Sacred texts · Bible
29 Bible verses for anxiety and fear
The Bible talks about fear a lot, and almost always to someone: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee,” says Isaiah 41:10. Bible verses for anxiety don’t scold you for being afraid. They point to a presence, invite you to hand over your cares and to live one day at a time, as in Matthew 6:34.
This page gathers verses about fear, passages about worrying over tomorrow, and verses for nights when anxiety comes back. They are quoted word for word from the King James Version and come from the Selfia app. These texts can go with prayer or meditation; they don’t replace care when anxiety gets too heavy. Selfia is not a medical device. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 in the US, call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, or find a local line at findahelpline.com.
Bible verses about fear: “Fear not”
“Fear not” comes up again and again in the Bible. It almost always comes with a reason: I am with thee, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name. These verses can be said under your breath when fear starts to rise.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
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?
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Bible verses for anxiety and worry
Jesus talks about worry with simple pictures: the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, Martha troubled about many things. Paul invites us to turn each care into prayer. These verses help you come back to today when your thoughts start racing.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Bible verses for anxious nights
Fear often returns at night, once the noise of the day dies down. These verses speak of sleep without fear, a storm that turns calm, and a God who fights for you while you hold your peace. Keep one by your bed for those middle-of-the-night wake-ups.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
How to use these verses when anxiety rises
In the middle of a surge of anxiety, reading a long passage is hard. Choose a verse ahead of time, during a calm moment, and keep it in your phone or on a slip of paper in your pocket. When the tension comes, read it slowly while lengthening your exhale, then plant your feet flat on the floor and look at three things around you.
Philippians 4:6 suggests something concrete: turn the worry into a request. Write your worry down in one sentence, then bring it to God in your own words. If anxiety comes back every day or keeps you from living, talk to a doctor or a therapist as well.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Bible verse for anxiety?
Philippians 4:6-7 is the most direct: “Be careful for nothing” (in King James English, careful means anxious), followed by an invitation to bring every request to God and the promise of a peace that passes all understanding. 1 Peter 5:7 says to cast all your care upon him. Matthew 6:34 brings you back to today.
Does the Bible say anxiety is a lack of faith?
Not in these texts. The psalmists cry out their fear, Elijah asks to die, and Jesus himself is in anguish before his arrest. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee,” says Psalm 56: fear and trust live side by side. Being afraid doesn’t stop you from believing.
What if anxiety doesn’t go away even with prayer?
Prayer and treatment are not opposites. If anxiety lasts, comes back every day or brings on panic attacks, talk to a doctor or a therapist. Selfia is not a medical device. If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 988 in the US, call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, or find a local line at findahelpline.com.
Which Bible translation is quoted?
The King James Version, in the public domain in the United States and most countries. Each verse was compared word for word with an edition published online before being added here, and its reference lets you find it in whatever translation you usually read.