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The Bible speaks to anxiety again and again, and it never treats an anxious person as a failure. The best-known verse is Philippians 4:6-7, which invites us to bring every worry to God in prayer and promises a peace "which passeth all understanding." Below you will find 15 King James Version verses about anxiety and worry, grouped by the moment you might need them, each with a short explanation.
Many of the people who wrote these words were anxious themselves. David wrote psalms while running for his life. Paul wrote about peace from a prison cell. Elijah, one of the boldest prophets in Scripture, once sat under a tree and asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19:4). God did not scold him. He let him sleep and gave him food (1 Kings 19:5-6).
When You Can't Stop Worrying
Worry often feels like a loop of "what ifs." These verses do not deny the problem. They tell you where to put it.
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.
— Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
In the language of 1611, "be careful for nothing" means "be anxious about nothing." Paul gives a simple practice: turn each worry into a specific request, and add thanks for what God has already done. God's peace will then "keep" your heart and mind, like a guard at a gate.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
— 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
"Casting" is the word for throwing a heavy load off your shoulders. Peter gives the reason in the same breath: God cares for you. Your worries matter to him because you matter to him.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
— Psalm 94:19 (KJV)
This verse describes racing thoughts almost exactly: "the multitude of my thoughts." The psalmist does not claim the thoughts stopped. He says that in the middle of them, God's comfort reached him.
When You Worry About Tomorrow
Much anxiety lives in the future. Jesus spoke to this in the Sermon on the Mount.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
— Matthew 6:26-27 (KJV)
"Taking thought" in the King James Version means anxious worry. Jesus points to the birds as a picture of daily care. His question is practical: has worrying ever added a single inch to your life?
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
— Matthew 6:34 (KJV)
This is permission to live one day at a time. God will give grace for tomorrow's troubles when they come.
When You Are Afraid
Fear usually has a clear object, while anxiety can feel like fear without a name. Scripture speaks to both.
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.
— Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
God spoke these words to Israel in exile, far from home and unsure of the future. Notice the reason given for not fearing: not "nothing bad will happen," but "I am with thee."
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
— Psalm 56:3 (KJV)
David wrote this when he had been captured by the Philistines in Gath. The verse is honest: it assumes there will be times when he is afraid. Faith here is not the absence of fear. It is what you choose to do while you are afraid.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
— 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
Paul wrote this to Timothy, a young pastor who seems to have been timid by nature. It reminds us that a spirit of fear does not come from God. What he gives instead is power, love and "a sound mind," a calm and steady way of thinking.
When You Can't Sleep
Anxiety often gets louder at night. These verses have helped many people settle their hearts before sleep.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
— Psalm 4:8 (KJV)
Psalm 4 is traditionally read as an evening prayer. David had real enemies, yet he decided to lie down and rest because his safety did not depend on staying awake to guard it.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
— Psalm 127:2 (KJV)
This psalm is about work and worry. Rising early and staying up late in anxious effort, eating "the bread of sorrows," does not build what only God can build. Sleep is described as a gift he gives to those he loves.
When You Feel Overwhelmed and Weary
Sometimes anxiety is the weight of everything at once.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
— Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
Jesus does not say "come to me once you have it together." He invites the tired and the overloaded exactly as they are. The rest he promises is deeper than a nap: it is rest for the soul (Matthew 11:29).
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
— Psalm 55:22 (KJV)
David wrote Psalm 55 after being betrayed by a close friend. In verse 6 he wishes he had wings like a dove so he could fly away and be at rest. Instead of escaping, he hands his burden to God.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
— Psalm 34:18 (KJV)
When anxiety comes with grief or heartbreak, this verse is a quiet reassurance. God is not distant from people who are hurting. He comes near to them.
When You Need Peace That Lasts
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.
— John 14:27 (KJV)
Jesus spoke these words on the night before his crucifixion, knowing what was coming. The peace he offers is not the world's kind, which depends on circumstances going well. It is his own peace, the same calm he had on the worst night of his life.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
— Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
"Stayed" means fixed or leaning on something for support. The Hebrew behind "perfect peace" is literally "peace, peace," a doubled word for complete wholeness. Peace grows as our attention keeps returning to God.
How to Use These Verses
These verses help most when they become part of daily life:
- Choose one verse for the week. Write it on a card and keep it by your bed, in your car or on your phone's lock screen.
- Pray the verse back to God. Turn Psalm 56:3 into "Lord, I am afraid right now, and I choose to trust you."
- Read a whole psalm. Psalms 4, 23, 34, 55 and 91 were all written by people under pressure. Our guides to Psalm 91 and Psalm 23 walk through two of the most loved ones line by line.
A Short Prayer for Anxiety
If you do not know what to say, you can pray these words or use them as a starting point:
Father, my mind is full and my heart is heavy. You know every worry I am carrying, even the ones I cannot put into words. I give them to you now, because you care for me. Give me your peace, the peace that passes understanding, and guard my heart and my mind. Help me to live today and leave tomorrow in your hands. When I lie down, let me sleep in safety, because you are with me. In Jesus' name, amen.
Faith and Getting Help
The Bible's comfort is real, and so is anxiety as a health condition. If worry is affecting your sleep, your work, your relationships or your ability to enjoy life, it is wise to talk to a doctor or a licensed counselor. Seeking that help is not a lack of faith. Scripture itself values wise counsel (Proverbs 11:14), Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14), and Paul told Timothy to take something for his frequent stomach troubles (1 Timothy 5:23).
Prayer, Scripture, a caring church and professional care can work together. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out right away: in the United States you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any hour.
For more encouragement, see our page of Bible verses about strength. Elijah knew this darkness too, and you can watch how God cared for him in Elijah – The Movie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Bible verse for anxiety?
Philippians 4:6-7 is the most widely loved, because it gives both a practice (pray about everything with thanksgiving) and a promise (God's peace will guard your heart and mind). 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you," is a close second.
Is anxiety a sin according to the Bible?
The Bible does not call feeling anxious a sin. Jesus himself was "exceeding sorrowful" in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38), and David, Elijah and Paul all described deep distress. When Scripture says "be careful for nothing," it is an invitation to bring worry to God, not a condemnation of people who struggle.
What does the Bible say about worrying about tomorrow?
Jesus taught, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow" (Matthew 6:34). He was not telling people to stop planning, but to stop carrying tomorrow's troubles today. God provides for each day as it comes, just as he feeds the birds.
What verse helps with anxiety at night?
Psalm 4:8 is a classic bedtime verse: "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." Psalm 3:5 and Psalm 127:2 also speak about God giving rest. Many people read Psalm 23 or Psalm 91 before sleep as well.
Is it wrong for a Christian to take medication or see a counselor for anxiety?
No. Most churches and Christian leaders agree that medical and counseling care can be a good gift from God, much like any other treatment. The Bible encourages seeking wise counsel and shows Paul recommending a practical remedy for Timothy's health. Prayer and professional help can go hand in hand.
How did Jesus deal with anxiety?
In Gethsemane, the night before the cross, Jesus was in such anguish that his sweat was "as it were great drops of blood" (Luke 22:44). He responded by praying honestly, asking his closest friends to stay with him, and surrendering to the Father's will.
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