 27 of Matthew 6, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” I talk with my clients about this frequently–whether we are anxious about something or not does not change what is going to happen. If we legitimately don’t have any control in a situation then it does not serve us to be worried about it, but instead we should work to release our worry. This is definitely a practice that has to be done consistently, working to release worry. It’s not easy but is absolutely something that can be learned.

Make releasing worry a consistent habit

Jesus also talks in Matthew 6, verse 33, about where to place our attention, by saying “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things [those material needs] will be added to you.” We are not supposed to be anxious about God providing for our needs, we are supposed to be seeking God and trusting He will provide. Of course, this does not mean that we just sit around and pray asking God to provide for us and we don’t work. In fact, quite the opposite, the Bible tells us to work so if we are seeking God then we will work. But He is the one to ultimately place trust in.

The last verse of this passage (verse 34) says “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” We are to focus on the present and not be constantly looking toward the concerns of the future. One common thing that people with anxiety experience is worry due to the anticipation of a future event. We can make things so big in our minds and then when the actual situation happens it is often not nearly as bad as we made it out to be. You start piling those events of tomorrow up and you can start to feel really anxious. It is best to focus on what requires your attention and needs to be solved now and to put off other issues that should wait until tomorrow or when the situation actually requires your attention.

Focus on today to combat unnecessary worry about the future

If you are struggling with anxiety, I have a resource for you to dive further into what the Bible says about anxiety. It is a 4-week program called “Overcome Overwhelm: Biblical Mental Health Tools for Worry.” I have created this program to include tools I use in my practice that have literally changed people’s lives in their battle with anxiety, both Bible-based and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools. I wanted to make them accessible to more people, so created this program. You can find more information here: upliftingcounsel.com/overcome-overwhelm.

**Do you think I could be your “right fit” counselor? Be sure to set up a free 20-minute phone consultation at 281-746-9826 or kristen@upliftingcounsel.com. I provide counseling to clients in Texas and Oregon and would love to talk with you about the possibility of working together