What Does God Say About Overcoming Anxiety?

Intro

Anxiety is at an all-time high. In America and all around the world, people are struggling with mild to extreme anxiety. A study from Psychiatry.org says,
“In 2024, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022. Adults are particularly anxious about current events (70%) — especially the economy (77%), the 2024 U.S. election (73%), and gun violence (69%).”

The world has so many things that they are throwing at us every day. From inflation and insane gas prices to wars and unneeded violence, our world is full of things to make us anxious. We don’t know if we will make enough to have groceries this month. Or if a war will start tomorrow. We don’t know if all the kids in America will grow up with a solid education and change the world for the better. There are so many things we don’t know!

But wait, don’t get anxious just yet. There is good news after all! Our God is bigger than our circumstances! That is, if in fact, Jesus is your Lord. When He is Lord, and you are yoked to Him, you have nothing to be anxious about.

He hides you in the shadow of His wings, protects you from all your enemies, provides for you in every area of your life. He loves you with incorruptible love and has all the power and ability to manifest His love to you. When He is your Lord and when YAHWEH is your Father, then you have nothing to be anxious about.

Philippians 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.”

Bible Verses

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.”

2 Timothy 1:7:
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Psalm 55:22:
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Hebrews 13:6:
“So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”

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.”

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.”

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.”

Misconceptions

Anxiety is not a sin, and everyone has it, so I don’t need to change.

Anxiety is worry, and worry is opposed to God because if you are worrying, then you are not trusting. This does not mean you are separated from God, it just means you need to make a correction, and God is gracious to give us His Spirit to help us to make the correction.

Stress is the same as anxiety.

Anxiety can be caused by excessive amounts of stress, but stress itself is not anxiety. Stress can actually be good for you! Stress is essentially a release of a hormone called cortisol in your brain, and healthy amounts of cortisol can be very good for you.

Even waking up in the morning and looking at the sunrise releases cortisol, so don’t think that all stress is bad. Stress leads to growth. A good example is the gym: when you put your muscles under stress, they grow. The same thing happens with your mind and spirit. Stress produces growth. Just don’t allow stress to become over the top. Then, it would be like overworking your muscles—they won’t know what to do, and they will actually deplete rather than grow.

Personal Story

The last two years of my life have been the most stressful. Things like going to college, getting a girlfriend, being involved in ministry, working full-time, graduating college, getting engaged, planning a wedding, and all the other things involved in life. Anxiety so easily makes its way in. I’ve had panic attacks I didn’t know were possible. And just days where all day my body was on the verge of shaking, and I wanted to scream and run away.

There were definitely natural factors at play. I was drinking more caffeine than my body could handle, I wasn’t sleeping enough, and my diet was never consistent. But what it comes down to most of all was I wasn’t trusting God, and I wasn’t being content. Lack of trust in God and complaining are the two main driving forces of anxiety as a Christian.

So what did I do!? Well, that’s what I did. I started to trust God and be content. How did I do that!? Let’s take a look.

Practical Application: Training Your Mind for Peace

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” — Philippians 4:8

Anxiety often thrives in our thought life, so one of the most effective ways to combat it is by intentionally shifting our focus. Philippians 4:8 gives us a clear roadmap for renewing our minds and experiencing God’s peace.

Here’s how you can put it into practice:

Filter Your Thoughts – When anxious or negative thoughts arise, ask yourself: Is this true? Is it honorable? Is it pure? If not, replace it with a thought that aligns with God’s truth.
Fill Your Mind with Truth – Spend time in God’s Word daily, listen to worship music, or read encouraging books that remind you of His goodness. Meditate on scriptures that remind you of His faithfulness.
Guard Your Inputs – What you consume impacts your mindset. Be mindful of the news, social media, and entertainment you engage with. If something is causing fear, worry, anxiety, or anything else contrary to God’s promises, replace it with something uplifting.
Practice Gratitude – Anxiety often focuses on what’s wrong, but gratitude shifts our focus to what is right and true. Start each day by thanking God for the things you’re thankful for.
Surround Yourself with Encouragement – Spend time with people who uplift you and point you toward Christ. Find a community that encourages faith over anxiety and fear.
Speak Life Over Your Situation – Instead of dwelling on worst-case scenarios, declare God’s promises over your life. Speak scriptures out loud and remind yourself of His provision and love. The result of speaking life will be life.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” — Proverbs 18:21

By consistently practicing these habits, you’ll begin to train your mind to focus on what is good, and in return, experience the peace that only God can provide!

Conclusion

Anxiety may be at an all-time high, but as believers, we are not without hope. The world throws uncertainty, stress, and fear our way, but God calls us to trust in Him completely. When we shift our focus from our worries to His truth, we begin to experience His peace that surpasses all understanding.

If you’re struggling with anxiety, remember that God has not left you to face it alone. He invites you to cast your burdens on Him, to trust in His provision, and to rest in His perfect love. While circumstances may still arise, His presence is unshakable, and His promises remain true always in Christ.

So today, choose to surrender your anxieties to the One who loves you the most. Replace worry with worship, fear with faith, and stress with surrender. As Philippians 4:8 reminds us, fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, and praiseworthy—because when your mind is set on Christ, peace will follow.

If you haven’t already, check out my last post on What Does God Say About Good Spiritual Health, and stay tuned for my next post on What Does God Say About Finding Peace in Stressful Times?