15 Bible Verses to Calm Fear and Anxiety in Your Life

Dawn Ward
14 minutes ago
7 min read

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4 (ESV)

Do you ever experience feelings of fear and anxiety? If so, you are not alone. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), over 40 million adults (19.1%) in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder.1

While most people will occasionally experience mild symptoms of fear and anxiety, others may find their symptoms to be debilitating. Although our symptoms may vary from mild to severe, for those of us who are believers in Jesus, we can find comfort in His presence in these times of emotional overwhelm.

How do you know if you are living in a state of fear or anxiety? Feelings of fear, anxiety, and worry can happen occasionally, come on suddenly, or can be ongoing and life-controlling, carrying with them emotional and physical symptoms such as:

Emotional symptoms:

feeling stressed out, tense, restless, or irritable
experiencing a sense of doom, dread, or apprehension
anticipating the worst, being hypervigilant about danger
increased symptoms can lead to phobias

Physical symptoms:

increased heart rate or racing heart, shortness of breath
panic attacks or chest pain
sweating, tremors, twitches
headaches, upset stomach, insomnia

I am familiar with some of the symptoms having experienced varying degrees of fear and anxiety throughout my life. During my childhood, I grew up in a volatile home due to my father’s excessive drinking. While my father never lashed out at me physically, he was loud and verbally abusive when he was inebriated. Fear and anxiety became my constant companions as I tried to cope with what would become regularly occurring disruptions to our household peace.

Gratefully, Jesus became my constant companion at a very young age. While I was not raised by Christian parents, the Lord faithfully reassured me that He was always with me, promising me He would never leave me or forsake me.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b ESV

Can Fear and Anxiety be Life-Controlling?

When I became an adult, the feelings of fear and anxiety regularly interrupted my sense of peace and security. While I was generally sound-minded, at times I found myself worried or anxious over things I had no control over. As a mother, fretting over the health and safety of my children cost me many nights of peaceful sleep.

When my kids grew up, my reasons for concern only increased as they made adult decisions (some good and some not so good) and experienced adult consequences. Accompanying me on this journey, these unwanted intruders of fear and anxiety remained my close companions. There were days when it seemed all I did was worry about one thing after another going wrong. While I was able to compartmentalize my emotions and function, I began to wonder if my life would always be controlled by fear and anxiety. You may share in these concerns as well.

This is not how Jesus wants us to live. While we will have cause for fear and worry in this world, Jesus offers us freedom from both. Because we are His children, He provides us with something the world cannot give us––His peace.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16: 33 ESV

Freedom from Fear and Anxiety

Worrying incessantly and trusting God are polar opposites. They cannot co-exist together in the same body. When the Lord began to work on my heart, He revealed to me that if I wanted His peace in my life, I needed to trust Him. In my case, the fear and anxiety I was experiencing were not caused by a physical problem or imbalance in my body. I had a faith problem. I didn’t trust the Lord like I thought I did with my life or with the lives of my loved ones. The only way I would ever be truly free from the bondages of fear and anxiety was for me to cry out to Jesus to set me free.

On our journeys from toxic emotional overload to living in peace and joy, the Lord is an ever present help in our time of need (Psalm 46:1). When we turn to Him in stressful moments, He will remove the overwhelming burden of fear and worry and replace them with His perfect peace. To do so, we begin by renewing our minds. The Bible is rich in scriptures that help us do just that. As we read, meditate on, and memorize the Word of God, our minds, heart, and lives will be transformed.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our mind,” Romans 12:2a ESV

"As we read, meditate on, and memorize the Word of God, our minds, heart, and lives will be transformed." ~ Dawn Ward

Bible Verses to Calm Fear and Anxiety

Below are some of the many scriptures I meditate on to calm fear and anxiety in my life. When I am stressed out, worried, or afraid, I turn to these verses to bring peace to my anguished soul. May they also comfort you as you seek to live in peace even when your circumstances are chaotic and stressful.

Old Testament Bible Verses

“You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.” Deuteronomy 3:22 ESV

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

“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 ESV

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 ESV

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 ESV

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 ESV

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4 ESV

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

New Testament Bible Verses

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 ESV

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”Matthew 10:29-31 ESV

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”Romans 8:15 ESV

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6 ESV

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 ESV

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

More Ideas to Help Calm Fear and Anxiety

I encourage you to begin and end each day reading through these Bible verses to help set your mind free from fear and anxiety. As you read through them, personalize them by inserting your name wherever possible. For example: Write and pray, "For God gave {insert your name} a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

You may find it helpful to begin a freedom journal, noting anything the Lord places on your mind that may be the source of fear and anxiety in your life. Write a Bible verse that speaks truth into your heart and blesses your mind with peace. Begin each day with gratitude as the Lord renews your mind with His word. In the evening, reflect on God’s faithfulness as He helped you release your anxieties and cast your cares upon Him. True freedom is found when we fix our eyes on Jesus.

As you work through this process, ask the Lord to renew your heart and mind. Remember that transformation may happen quickly, but most likely, it will take time. Do not lose hope. He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus. We often look to the things of this world that promise us peace and security. We admit we can only be free from fear and anxiety when we keep our eyes on You. You are the Prince of Peace who brings peace into this dark and chaotic world. Thank you for giving us perfect peace even when we face the storms of life. May we always keep our eyes on You as we meditate on the promises found in your Word.

Amen.

Are you a mother trying to cope with the painful reality of your adult child's addiction or self-destructive behaviors?

From Guilt to Grace: Hope and Healing for Christian Moms of Addicted Children offers guidance to mothers grappling with the anguish of their child’s addiction. Through Biblical truths and personal insights, you will discover the lies keeping you trapped in guilt and shame and experience the transforming power of God’s grace to set you and your loved ones free.

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¹https://www.nami.org/types-of-conditions/anxiety-disorders/; NAMI online, accessed January 31, 2026