Come here when your heart feels heavy.
Bible Verses for Fear, Anxiety & Encouragement
You do not have to pretend you are not afraid. God already knows what you are feeling. Read slowly. You may only need one verse today.
When fear feels bigger than you
Fear is a human feeling. Having a frightened moment does not mean you have failed God. Bring the fear to Him honestly.
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
When you are anxious or worried
You can tell God exactly what you are worried about. Prayer is not a performance. It can be as simple as, “Jesus, I am scared. Please help me.”
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”
When you feel alone
Loneliness can make a difficult day feel even heavier. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God does not abandon His people.
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.”
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
When you cannot sleep
If your mind will not stop racing, you do not have to solve your whole life tonight. Breathe, pray simply, and let one verse be enough.
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
“Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
When you are hurting after a loss
Sadness After Loss is not a lack of faith. Jesus Himself wept. You are allowed to miss someone, cry, and bring your sorrow to God.
“Jesus wept.”
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
When you feel hopeless or exhausted
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
When you do not know what to do
You do not have to see the entire road before taking the next faithful step.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
When you need peace
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
When you need to remember that God loves you
Your feelings can change from hour to hour. God's love is not measured by whether today feels easy.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Common Questions
You may be wondering about one of these questions. Here are short answers to help you keep going.
What Bible verse can I read when I am afraid?
Psalm 56:3 says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” You can bring fear to God instead of hiding it from Him.
What can I pray when I feel anxious?
You can pray very simply: “Jesus, I am afraid. Please stay close to me, help me think clearly, and give me peace for the next step.”
Does being afraid mean my faith is weak?
No. People in the Bible felt fear too. Faith can mean turning toward God while you are still afraid.
A simple prayer when you cannot find the words
Jesus, I am afraid and overloaded. You already know what is happening and what I am feeling. Please stay close to me. Give me good judgment for the next step, strength for today, and peace for this moment. Help me remember that I am loved and that I can talk to You honestly. Amen.
You do not need to feel better instantly for the prayer to be real. Keep talking to Him. Keep taking one day, and sometimes one hour, at a time.
Need more comfort? The Comfort & Worship page has additional Scripture, hymns, and offline worship help.