For the past 6 years, I have struggled on and off with anxiety. Some days it’s heavy, other days it’s nonexistent. Sometimes it presents itself with a racing heartbeat, other times it’s all mental insecurities. Through the years, the most valuable lesson I have learned about anxiety is that scripture is an incredibly powerful weapon. But for some reason, on days like today when it feels like there’s an elephant on my chest, I have a terrible time recalling the words that I know will lead me to peace. Crippled by the fears, worries, and lies blaring in my mind, I let anxiety win.
Philippians 4:9 says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
I don’t ever want to let anxiety win. I want to put what I’ve learned into practice and find peace. So for days like today, I’m creating a cheat sheet with 10 bible verses that combat anxiety. The Bible is full of truth that can be used against anxiety, but these are 10 verses that have been particularly helpful to me (and below each one I'm sharing how).
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1. philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
Anxiety causes us to focus solely on fears, lies, and worries. Changing our focus to anything excellent or praiseworthy takes away its control.
2. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Through Christ we have been given divine power to DEMOLISH strongholds - recognize the strength in that statement. It doesn't say, to kind-of fight them off. It says, to demolish them, to crush them. We need to speak this power over our fear.
3. deuteronomy 20:3-4
“He shall say, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
We are never alone in our struggle against anxiety. Even when we are exhausted, the Lord fights for us - and every time, He gives us victory.
4. colossians 3:15
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
We are called to peace - thinking of it as a call reminds me that this is the plan God has for me - not to be anxious, but to be at peace.
5. Psalm 139:14
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
It's easy to feel defeated and allow that to impact how we view ourselves. But we must remember that God created us fearfully and wonderfully. Even though we struggle, because of Him, we are still good.
6. psalm 139:11-12
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, ‘ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.’”
This is my biggest go to. No matter how dark it may feel literally or figuratively - we will never be overcome because the darkness is as light to the Lord.
7. Colossians 1:17
“He is before all things and in him all things hold together.”
This one's pretty self-explanatory. There's nothing beyond the Lord - in Him ALL things are held together.
8. proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I need to be reminded of this constantly. The cause of fear is lack of trust. If we want to be free, we need to trust him wholly with all that we are.
9. philippians 2:9-10
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
This verse reminds me of the song that says, "There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain." Even speaking the name of Jesus will cause the evil one to flee.
10. Psalm 91
"Because he loves me,' says the Lord, ' I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
The entire chapter of Psalm 91 is a great encouragement and affirmation that there is nothing that can come our way that will destroy us. No matter what we are struggling with the Lord will protect us and deliver us.
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Friends, we are not created to live in anxiety. As Jesus says in John 10:10, He came so we might have life to the full! If you too are struggling, my prayer is that together we would write these verses on our hearts and use them to drown anxiety, fears, and lies in truth. Christ has the victory, let’s claim it.