26 Bible Verses to Help You Overcome Anxiety and Fear

Anxiety and fear are two of the most common feelings people experience worldwide. In fact, it’s estimated that over 300 million people globally suffer from anxiety disorders alone. Fear is your body’s emotional response to an immediate and present danger, like when you’re about to cross the street and a car suddenly speeds towards you. On the other hand, anxiety is a feeling of worry or uncertainty over a future imagined danger, such as the nervousness you feel before giving a big presentation. While fear is a reaction to a real threat, anxiety often involves imagining potential problems and reacting to them as if they were happening now.

The dangers of anxiety are significant; chronic anxiety can lead to severe mental health issues like depression, substance abuse, and even physical health problems such as heart disease and weakened immune function. Recognizing and addressing anxiety is crucial for maintaining overall well-being.

Even in the Bible, we see examples of people experiencing anxiety and fear. Moses felt anxious about leading the Israelites out of Egypt, fearing he was not capable enough. David often wrote about his fears and anxieties in the Psalms, and even Jesus experienced deep anxiety in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion.

However, while anxiety and fear are common, they are not what God wants us to experience. Through faith, prayer, and relying on God’s promises, we can find peace and strength to face our fears and anxieties with confidence and courageousness.

Bible Verses to Help You Overcome Anxiety and Fear

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.”
Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV): “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? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV): “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
John 14:27 (NIV): “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Psalm 55:22 (NIV): “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV): “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV): “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Psalm 34:4 (NIV): “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV): “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
Joshua 1:9 (NIV): “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Isaiah 26:3 (NIV): “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Psalm 94:19 (NIV): “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV): “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV): “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Psalm 23:4 (NIV): “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Hebrews 13:6 (NIV): “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'”
Psalm 27:1 (NIV): “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?”
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV): “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Psalm 46:1 (NIV): “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Isaiah 35:4 (NIV): “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.'”
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV): “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV): “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV): “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.”
Romans 15:13 (NIV): “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Psalm 56:3 (NIV): “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
1 John 4:18 (NIV): “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”