Life can be overwhelming sometimes. So, in this devotional, we’ll read Comforting Bible Verses about Anxiety and Depression. Each scripture will help us tackle the hard truth of the darkness of the world and lead us into God’s comforting embrace.
What does the Bible say about Anxiety?
Many American adults face issues with mental illness in their everyday lives. In fact, clinical depression and anxiety are the most common mental health disorders in the United States. And suffering from one or both isn’t something to take lightly.
I’m one of those Americans who deal with anxiety and depression daily. In fact, I’ve dealt with anxiety attacks and times of deep depression for as long as I can remember.
I began having debilitating panic attacks when I was eight years old. They were triggered by trauma I suffered at school. Then I had a reprieve from their torment for a few years.
However, the anxiety attacks came back with a vengeance in my teen years. It was so bad at one point that I couldn’t even leave the house!
The symptoms of depression followed soon after the panic attacks begin. That’s how it usually works.
Because these two, anxiety and depression, go together like peanut butter and jelly, or cake and icing. Although they are not so sweet.
But really, is it any wonder why so many of us face dark times in the world today?
With so much going on in the news the past few years, it’s easy to lose heart.
But God’s Word gives us the assurance that better times are ahead. And that He has good things in store for those who love Him!
If you’re experiencing anxiety or depression these scriptures will calm your fears and give you the strength to go on.
Best Bible Verses to Calm Anxiety
God’s perspective on the anxiety I feel has changed the way I look at my panic disorder. With His help, instead of seeing it as a thorn in my side I began to see it as a gift.
I know when you’re in the midst of an anxiety attack it’s hard to think of it as a gift. I couldn’t either. But all these years later, I can see how God was shaping me into the person He created me to be.
So, I want to share with you some of my favorite Bible Verses for anxiety. Each one has helped me get through the hard times. And I know they will calm your anxiety too.
Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NKJV
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3 New King James Version
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 NKJV
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-34 ESV
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.
John 14:27 ESV
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 ESV
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
Proverbs 12:25 ESV
So we may boldly say:
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6 NKJV
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
Isaiah 43:1-3 NKJV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NKJV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
Isaiah 35:4 ESV
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8 King James Version
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18 NKJV
Read more in this Devotional: Inspiring Bible Verses about God’s Hands
Inspirational Psalms for Anxiety and Depression
The Psalms are full of comforting words for us when we face difficult times. The truth of the matter is that for every bleak situation, God has a plan.
So, let’s dive into the Psalms and see God’s plan to lift you up and inspire you.
The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18 NKJV
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Psalm 32:10 ESV
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 NKJV
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22 ESV
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
Psalm 56:3 NKJV
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalm 40:2 NIV
Bible Verse Art from Master’s Hand Collection
Romans 15:13 God of Hope Art Print
Hope Black and White Art Print
1 John 4:7 Love One Another Art Print
Powerful Bible Verses for Sadness
Sometimes life is just too much and the sadness we feel is overwhelming.
But there’s good news, God has encouraging words for those of us who have been suffering from depression for a long time.
I pray these scriptures for depression will help you overcome the crushing sadness it leaves in its wake. And the power of God will fill your heart with gladness today.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Psalm 112:7 NIV
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NKJV
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5 NKJV
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3 ESV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:14 NIV
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 NIV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 ESV
A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory;
Matthew 12:20 NKJV
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9 NKJV
But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.
But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
This short Bible Study will help you Abound in Hope!
Short Prayers for Anxiety
Individual counseling, support groups, and encouragement from family members are all great strategies for handling anxiety and depression.
However, if you’ve had an anxiety disorder, depression, or both for a long time, you know they will never truly go away. They’re a life-long challenge. And no matter how many times you think you’ve conquered them, they’re still underneath the surface waiting to emerge.
But when my anxiety was at its worst, my Granny taught me another excellent coping mechanism. And I’m going to share it with you now.
When you feel a panic attack coming, shoot up a short prayer to the One who cares the most. He’s listening and will help you get through it.
The easiest way to pray is to use the Word of God as a starting point. These next verses will help you begin praying during your next moment of anxiety or depression.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
James 5:13-15 NKJV
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 NKJV
I pray these Comforting Bible Verses about Anxiety and Depression have inspired you.
However, if you’re feeling anxious or depressed, don’t keep it to yourself. Please let your doctor, pastor, or another trusted person know what’s going on in your life so they can help you find the appropriate treatment.
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