Prayers for Anxiety When Your Heart Is Overwhelmed

These soothing words will bring calm and inner peace to your heart, even when nothing else will.

Anxiety can creep in at any time. We live in a world that attacks us daily with events and situations that cause worry and panic to rise. Anxiety, if left unaddressed, can slowly rise to a level of non-stop panic and fear. While we may do a good job at hiding and masking it, the anxious feelings will destroy from the inside out. From the inability to focus on tasks to panic attacks, Satan will use anxiety to stop you from living the full life God has for you. We can fight anxiety through prayer and casting our worries on God. 

No matter what you are facing today that is causing you to seek God’s help, rest assured that He can give you a “peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7) in the face of fears. You can trust God with today and tomorrow. Through prayer, you can release worry to Him and rest knowing that He loves you and has a plan for everything in your life. The best thing you can do when you feel anxiety rising is to take it to God in prayer. It is through prayer that we surrender our worries to God and receive His peace. We have gathered our favorite prayers for anxiety. Keep these close to you and pray in the moments you begin to feel overwhelmed. 

A Prayer to Overcome Anxiety

Heavenly Father, thank You for being an overcoming God! I know I can take heart because You have overcome the world. Empower me to rise above my circumstances. Help me cast my anxiety on You because You care for me. Give me Your power to overcome. Thank You for giving me the victory! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  (Esther Fleece Allen)

A Prayer to Calm Your Anxiety

Lord, you know me. You made me. You love me. Meet me where I am in this moment. You knew I’d be here. Do what You want with my churning insides and my spinning mind and my blown-up fear. Don’t waste a minute of my anxiety. Heal it. Use it. Change it. Instead of begging for something specific, I give myself to You. What do you want from me and for me? Thank you for understanding me when no one else does and loving me anyway. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  (Lori Freeland)

To Feel God’s Love and Care

Dear God, help me know You love me. Help me feel Your caring arms around me today, even in the dark. Help me hear Your voice singing over me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen (Emily T. Wierenga)

Lord, Help My Anxious Heart

Gracious Father, You are trustworthy, and yet I forget that. Too often I try to work out every situation in my own thoughts without once acknowledging You. Give me the right words to help my child. Give me a heart of love and patience. Use me to remind them that You are with them, You will be their God, You will strengthen them. Remind me You will uphold them, You will be their help. Please be my help today. Be my strength today. Remind me that You have promised to love me and my children eternally — and that You will never leave us. Please let me rest and trust in You, and help me teach my kids the same. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Jessica Thompson)

A Prayer for Peace and Relief from Anxiety

Lord, Today I pray that You would help me exchange my attempts at escape and relief for Your perfect peace. I pray that You would give me wisdom in my decisions, and use them to bring harvest of righteousness in my life. Today Lord, I choose to trust You and Your peace as my guard. Teach me to cast all my anxiety on You, because I know You care for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Grace Mills)

To Be Anxious For Nothing

Heavenly Father, Thank You for never leaving us nor forsaking us. As your daughters walk through valleys and experience painful anxiety, heal us completely if that is Your will. If You have a different plan for our lives, give us Your strength, love and courage and walk with us each day. We love You dearly. … In Jesus’ Name, Amen (Lara Sadowski)

A Prayer to Give God Worries and Depression

Dear Father in Heaven, so much in my life is broken. I have so many concerns and cares, and they weigh me down. While I desire to cast my cares upon You, I find I usually pick them back up again, and they only add more anxiety and stress. Please help me learn to cast my cares on You as I learn what it means to rest and trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Chrystal Hurst)

Prayer for Peace Over Worry

Dear God, help me wait well. Help me know what to do and when to do it. Then, help me do the holy work of rest, even when I would rather work and worry. Give me peace, and teach me to trust You as I wait for You to answer my prayers. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Chrystal Evans Hurst)

Trade Worry, Anxiety, Pain for Peace

Father God, I thank You that You are compassionate, merciful and faithful in Your love for me. I thank you that You know every thread of every thought I have. You care deeply when I hurt and You care deeply when I am joyful. Help me to come to you in prayer with all my worries, pain and anxiety and trade them for Your peace that passes all understanding. Help me to come to You with all of my joyful moments and rejoice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Ramona Davis)

Prayer to Replace Struggle with Joy

Heavenly Father, You alone are my secret keeper and know the darkest places within my heart. Lord, I feel tired, overwhelmed and unworthy of Your love. Help me to truly surrender the things that keep me imprisoned inside my heart. Replace my struggle with Your joy. I want my joy back. I want to stand beside You and celebrate this life that You have paid so dearly to give me. Thank you, Lord. You truly are the greatest gift of all. Consume me in Your joy, for I believe that the Joy of YOU Father, is where my strength is found. Thank You, Lord … In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (AJ Luck)

Peace for the Overwhelmed Heart

Lord, when my heart is overwhelmed, overwhelm me with Your peace. Lead me to You, my rock. Guide me to Your Word which gives me strength and refuge. Help me not to run to lesser things. Draw me to run to You first. Help me get into the habit of taking my “overwhelmed” and placing it under your will. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen (Jennifer Rotheschild)

A Prayer for When You Feel Weary and Burdened

Thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Thank you that you promise to give the worried, the hurried, the pressured, and stressed out – rest and peace for our souls – if we’ll just come before you. Thank you that you already know all that concerns us, and you care. We’re so grateful for your reminder that we don’t have to carry it all on our own. Forgive us for the times that we’ve tried to fix things in our own power, for not taking the time to rest, or coming to you first with our needs and burdens.  Thank you for the refreshing that comes from your Spirit, filling us with joy, covering us with a shield, leading us forward with hope. Equip us to be those who take notice of others who seem weary and burdened too. Help us to slow down, to take the time, to point others to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Debbie McDaniel)

Prayer for Faith Instead of Fear and Worry

Father, please forgive me when I give in to fear and worry instead of stepping out in faith and believing You. Help me learn how to capture my thoughts and train them to focus on You. I want to become a woman who trusts You – no matter what. My faith is small, but I now choose to place it in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Mary Southerland)

For Brave Faith When Life Gets Scary

Dear God, I need Your peace today. I know that in order to be at rest I have to stop juggling fear with faith. So I ask for Your wisdom. Help me to be brave. I come now and hand over these concerns (pause to personalize this). Fill me with Your love, joy and peace instead, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  (Gwen Smith)

For Peace When Tempted to Panic

Father God, I know it is normal for us to sometimes find ourselves in a pit of fear and discouragement. But we don’t have to stay there. Today, we’re choosing to fix our eyes on You. And we’re remembering that each thing we verbalize our thankfulness for is like a steppingstone out of the pit we’ve been in. Thank You for providing Your timeless truths that prove to us over and over again how powerfully capable You always are. With You by our side, we have no need to fear. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Lysa Terkeurst)

A Prayer to Overcome Panic Attacks

Lord, I come to you and I thank you for drawing near to me when I draw near to you. To think that you are mindful of me — it overwhelms my soul. But Lord, today my spirit is heavy and my body is weak. I cannot bear the weight of this anxiety and panic any longer. I recognize I can’t get through this alone, and I pray against the very active enemy who is trying to shake my faith and tear us apart. Help me stand strong in you. Fortify these weary bones and remind me of the truth that this pain and panic will not last forever. It will pass.

Fill me with your joy, peace and perseverance, Father. Restore my soul and break the chains of anxiety and panic that bind me. I trust you with my panic and I know that you have the power to take it all away. But even if you don’t, I know I don’t have to be a slave to my fear. I can rest in the shadow of your wings and I will rise and overcome by your unwavering strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Lauren Gaskill)

For Freedom from Stress and Anxiety

Dear Lord, help me trust You, consent to Your healing, and spend time in Your Word and in prayer. Rescue me from my distress and from the grave. Thank You for caring about my life and that I can be free from stress. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Stephanie Clayton)

A Prayer to Fight Fear

Dear Lord, I’m declaring today that I will not live in a state of fear. I place all of my fears into Your hands and commit to trust Your plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Lysa Terkeurst)

To Trust God When Doubting

Dear God, I want to honor You with my life. Sometimes I’m afraid I won’t become the woman You want me to be. Help me do my part to live the abundant life You’ve made possible for me. Reveal Yourself to me through Your Word, and show me how to honor You with my actions. And when doubts arise, help me trust that You are a gentle Shepherd who has promised to lead me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Chrystal Evans Hurst)

To Come to Jesus for Peace

Lord, there are a lot of weary women out there trying to be perfect – zipping up their feelings until they feel like they are going to explode.  Jesus, please help these girls know that there is healing in Your Open Arms.  They don’t have to act like they have it all together.  They can lay down the concealer and come to You.  Massage into their tired hearts that they don’t have to be perfect because You are.  All You are asking them to do is to come to You and learn from You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Robin Jones)

A Prayer for Hope When Trusting God is Hard

Heavenly Father, even when it feels like there’s a delay, help me to never doubt You have my best interest in mind. Give me divine wisdom in handling whatever situations are weighing me down, and help me release my cares to You. Thank You for Your unconditional love. I love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Binu Samuel)

Prayer for Anxiety and Fear

On this page you’ll find a list verses and prayers for anxiety. In today’s world, anxiety is far too common. If you find yourself stressing and panicking over events and circumstances in your life, it’s time to turn it all over to God. He is the only one who can truly ease the worries that you carry.

Everyone can benefit from prayer. As God Himself has said, you need only to come before Him and pray. Whenever you’re feeling anxious and worried, pray. There is power in prayer and in turning it all over to the Lord, who sacrificed His own son to pay for your sins. If He was willing to save you from death, why wouldn’t He take your anxieties and worries and erase them from your life. While you will still face those circumstances and events, you don’t need to do it alone. He is always there.

Many people find that once they begin to pray, they feel much calmer. There’s a peace in letting God take over your life. He has a plan and when you’re following it, you’ll find that even the bigger issues aren’t nearly as troublesome. In fact, knowing that you are not alone in dealing with them can make you feel at peace, no matter what you are facing.

PRAYER FOR ANXIETY CATHOLIC

Almighty God, You know what I need before I even ask and You know how ignorant I am. Please release me from these anxious thoughts and help me see Your gifts. Aid me in reaffirming my faith so that I can serve You as You first intended. In Your Name, Amen.

PRAYER FOR ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS

Dear God, I come before You to lay my panic and anxiety at Your feet. When I’m crushed by my fears and worries, remind me of Your power and Your grace. Fill me with Your peace as I trust in You and You alone. I know I can’t beat this on my own, but I also know that I have You, Lord, and You have already paid the ultimate price to carry my burdens. For this I thank you, Amen.

PRAYERS FOR ANXIETY AND WORRY

Dear Lord, in this moment, I find myself struggling with worries. I know this is not Your will and that You wish me to lay my burdens at Your feet. I know I can turn my cares over to You, who have died on the cross to set me free. I choose to trust in You, Lord, to focus on You, and to leave behind my worries and my cares, as they are nothing in Your light. When I find myself falling to my knees, let it be in front of You, with Your name on my lips, dear God. You will ease my burden and let me live free. In Your Name, Amen.

PRAYER FOR ANXIETY, WORRY, AND FEAR

Our Heavenly Father, today is a difficult one and I come to you as a broken and humbled servant. I’m unable to bear the burden of my worry and fear alone, and I turn to You to help me. Your sacrifice has set me free and I yearn to follow Your path, Lord. Help me live in Your grace. You have forgiven me and You have erased my cares. Everything I have is because of You and I ask that You help me trust in You, Lord. Amen.

PRAYER FOR ANXIETY RELIEF

Lord, You know my heart and my innermost thoughts. You see the struggle within me, the battle between mind and heart. I beg of you, O Lord, release me from this anxiety. Let me bask in Your Holiness and remain calm, knowing that You are Lord and Savior. You died for my sins and You will not leave me alone in this dark place. I thank You for Your everlasting love, Amen.

PRAYER FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Dear God, the heaviness of the world weighs on me and while I know You are in charge and You have my best interests at heart, I am struggling. My worries and the worries of the world crush me and bear me to the ground. O Lord, help me understand that You are the one holding me up, and that You will prevail against this darkness in me. Deliver me from the Valley of Death. Your love can heal all and I ask that you lift me from this pit of despair and surround me in Your incredible love and light. Let me see You in everything, Lord, that I may rise above this, in Your arms, and serve You. In Your Name, Amen.

PRAYER FOR ANXIETY AND FEAR

Heavenly Father, I fall before you, pleading for Your understanding and forgiveness. I have faltered in my faith, Lord. I feel fear and anxiety where I should feel faith and strength in Your arms. Forgive me, Father, and banish these thoughts from my head. Sweep away the fears that threaten to overcome me and make me new again, in Your Holy Spirit. This I ask, Amen.

Verses from the Bible:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

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

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Luke 12:25-26

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love.
2 Timothy 1:7

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

We can pray on your behalf by taking your anxiety prayer to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the holiest points on earth. Send us your personal serenity prayer and we will take it to the church, where a priest will say your prayer in this special and religious place. We will take photos of your prayer and lit candle and send them to you by email.

Lots and lots of prayers to lift you up, give hope and restore perspective.

Worry does not have to control your life.
Let God put your life and thoughts in order.

Trust Him.

Anxiety might be that you are just nervous or overwhelmed sometimes. Or it can be a problem that disrupts your life, as in anxiety disorders like phobias, panic, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Prayer for relief from anxiety, stress or depression makes a big difference. Remember, God always hears your prayer.

We recognize that healing also comes from the support and care of loved ones. Some might even need professional help. The goodness of God works in many ways.

May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Try This Prayer for Anxiety and Depression (Trust Me, It Helps)

I’m guessing that if you’re reading this, you’ve struggled or are struggling with anxiety or depression and you’re looking for hope. Maybe you feel like you’ve tried everything and you just can’t seem to beat it. You’re hoping to find a prayer for anxiety that will fix it all and make it go away. Poof! That nagging, aching, painful feeling inside is now gone and you can go back to normal. Maybe you feel lost, afraid and alone. I bet you also sometimes feel a little guilty that you’re supposed to “be anxious for nothing” as a Christian and you can’t seem to get it right. That depresses you, and now you feel like quitting and pulling away from everyone. That was me. I was there, and I was there big time.

My marriage was in shambles. I was shouldering all of the responsibility of raising three kids, two of them teenagers (Lord, help me!) all on my own. Working, cooking, cleaning, carpooling, fixing, financing, supporting, loving, providing—it was all on me. My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn’t know what to do about it. I was trying everything I could think of: counseling, meditation, medication, music, exercise, reciting Scriptures, you name it! Nothing seemed to take it away. Don’t get me wrong, it was definitely helping to do these things. I started to see the world in color again. I learned to use the tools I needed to get myself centered again. But I just couldn’t make it past a certain point. I was still struggling. Looking back, one thing I realize I wasn’t trying was “not trying.” Let me explain.  

If you search Scripture, you will find a plethora of verses on the topic of worry to pore over and pick apart. I know because I did it. I was looking for a magic formula to help me conquer it once and for all. In my search, I found something unexpected. You have to pay attention to see it, but in these verses there are implicit instructions from our Father to do nothing. What? Nothing? Yes, nothing. In Matthew 11:28 NIV, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He is doing the work here, not us. We just have to come to Him. In John 14:27 NIV, He says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you …” Are you sensing a theme? He is giving us peace. He is giving us rest. We do nothing. Again in Matthew 6:25-34 NIV, this famous passage tells us not to worry, for God even “clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,” so how much more will He take care of us? Here we are told to “seek first his kingdom … and all these things will be given” to us. That’s right—did you catch that? Given!

It wasn’t until I learned to do nothing that I finally found peace.

God is a giver. He has the answers, and He has our back. Some things we just can’t do ourselves, but that is exactly how He designed it. All we have to do is trust Him and come to Him. He does the rest! And you know, all of those things I worried about worked out, one way or another. My self-imposed worry was causing horrible physical symptoms and depression. It wasn’t until I took a breath, rested, truly came to Jesus, got quiet, let go of all the details, told God that I trusted Him completely—and then learned to do nothing—that I finally found peace. My prayers became less about my situation and more about my trust in Him.  

If you need to do the same, I highly encourage you to rest. Find a quiet place, away from everyone and everything, and pray this prayer for anxiety and depression. You may want to keep this prayer in your phone or on your mirror to help you remember to give it all to God and wait in expectation. I can promise you this: He will give you rest. He will give you peace. And His answers are infinitely better than anything you could ever come up with. You can trust Him.

Dear Lord,

I come to You today to ask for help. You are my everything. Lord, I need rest. I give You my worry. Take it, Lord. I accept Your peace, love, and understanding. Help me to turn to You and not to myself. Help me to stop doing and start trusting. Help me to wait on Your answers, because I know that they are good. Give me wisdom, hope, and peace. Thank you, Lord, for Your patience and grace. I love You, and I know You love me so much more than I could ever imagine.

Amen.

Scriptures to Pray When You’re Struggling with Anxiety

I am not a stranger to anxiety. I was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety and put on medication after my second son was born. Before that anxiety seemed to be fully managed, I found myself struggling with alternating bouts of depression and crippling anxiety after both of my sons began receiving diagnosis after diagnosis and my life became filled with a million appointments (or so it felt), sleepless nights, and a constant worry I wasn’t doing enough for my children.

I began a regimen of looking up, writing down, and memorizing scriptures about peace and anxiety. There’s a lot, in case you were wondering.

The Scriptures reminded me that God doesn’t want us to be fearful or anxious. And while I clung to those Scriptures, I didn’t feel like they were doing much to fight against my anxiety.

I knew according to Ephesians 6 that we are in a war and we must protect ourselves and battle with prayer. And so I started praying fervently for peace, for healing from my anxiety.

One day at Bible study, the ladies asked for prayer requests and I (in a state of desperation and vulnerability and courage) shared my struggles with anxiety. What happened next is something that I will never forget…

The ladies circled around me, laid their hands on me, and prayed for me. All the prayers were beautiful, heartfelt, and full of such love, but then one of the ladies began praying and I noticed that her prayer was composed of the scriptures I was memorizing. She embedded those scriptures effortlessly into her prayers and it was such a powerful prayer and I felt peace wash over me in a way I haven’t experienced before, or since, and I wept as those ladies prayed for me.

My chronic anxiety was gone that night, and has yet to return. God is good!

I still get anxious from time with various situations that come into my life, but when that happens, I now know to combat the anxiety by praying scripture. I learned from those ladies that prayed over me that there is power in God’s word, and there is power in prayer, and when you combine those two elements together, powerful things can happen! I’ve experienced it and I pray that you will too.

Below are some of my favorite scriptures about peace and overcoming anxiety. I encourage you to make them applicable to your own life, your own worries and struggles and situations. Consider printing out this list and praying or journaling one of them a day. Fill your heart, mind, and prayers with the word of God and God’s truths will strengthen you with God’s truth, love, power, and peace in your life.

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Pray that you would release your burdens and anxiety to God and embrace the peace He wants you to experience. “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7 MS

1. Pray that you would release your burdens and anxiety to God and embrace the peace He wants you to experience. “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7 MS
2. Thank God that He knows and cares for you. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me–just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for my sheep.” John 10:14
3. Pray that you would trust the Good Shepherd and experience the peace He has for you. “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he refreshes my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3
4. Thank God that even in your fear and/or anxiety, God is with you and there to comfort you. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
5. Thank God that He is always with you and watching over you. “The LORD watches over you–the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”
6. Pray that you would not be ruled by a spirit of fear or anxiety. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
7. Pray that you would not live in fear or anxiety but in your spiritual identity as a beloved child of God. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-17
8. Share your worries and burdens with God. “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalm 55:22
9. Pray that you would be focused on the things of heaven, rather than the things on earth that worry you. “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?..But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:23, 33
10. Pray that you would be able to focus on God’s truths and not the things that make you anxious. “…Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Phillipians 4:8-9
11. Pray that your thought processes would be transformed from anxious thinking, to rooted in God’s truth and peace and rest. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
12. Pray that you would remember that anxiety is not from God and we can fight against it. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…” Ephesians 6:10-11
13. Pray that your trust in God would grow and overrun your anxieties. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1
14. Pray that God will help you experience freedom from your anxiety. “I waited patiently for the LORD;he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1-2
15. Pray that you would grow in your faith as you experience life’s storms. “The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Matthew 8:25
16. Pray that you would always remember that despite the troubles in your life, Jesus has overcome the world, and we share in His victory too. “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
17. Pray that God would strengthen you to follow Him despite your fears and anxieties. “So, do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
18. Pray that God will exchange your burdens and anxieties for His peace and rest. “Come to me, all of 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
19. Pray that God would deliver you from your anxieties and worries. “The righteous cry out and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. THe LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18
20. Pray that you would experience the peace that only Jesus can provide. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to 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
21. Pray that your anxiety would not affect your sleep but that “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
22. Pray that your home and all your family members will be filled with peace. “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places; in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 32:17-18
23. Pray that you would continually grow in each fruit of the spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23
24. Pray that you would be persevere in faith and obedience to God, despite your anxiety. “Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
25. Pray that God’s power would be displayed in you through your struggles with anxiety. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

20 Prayers for Anxiousness to Trade Your Worries and Fears for God’s Peace

Whether it is a small, slow build of anxious thoughts over time or a sudden event that causes panic, everyone faces moments of anxiety. Yet, we do not all experience anxiety the same. You may be struggling with invading thoughts of worry that distract you from everyday activities, you may experience sudden and rapid breathing, or you may be finding it difficult to have a reason to get of bed. No matter the feelings of anxiety that come – God provides a way of escape. You are not alone. 1 Peter 5:6 and 10 tell us “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you…he will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

When the world feels out of control, we can turn to prayer to focus and calm our thoughts on God’s promises. Praying is an effective way to surrender your worries and fears to God and replace them with His peace. If you are struggling to find the words to pray in moments of worry and depression, we want to provide you with these guiding prayers. May these prayers speak over your anxiousness and provide calm.

A Prayer for Anxiousness

Lord Jesus, the stresses in my life often reach a dangerous proportion—or so it seems. My body, mind, and spirit struggle to keep up physically, mentally, and yes, spiritually. Some days anxiety stalks me like a deceitful predator, and the temptation to worry draws me in.  In those moments of apprehension, help me remember that I belong to You, and that You are not the author of fear or anxiety, but the giver of love and a sound mind. Teach me Your ways to respond to problems by giving thanks in them. Your Word assures me that You are always there with me. 

You are the Blessed Controller of all things, and nothing escapes Your attention in my life. You have given me every tool and spiritual blessing to fight against those things that try to steal my peace. You’ve promised that when I’m stressed and burdens are trying to weigh me down, I can come to You. You will give me sweet rest! (Rebecca Barlow Jordan)

Praying Over Anxiety

Whether the anxiety stems from work, parenting, finances, physical issues, or even world conditions, You are there, Lord, to shoulder the weight. Teach me to recognize the stressful trials as tools for you to shape me and rearrange me. Through those difficult times, You will teach me patience, enlarge my faith, and help me see things I couldn’t see earlier—if I will only let You. When I’m clueless as to what to do, Lord, I want to turn to you first, not last.

Forgive me for trying to handle things on my own, Lord. The need to be in control sometimes gets a stronghold on my life. That only makes things worse. I want to trust You more and see things from Your perspective, not my own. No one makes me feel uptight, angry, or stressed, and no one forces me to react negatively. I choose to respond according to my beliefs. Do I believe You are in control? Do I believe You created all things and hold all things in Your Hand? Do I believe You are truly good? When an anxious thought creeps in, help me to stop and relax, to take that thought captive, and to turn apprehension into a calm prayer for deliverance. Revamp my belief system, Lord. Show me a new way to handle life according to Your Way.

No matter what issues I am dealing with; no matter how big the problems or situations, I’m laying them all at Your feet today. Turn these potentials for stress into lessons for growth and trust. When I can’t see any possible solutions, I choose to believe that You are working things out for my good—in Your own time, as you have in the past. Show me what to do, or what not to do. As I focus on You, remembering Your promises and Your words, I believe You will fill me with a peace that is beyond all understanding. Amen. (Rebecca Barlow Jordan)

A Prayer to Battle Depression

Help me to see if there is something physical that is causing my depression. Help me to sift through my circumstances to see if there is a need for change in some way. If I am experiencing depression as a result of a spiritual battle, please bring that to light and show me the best way to fight that battle. Today I surrender my depression to you and ask that you give me power and peace to win this battle once and for all. When my thoughts begin to spiral, may your promises and blessings bring healing. Amen

A Prayer to Reduce Fear

You know that we live in a crazy and chaotic world. You also know my struggles in my daily life. When life gets to be too much, please help me come to you. Calm my thoughts and emotions and open my heart to your peace, comfort, and wisdom. Help me not to live in fear. Please reduce the feelings of fear and anxiety that plague me. Help me rest in You and trust You as I navigate through this broken world. In Your name I pray, Jesus. Amen. (Carrie Lowrance)

A Prayer for Stress

Lord, thank you that you want us to cast our cares on you. Thank you that there is nowhere I can go that you are not there with me. Thank you for having a hold of my life, even as I feel like everything is crumbling around me.

Lord, I confess that I have let stress take a hold of my life, rather than You. I have let stress control my mood, my attitudes and my actions. Lord, I repent of this! Please Father, help me see what is stressful in my life and hand it over to You. Help me not let the stress win out. Help me actively think on Your goodness to me.

I am so hopeful for my eternity with you, Lord, where there will be NO more stress! Help me look back on all the ways You have rescued me from my stressful moments, and look in hope to the future where You will one day rid all stress, forever. Help me live boldly in the truth of Your goodness and power today. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Praying Through An Anxiety Attack

Lord, Help me! I am so frightened and afraid. Be near to me and help me feel your presence. Surround me with protection. Holy Spirit, settle my racing heart and mind. Help me breathe out – Abba Father — and breathe in — I belong to you. Your peace surpasses all understanding, this I know. Please give me this peace now. Abba Father – I belong to you. Abba Father – I belong to you. 

Lord, thank you that no matter what my mind or body tell me, the truth is I am your child, forever loved, forever protected, forever held fast by you. I love you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Amen. (Emily Massey)

A Prayer for When the World Makes You Anxious

Dear God, I am prone to worry. I let the happenings of the world, the elections and the economy sit heavy on me. I need to find your peace. I invite you to restructure my thinking. May my hope be you. May my peace be you. May you help love flow out from me. Give me clarity. May I change what I am able to change and release what I can’t. May I know that the greatest joy is staying where you are. God, thank you that you have the whole world in your hands. I need not fear because you are the best manager, orchestrator and caretaker. You made it all. I believe in your plan. Amen. (Kelly Balarie)

A Prayer to Stop Worrying and Calm Your Mind

“Dear Father, I admit that I often forget that you are with me. I often forget what you’re like. Would you please forgive me for that? I need to get to know you better. I need to get to know your Word and your promises better. Help me to put you first in every area of my life. Help me to live one day at a time. Help me to not worry about tomorrow but instead focus on what you’re doing in my life right now. I want to trust in your promise to take care of every one of my needs — financial, relational, physical, social, spiritual, and emotional. Help me to trust you more and worry less. I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.” (Rick Warren)

Prayer to Cast Cares and Trust God

Dear Father in Heaven, so much in my life is broken. I have so many concerns and cares, and they weigh me down. While I desire to cast my cares upon You, I find I usually pick them back up again, and they only add more anxiety and stress. Please help me learn to cast my cares on You as I learn what it means to rest and trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Chrystal Evans Hurst)

Prayer Against Anxious Thoughts

Lord, you are a good God with good intentions behind all the works of your hands. Help me see the areas where I’ve allowed lies to be sewn into my life. Once they are revealed, help me to hand them over to you and allow you to remove them from my life completely. I ask that once they are removed you would then fill the newly freed spaces with the truths of your word. In the midst of anxiety, help me always look to you. In Jesus’ name, amen. (Chelsey DeMatteis)

To Release the Heaviness

Lord, I want to lay before you all that weighs heavy on my heart. Reveal even the sin I am not aware of, Lord. I lay these at your feet and pray your forgiveness on me. I believe you when you say that you wash us whiter than snow. Thank you Lord for your unending love for me! Help me start fresh right now to make choices that honor you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Rick Warren)

When You Feel Alone

Dear God, Thank you that you see us right where we are, in the midst of our pain and struggle, in the middle of our desert land. Thank you that you have not forgotten us and never will. Forgive us for not trusting you, for doubting your goodness, or not believing you’re really there. We choose to set our eyes on you today. We choose joy and peace when the whispered lies come and say that we should have no joy or peace.

Thank you that you care for us and your love over us is so great. We confess our need for you. Fill us fresh with your Spirit, renew our hearts and minds in your truth. We ask for your hope and comfort to continue to heal our hearts where they’ve been broken. Give us the courage to face another day, knowing that with you before us and behind us, we have nothing to fear. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Debbie McDaniel)

Prayer to Stop Overwhelming Worry

Lord, it’s so easy to fall into worry. When my fears are reverberating in my mind, help me stop trying to fix everything myself. Teach me to turn to You in prayer, trust You to be in charge and let Your peace reign over me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Francine Rivers)

To Trust in Difficult Circumstances

Lord God, I know You are here. I trust in Your presence, Your power, Your goodness, and Your complete control over everything I’m facing. Help me walk through the questions, assured of Your answers, even though they’re still unclear to me. I know one day King Jesus will appear as the “Faithful and True” (Revelation 19:11), riding a powerful horse and fully revealing His authority. And I know that even now, when I don’t understand all the answers, I have You with me, and that is all that matters. Please give me increasing eyes of faith to trust what You are doing, even—and especially—when I don’t understand. I love You and I trust You, and I pray these things in Jesus’ Worthy Name, Amen.

Prayer for Peace in Uncertainties

Father, we live in a world where peace is almost a foreign word. But in reading Your Word we find the peace that passes understanding and we can rely on You to see us through whatever our days may hold. Thank You for being our Peace in all the uncertainties. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Paris Renae)

Prayer for Peace and Relief

Lord, Today I pray that You would help me exchange my attempts at escape and relief for Your perfect peace. I pray that You would give me wisdom in my decisions, and use them to bring harvest of righteousness in my life. Today Lord, I choose to trust You and Your peace as my guard. Teach me to cast all my anxiety on You, because I know You care for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Grace Mills)

To Sleep Worry Free

Lord, I’ve shouldered my cares as if I’m the one in control. Help me become like a child, handing all my stresses, worries and responsibilities to You, my faithful Father. I trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Amy Carol)

When You Don’t Know What to Do

Dear Lord, I praise You for being a sovereign God. You are in control. I don’t have to be. When I don’t know what to do, Lord, thank You that I can ask You for wisdom and guidance. You are my Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6). I put in Your hands each of the concerns weighing on my heart and mind. Thank You that I can entrust them into Your loving care. I set my eyes on You, confident You will come to my rescue. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Melanie Chitwood)

A Prayer for Others Who Are Hurting and Troubled

Dear God, Our world is hurting and broken. We pray for those who have lost loved ones this week, please comfort them in their grief and loss, cover them with your peace and presence, as only your Spirit can do.

We know that in whatever we face, you are our Peace and Refuge, a very present help in times of trouble. Thank you that you remind us throughout your Word, we do not face the storms alone, but you are always with us.  Whispering calm. Speaking peace. Bringing rest to our souls.

We confess our need for you. We ask you to forgive us for trying to figure everything out on our own, for not trusting that you are more than able and powerful to work on our behalf. Forgive us for picking back up what we already determined to lay down at your feet. Give us the ability to trust you more, give us a heart that finds rest in your presence, give us the wisdom to seek peace and pursue it, remembering it’s only to be found in you alone.

Thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Thank you that you care for us. Thank you that the peace of your loving and strong presence guards and protects our hearts and minds in you. Thank you that we do not have to walk in fear or live in overwhelmed cycles of worry and stress.

Thank you for your voice that breaks through the greatest wind and storm swirling around us, and whispers “Peace, be still.” Thank you that you sent your One and Only Son to set us free. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen. (Debbie McDaniel)

A Prayer to End the Day

We ask for your huge peace to surround us tonight, all of us who feel restless and worried right now, those who have been carrying big burdens and shouldering stress. Help us to lay it down before you, again, even though we’re struggling to really let go. Remind us that you can carry it so much better than we ever could. May your power and your rest fill us fresh. May the presence of your Spirit breathe hope deep into our souls, even as we sleep.

We ask that you would provide for our needs, even as we sleep. We pray for your huge grace and favor. We thank you that you never sleep or slumber, that you’re always at work, even in the dark of night, even behind the scenes where we can’t fully see. We pray for your blessings to cover us, that you would make every plan you’ve birthed in our hearts to succeed at just the right time. We pray that you’d be opening doors, clearing pathways, closing the wrong roads, and setting up our way for tomorrow.

Thank you for your goodness, thank you that you know the way we take and that you have a plan. We love you Lord, we need you, and we thank you we can rest in your perfect care. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Debbie McDaniel)

A Morning Prayer for Strength

Lord, I am weary and don’t know when this “race” will end in my life. I feel like I’ve been running forever, trying to outrun this trial. Help me to stop trying to outrun my pain but rather run with endurance the race you have set before me. I know that because of you I am ultimately a victor over the trials in my life. I know that nothing in this world can separate me from your steadfast love. Please give me a measure of your love today; give me the strength to endure this trial. Thank you for your love for me that never ends! And thank you for the crown of joy that awaits me forever in your Kingdom! – Adrian Rogers

God has a lot to teach us about anxiety and fear in Scripture. These Bible verses can offer you hope and healing over anxiousness.

1. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10

2. “Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

3. “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” -Psalm 56:3

4. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” -2 Timothy 1:7

5. “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” -Deuteronomy 31:6

6. “I prayed to the Lord and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” -Psalm 34:4

7. “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God for he cares for you.”-1 Peter 5:6-7

8. “This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9

9. “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for the fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” -1 John 4:18

10. “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13

11. 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