What the Bible Says About Anxiety (and What It Does Not Say)

A verse that is easy to misuse

"Do not be anxious about anything" is one of the most quoted lines in the New Testament, and it is often delivered to an anxious person as if it were an instruction to switch the feeling off. If you have ever been told this by someone who meant well, you may have come away feeling guilty as well as anxious, which is not what Paul intended.

In Philippians 4 Paul is writing from prison, to friends who are under pressure themselves. The sentence continues, and the rest of it matters: "but in everything, by prayer and petition 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 thoughts in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). He gives a direction for the worry to travel. The anxiety is not denied. It is handed over.

What the word means

The Greek word translated "anxious" is merimnao. Some scholars connect it with a root meaning "to divide," suggesting a mind pulled in different directions, though how much weight to put on that root is disputed (we say more about this in our post on word studies). What is clearer is how the word is used. Jesus uses it in Matthew 6 about food and clothing, and in Luke 10:41 he says to Martha, "you are anxious and troubled about many things." Paul also uses it positively in 1 Corinthians 12:25 and Philippians 2:20, where it means a real concern for others. So it covers a range, from a caring concern to a consuming worry, and the verse is addressing the second.

Jesus on worry

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives some of his most vivid teaching on this (Matthew 6:25-34). He points to the birds, which do not sow or reap yet are fed by their Father, and to wildflowers, which are better dressed than Solomon. Then he asks, "Which of you, by being anxious, can add one cubit to his stature?" The question is not meant to mock. It points out that worry does not do what we want it to do.

The conclusion is, "Seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well." Worth noticing is that the promise is about needs, not wants, and that Jesus does not say problems will vanish. He says the Father knows what you need, which is a different promise and arguably a firmer one.

Elijah: a story about a person, not a technique

One of the most useful passages on anxiety does not mention the word. In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah has just won a dramatic victory, and then runs for his life when Queen Jezebel threatens him. He ends up alone in the desert, under a bush, praying that he might die. What God does next is revealing. He does not give him a lecture. He sends an angel to say, in effect, eat something and sleep. Twice. Only after that does the long conversation begin, and God also tells Elijah that he is not as alone as he thinks (1 Kings 19:18).

The pattern is worth taking seriously: food, rest, company, and then a conversation. The Bible treats the body and mind as connected, and does not set spiritual and practical help against each other.

Things that tend to help

Different things work for different people, and none replaces the others. These are drawn from what the scriptures show and from ordinary good sense.

• Put the worry into words. Write it down or say it in prayer, specific and plain. A named worry is often smaller than a vague one.
• Pray the psalms that already express it. Psalm 94:19 and Psalm 55:22 speak directly to anxious thoughts, and 1 Peter 5:7 invites us to cast all our cares on God because he cares for us.
• Look after your body. Sleep, food, daylight and exercise are not extras. Elijah's story begins with them.
• Tell someone. A parent, a friend or a youth leader. Anxiety grows when it is private.
• Do the next small thing. Matthew 6:34 says each day has enough trouble of its own, which can be read as permission to handle only today.

When it is more than ordinary worry

Everyone worries sometimes. Anxiety that is constant, that disrupts sleep, school or friendships, or that comes with panic attacks, is different, and it can be treated. It is not a sign of weak faith, and it is not solved by praying harder, any more than a broken arm is. The US National Institute of Mental Health has a plain description of anxiety disorders and their treatment, and a doctor or counsellor can help with a proper assessment.

Christians have generally held that medical and psychological care are good gifts, and that they sit alongside prayer, not in competition with it. If you are in distress, please talk to a parent or another adult you trust today. If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact emergency services, and Find a Helpline lists free support lines by country.