What does the Bible say about anxiety?
"If that is how God dresses the wild grass, won’t he dress you even better? Your faith is so small! After all, the grass is here only today. Tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. So don’t worry. Don’t say, ‘What will we eat?’ Or, ‘What will we drink?’ Or, ‘What will we wear?’ People who are ungodly run after all those things. Your Father who is in heaven knows that you need them. But put God’s kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all those things will also be given to you" (Matthew 6:30-33).
"Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him" (Philippians 4:6).
"Turn all your worries over to him. He cares about you" (1 Peter 5:7).
While the word “anxiety” is not used a lot in the Bible, it does have much to say about anxiety.Anxiety can be caused by many things. Normal anxiety is feeling anxious about a test, worried about making new friends, or stressed when moving to a new school. There are also times when anxiety isn't normal. This is when you are feeling anxious often and nothing helps your anxiety to go away. When this happens, you may have an anxiety disorder. If you ever feel so anxious to the point that it is interfering with going to school, going to soccer practice, or communicating with others, talk to your mom, dad, or a school nurse. They will be able to find you help.
Within the Bible, we see Jacob feeling anxious upon his return to his homeland (Genesis 32). He is anxious because he is afraid his brother, Esau, is going to seek vengeance on him. Jacob is so anxious that he hides behind his wives and children. In this particular case, Jacob is feeling anxious because he did something wrong to his brother and feels guilty.
Not all anxiety is rooted in sin. Rather, many times you can have anxiety because you are worried about something bad happening, a difficult test, or a stressful conversation. When you are feeling anxious, talk to God. He will carry all of your anxieties and concerns (1 Peter 5:7). Never be afraid to talk with God about your feelings.
