A lot of us are experiencing higher levels of worry and anxiety now. Partly, it’s because of the recent events and partly it’s because of the uncertainty about the future, especially with the new school year starting. But the good news is that God has given us the tools to help cope with the challenges we face! Ultimately, it’s our relationship with Jesus as well as hiding His Word in our hearts that can help us find relief from worry and anxiety. Here are 4 steps on how to use Scripture to find relief from anxiety:
1. Pick out a few Bible verses that speak to you
Choose Bible verses not based on which ones are the most popularly used to help with anxiety, but rather the ones that speak to you personally in your particular situation in life and to your particular worries. As you read the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to point out Bible verses to you that speak to your situation. Below is the list of Bible verses to help you get started:
“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
(NLT, Lamentations 3:23)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
(NKJV, 2 Timothy 1:7)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
(NIV, Jeremiah 29:11)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
(NASB, Proverbs 3:5-6)
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
(NLT, Philippians 4:6)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
(NIV, Romans 8:28)
“The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.”
(NLT, Psalm 34:17)
2. Create small Scripture cards for yourself
You can grab some 3×5 cards and write out the Bible verse on one side and the Bible reference on the other side. I personally also like to decorate my cards by sketching or drawing some flowers on them in watercolors. Or you could use colored paper or put some stickers on your cards! The idea is to help you memorize Scripture in a fun way and create cards that you will enjoy using. I like to memorize the Bible verses right after my quiet time, and then I can just review them as needed. Or you can put them in your purse or backpack and review them when you have a few minutes during your day.
3. Recite Scripture when anxiety strikes
The cool thing about actually memorizing Bible verses is that the Holy Spirit will often bring to your remembrance the verse that you actually need at that moment!
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
(ESV, John 14:26)
Oftentimes it’s in those quiet moments when we are trying to fall asleep is when anxiety strikes. So it’s really helpful to have those Bible verses memorized so you can meditate on them as you are trying to fall asleep. Just pick a Bible verse out of your memory and repeat it in your mind slowly over and over. You can pause and think about the meaning of each word and how it applies to your situation. Repeating the same Bible verse over and over helps me to find relief from anxiety and before I know it – I’m asleep.
Also, when you are taking a shower or doing a mundane task and your mind starts to wander towards worrying, you can just choose to focus on one of the Bible verses and dwell on that instead. And maybe even pray the Bible verse over your situation and really believe the promises of God as you are reciting it.
4. Cultivate healthy thought habits (and break bad ones)
While we may feel down for multiple reasons we cannot control, it’s up to us to discipline our minds. Where our minds go, there go our feelings also. Don’t let your negative feelings dictate your thoughts. Choose to have good positive thoughts and the feelings will follow. And Scripture is a great way to do just that!
As you become more and more aware of your thoughts and replace worrying by meditating on Scripture instead, you will start to build good thought habits and break bad ones. After some time of doing that, you will see how your mind actually becomes more peaceful and less prone to worry! The more you think about something, the more it gets imprinted in your brain. So if you think about something good and true, like Scripture, then you can actually develop a better mindset and change your outlook on life. The Bible says:
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
(NLT, Romans 12:2)
Have you already tried Scripture meditation? What are your favorite Bible verses to use? Share your experience in the comments below.
