20 Bible Verses to Combat Anxiety

20 Bible Verses to Combat Anxiety

We have been living through a pandemic for a whole year.  For almost 13 months, we've seen news updates about the pandemic which always spark debates because this thing has everyone in a tizzy.  The politics surrounding the pandemic is unbelievable and opinions stretch as far right and as far left as you can possibly get. There aren't a whole lot of people like me in the middle just trying to do the right thing.  There are a lot of other things in the news these days that also might add to our anxious thoughts.  If the COVID-19 pandemic or anything else going on in your life has you feeling anxious, let me encourage you to turn off the TV, get off of social media, set some time aside, and turn to the only One who can ease your anxiety.  I know you're busy.  Everybody is busy doing something but resolve to set aside some time, whether it be 15 minutes or 2 hours.  Just unplug, take a deep breath, and open up your Bible.  Take a few minutes to consider the following Bible verses to combat anxiety.  Read them.  Study them.  Meditate on them.  Underline them in your Bible or highlight them with your favorite color highlighter.  Come back to them again and again and again.  God is the only real source of relief and peace during turbulent times.  Turn your eyes, your heart, and your mind to Him and to Him alone so that you can leave your anxious thoughts at the feet of Jesus and find true peace over your situations.

Bible Verses to Combat Anxiety

1. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. - Psalm 94:19

2. Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. - Proverbs 12:25

3. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. - Psalm 34:17

4. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8

5. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7

6. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:31

7. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1

8. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. - John 14:27

9. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7

10. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. - Psalm 55:22

11. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6

12. Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. - Luke 12:22

13. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. - Psalm 34:4

14. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

15. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39

16. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30

17. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

18. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

19. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

20. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11

This wall art featuring Jeremiah 29:ll is available here.

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20 Bible Verses to Combat Anxiety

Confessing Fear

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.  

 Confessing Fear

Confessing fear is not an easy thing for me to do, but when an unhealthy fear interferes with my faith in God's sovereignty, it's a fear I need to confess to God and let Him take over.  Let's start with a few Bible verses about fear. 

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. - John 14:27

So that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” - Hebrews 13:6

Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:6-9

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 Joshua was afraid and jolted.  We need to hear what Joshua heard.  We need to be strong and courageous.  When we confess our fear, we are confessing our faith in God.  God is our leader.

In Joshua 1, God was in charge.  

4 Places Where God was in Charge:

Egypt

The Wilderness

The Promised Land

Babylon

God is always leading us.  He uses hardships to sanctify us.  Look for God's leadership.

No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. - Joshua 1:5

God keeps His promises.

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. - Zachariah 4:6

Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts. - Jeremiah 15:16

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. - 1 John 4:4

God was faithful then and He is faithful now.

So the Lord gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. And the Lord gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hand.  Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. - Joshua 21:43-45

Confess to God that He is faithful and keeps His promises.  Confess obedience to Him.

Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. - Joshua 1:7-8

Obedience to God is the gateway to God's blessings.  Remember that God's definition of success is not the same as the world's definition of success.  

True success = Favor of God

Whatever is going on around us, we can have the peace of God within us.  

God, you are my leader.

God, you keep your promises.

God, I will obey you.

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?  He wants to be your forgiver and your leader.

Cast all your cares on Him.  

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Read all posts in my pastor's series on "Confession" here.

About Caleb (Ordinary Heroes of the Bible Series)

About Caleb (Ordinary Heroes of the Bible Series)

Our pastor recently took us through a short series about ordinary heroes of the Bible.  We studied about how God uses ordinary people to accomplish His will.  Our first lesson was about a man named Caleb.

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled "Caleb."  You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.

 Caleb | November 3, 2019 | Pastor Jeff Crook from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

Our Scripture texts for learning about Caleb are Numbers 13, Joshua 14, and 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

God chooses to use ordinary people like you and me every day to accomplish His purposes.  Let God use you in a powerful way.  Stop thinking that you, for whatever reason, cannot be used by God.  God is not done with you.  He wants to use you.

But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it. - Numbers 14:24

Caleb had a different kind of spirit.  He didn't come from a prominent family.  God used Caleb because he FULLY followed the Lord.  Caleb didn't half-heartedly follow the Lord.  He fully followed whole-heartedly.  

Caleb was part of a crowd of  two million Israelites whom God delivered out of Egypt.  God told Moses that because of the unfaithfulness of the entire older generation, that not one of them would enter the Promised Land except for Caleb and Joshua.

"Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and to his sons I will give the land on which he has set foot, because he has followed the Lord fully." - Deuteronomy 1:36

In Numbers 13:28, Moses' spies or scouts reported back about the land of Hebron (Canaan).  The spies felt that the people of Canaan were too large and too powerful for them.  Caleb spoke up and said, "We can do this."

Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.” 

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” - Numbers 13:28-30

In Numbers 14:2, the people were crying in discouragement.  They even wanted to return to Egypt! 

All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! - Numbers 14:2

The next several verses gives us Joshua's and Caleb's response to the people who were grumbling.

Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them." - Numbers 14:6-9

Then, the grumbling people wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb to death!  They pushed the limit.  God became fed up with the grumbling, whining crowd.  They had crushed the vision.  God wanted to smite the people but Moses asked God to not smite the people for the sake of God's own name and reputation among the people.

The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.”

But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from their midst, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, O Lord, are in the midst of this people, for You, O Lord, are seen eye to eye, while Your cloud stands over them; and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, ‘Because the Lord could not bring this people into the land which He promised them by oath, therefore He slaughtered them in the wilderness.’ But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.’ - Numbers 14:10-18

Now skip ahead 45 years.  Joshua finally gave the land of Hebron (Canaan) over to Caleb, an ordinary hero.

What can we learn from Caleb?

1.  God will honor faithfulness.  

Caleb was a behind-the-scenes ordinary man, but he was faithful.  Many people forgot about Caleb but God did not forget about him.  45 years later, Caleb received his inheritance.  God keeps His promises.

But just as it is written, "Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, and which has not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him." - 1 Corinthians 2:9

This wall art featuring 1 Corinthians 2:9 is available here.

There were probably plenty of times when Caleb felt discouraged, but he remained faithful to God and God rewarded Celeb.  

2.  God has more in store for you.

We have a tendency to dwell in the past.  The past is a blessing but we can't live there.  God has a "next" for us.  If we are living and breathing, then there is more that God wants to do with us.  We can look back at what we have done in the past but our focus needs to be on what we are doing now.

When your memories are greater than your dreams, your days are numbered. - Unknown

Whatever you may have done in your past, there is always room to grow.

3.  God must be wholly followed. 

Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I respond to it. - Chuck Swindoll  

Don't let the valleys make you bitter.  Let them make you better. 

Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments. - Deuteronomy 7:9

Remember that God loves to use ordinary people.

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

For the Kids:  Here's a coloring page depicting Joshua and Caleb and the grumbling Israelites.  Simply right-click and save to your computer and then print it out from your own home printer.

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About Caleb (Ordinary Heroes of the Bible Series)

Find all posts in the Ordinary Heroes of the Bible Series here.

Trail Post 2: God's Word and Trail Post 3: Prayer (from the Trailhead Series)

This past Sunday, our pastor was out of town so an associate pastor delivered the sermon.  Trail Post 1 was on the topic of baptism.  Today, we covered the next two posts on the trail.  Trail Post 2 is God's Word and Trail Post 3 is Prayer.

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.  You are invited to worship with us here.

Trailhead - The Word & Prayer - March 17, 2019 (Message) from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

Trail Post 2:  God's Word

Getting into God's Word is a requirement.

God wants you to get into His Word. 

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:8-9

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The presence of God in their lives is the key to God's leaders.

God wants His Word to get into you.

God wants you to immerse yourself in His Word so you can internalize it.

There is a reason God requires you to get into His World.

God wants you to get into His Word so that you will live in obedience which is to live out God's truth.

Getting into God's Word yields a result.

The result of getting into God's Word is success.  Remember that God's idea of success might be different from your idea of success.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8

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 We evaluate success differently than God does.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33

Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4

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. - Proverbs 3:5-6

 Trail Post 3:  Prayer

What if your prayers seem unanswered?  When you think your prayers have gone unanswered, here are some things you can do.

1.  Look to yourself. 

Is it your manner of living?  Are you living in unconfessed sin?

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.  But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. - Isaiah 59:1-2

2.  Look at your motives when you pray.

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?  You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. - James 4:1-3

You might be praying for an increase in your salary, but you are not receiving it because you are not honoring God with the salary you already have.

3.  Look to your prayers. 

Are your prayers "according to God's will?" 

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. - 1 John 5:14-15

Our prayers must be in line with the Word of God.

4.  Look at your God.

Sometimes God answers our prayers differently.  Remember that His ways are not our ways.  Sometimes God answers our prayers delayed.  Sometimes God answers prayers later so that He can answer them better.

The last few minutes of the video, our pastor talks about salvation.  Do you know Jesus?  If you want to know more about how to be saved, click here.

You'll find all posts in the Trailhead series here.

Image Credit: Public Domain Image via Freely Photos

Rahab's Remarkable Faith (Faith Stories Series)

Image Credit:  Free-Photos - CCO Public Domain Image - via Pixabay

Scripture Passage:  Hebrews 11:30-31, Joshua 2 and 6

 The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

Rahab's Remarkable Faith

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.  By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. - Hebrews 11:30-31

Rahab is found in the Hebrews "Hall of Faith."

Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. - 1 Corinthians 6:11

1.  God wants us to see the transforming power of faith.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. - Romans 10:17

2.  God wants us to see that faith is a choice.

3.  God wants us to see His amazing grace and our need for it. 

A Perfect Heart - A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place Bible Study by Beth Moore

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A Perfect Heart

The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9

We were each created fore a special purpose.  He wanted us.

Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made. – Isaiah 43:7

My favorite quote from this lesson:  Of all the grandeur Heaven could boast, God measures His riches by His children.  We are His wealth, the apple of His eye, created to be His treasure. – Beth Moore

Matthew 6:21 tells us that where our heart is, our treasure will be there also.  God’s heart is where His treasure is.  We are His treasure.  His heart is with us.

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Our human hearts are deceitful.

The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?  – Jeremiah 17:9

The imperfect, deceitful condition of the human heart is the reason God wants us to give our whole heart to Him.

Adam and Eve were gifted with the perfect circumstances for successfully living a holy life free from sin, yet they still made poor choices.  Even under perfect circumstances, they could not maintain perfectly pure hearts.

Only God can change the condition of the human heart.

Whether or not to honor God is a choice we all must make.  Even under the worst of circumstances, Noah still walked with God.  Noah chose to honor God in spite of all the evil around him.

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15 

God desires us.  His heart is perfect.  Our hearts can only be perfected in Him.  Our hearts are His dwelling place.

To reap the benefits of Beth Moore’s full Bible Study lessons, I encourage you to purchase your own copy and go through each Bible study.  A group Bible study is recommended but you can go through this study individually if you wish.

Read all posts in this series here.

You can get the study book only here, but if you are doing the study alone or hosting it, you'll need the entire leader kit below.

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Anticipation

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Bible Study Topic:  Anticipation

Scripture Passage:  Joshua 3:1-6

The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed.  At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp;  and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.  However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”
 
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”  And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people. - Joshua 3:1-6 (NASB)

Points to Ponder

1.  God is leading the way.  He is sovereign.