How I Use The Bible to Overcome Anxiety
Most people don’t know that anxiety was ever an area of struggle for me. To be honest, for most of my life it wasn’t. That changed DRASTICALLY during the pregnancy of my youngest back in 2015 and lasted through a season in 2016. I remember what it felt like. For me, it was a constant state of suffocation. I felt trapped. I felt isolated and misunderstood. The simplest little interruptions would immerse me into panic mode. There were days when I literally couldn’t function, days where I felt I couldn’t breathe.
What’s the Bible Got to do With It?
The Bible is full of all kinds of incredible wisdom for every circumstance, anxiety included. In fact, there are verses that refer to overcoming anxiety, fear, and worry all over the Bible; Old Testament and New.
Like this Psalm (61:1-3) for people breaking through anxiety:
“Hear my cry, O God; from the ends of the earth I cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you are a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy…”
Or this one the person overcoming strongholds related to fear:
“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.” Isaiah 41:10
Or this one from the New Testament:
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Luke 12:22 – 24
God uses the Bible to equip us, to train up over-comers. Unfortunately people today tend to view the Bible as nothing more than a pretty little book. And because of that, they haven’t taken the time to learn or apply the strategies God give us for victory. They’re ill-equipped and struggling instead of equipped and overcoming.
The good news is, they can change that anytime.
The Back of the Bible
When I was first battling through the ins and outs of anxiety I really didn’t have the stamina to read deeply into the Bible. I didn’t have much in me push through a Bible Study or create a solid cohesive prayer strategy. But Because I knew that’s where my answer was going to come from, I made a choppy effort. It wasn’t anything deep or scholarly. In fact, it was about as cut and dry as a person could get. I opened my Bible to the concordance in the back, looked up the words peace and rest, and turned to the very first verse the concordance directed me to, Numbers 6:26;
“The Lord lift up His countenance upon you (look upon you with favor) And give you peace.”
Then I went to the next verse listed:
“I will both lie down in peace and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
Speaking What You Know
Each day I would go to the back of my Bible and look up look up keywords that would encourage me to step out of the chains of anxiety and into God’s freedom. Words like joy, hope, help, strength, peace, rest and health.
And this next part is key. Once I had a collection of verses, I started to read them. Sometimes in my head, sometimes out loud. Sometimes I’d sing them, sometimes I’d preach to myself about them. And eventually, I began to believe them. I began to believe that these verses I was praying, these power thoughts (as Joyce Meyer calls them), really did have tremendous power!
My experience with Joyce Meyer’s book Power Thoughts
The more that I declared God’s words (those verses) over myself, the easier it was to lay all that anxiety down.
I’m not going to lie, there are still times when anxiety tries to sneak its way back into my life. But I’m equipped now. I know what God’s Word has to say about anxiety and fear. There’s no place for it in my life. And now I’m confident enough now to look anxiety in the eye and tell it to get lost. “I am a daughter of the King, my mind belongs to God and frankly, Anxiety, there’s no room for you here.” *Slams door in face.* It’s that simple.
So listen, if you’re struggling with anxiety and you’re ready to be free from it, grab a Bible and start digging! Treating the symptoms is one thing. Bringing healing to the root of the issue, that is a God thing.
Take a look at this Journaling Bible!
Recommended Bible Study / Journaling Tools:
I’ve started to struggle with anxiety again…thanks for reminding me to go to the Bible for help. There is so much power within God’s word.
It is SO real this anxiety thing – but with God, we can do all things!
Anxiety can mess us up physically, mentally, and spiritually, but our God can give us victory!
Thanks for the free prayer cards! (Printing now) this was a great resource to pin!
Thanks, Maria! Glad you could find a use for them!
Anxiety is a tough one. We battle between feeling anxious then feeling bad about feeling anxious. A never ending cycle. I think anxiety brings with it lots of shame. I am currently writing about shame, which encompasses lots of emotions and feelings, including anxiety. I think you hit on a major point in both cases: being bigger than the struggle. I think your verses could apply here, too. Check our my post on shame and tell me what you think. http://www.realmomsdontjudgewejustsuggest.com/shame/
There are SO many Scriptures in the Word that help us to overcome any anxiety or fear that we may already have!
Psalms is a great place to start for that kind of encouragement!
and not just say the verses once or twice – but to keep on saying them until we get the victory!
YES! That is so key! Repetition helps us build our faith and solidify in our hearts what God has told us to be true.
The Bible is our key to overcome anxiety as well as anything else we may be going through
Great post! I love the prayer cards ❤️ I think a lot of people in the daily battle with anxiety will be blessed by your post!
Thanks, Christina! I’m glad you like the prayer cards!
Very helpful – sometimes those going through something like this do not know where to look for the verses that apply in God’s word.
To calm down and not have anxiety in stressful situations, I try to center myself in Christ, so that He can give me the right words to say. God is in control of every circumstance, and He will bring me through it.
With God, we can have the peace that the world cannot fathom to even give us!