Is your life ruled by anxiety? For many years, I struggled with the daily fear of an uncertain future. A tremor of angst filled my chest and migrated to my stomach every time my head lifted from my pillow.
The inability to control my circumstances overwhelmed me, but God has given us great promises to overcome those fears. Many of us know that intellectually, but struggle to experience peace in our souls.
The prayer below is rooted in the promises of Scripture. If you’re struggling with anxiety or fear today, God wants to set you free from your shackles. Read the prayer several times. Read and meditate on the scriptures referenced in the footnotes. Ask God to show you how to release your anxiety as you focus on His promises.
A PRAYER FOR OVERCOMING ANXIETY AND FEAR
Lord God,
I know you see me and my anxiety.1
You told your disciples, “… I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.”2
I know Your promises of provision and protection3 are true, but I don’t feel it today.
I feel anxious about the future.
I feel anxious about the outcome of my trials.
I can feel the worry in my chest.
I feel out of control.
Help me find peace in my lack of control,
Surrendering to the sovereignty of Yours.
Help me take the focus off my circumstances,
Turning it toward the One who makes my path straight.4
You drive out fear with perfect love.5
You deliver me from my fear.6
You renew my strength.7
You provide all that I need.8
Your Word will never fail.9
Let me sing with the psalmist, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”10
AMEN.
How do you seek God in your anxiety and fear? Please comment below to encourage those who are struggling today.
___________________________
[1] Genesis 16:13
[2] Luke 12:22 (NIV)
[3] Matthew 6:25-34
[4] Proverbs 3:5-6
[5] 1 John 4:18
[6] Psalm 34:4
[7] Isaiah 40:31
[8] Psalm 23; Luke 12:22-32
[9] Luke 1:37
[10] Psalm 94:19 (NIV)
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Sometimes my fear and anxiety is rooted in this thought process that maybe I will lose everything I (with Gods guidance of course) have worked towards and for. Like this bad thing happened and my mind takes it to the worst possible conclusion- like I feel like it’s punishment for past wrongs. It’s a terrible vicious cycle. I’m your prayer is peace giving but I still struggle thinking the outcome may be the worst- losing career and family – ugh
I’m so sorry that your facing that kind of uncertainty. I encourage you to get encouragement and guidance from a local church, but please know I am praying for God to reveal His hope and strength in your life. Ask God who He wants you to BE rather than what He wants you to DO. He wants you to experience peace and trust in His plan.
Amen, amen: “Help me take the focus off my circumstances, Turning it toward the One who makes my path straight.” This is nearly always what helps me.
I shared your prayer with my daughter. Thank you for writing it. This world gives us anxiety but our Savior gives us hope and peace in all circumstances.
Excellent post, Joshua. I just counseled with a friend yesterday struggling with anxiety. I emailed her your post. The prayer is beautiful.
Thank you, Melanie. I hope your friend finds it helpful, and I pray the Lord will encourage and strengthen her.
This is great, Joshua! Praying the promises of God is the keep to peace. We know, we should have peace, but often we miss it by about eighteen inches. That is the average distance from your person’s head to their heart. Thanks for writing this post!
That’s exactly right, Kevin. Our head gets in the way so often, preventing us from hearing God. Thank you for visiting the site and for your encouraging words.
Thank you for sharing. I’m currently struggling with anxiety and fear of the unknown. I try to tell my mind it’s okay but it doesn’t listen. My heart wants to jump out while my head wants to explode. I usually pray different prayers and listen to relaxing music to help calm the mind or step outside for fresh air. Crying it out helps.
Thank you for your honesty, Yvette. Anxiety can feel completely overwhelming. I pray the Lord will encourage you and reveal the truth of His peace to you. You are not alone.
Thank you for this prayer. I struggle with anxiety at times. I have a verse I like to meditate on – Isaiah 26:3.
That’s a great verse for those of us who face anxiety. Thank you, Kim.
I am no stranger to fear and anxiety, Joshua. Your words and the prayer in particular speak directly to my heart. Thank you for directing me heavenward when my thoughts turn inward.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
Thank you, Tammy. I’m so grateful you found the prayer helpful. I’m always amazed to see God put just the right thing in front of us when we need it. Thank you for your honest comment. I pray the Lord continues to encourage you.
Great prayer, Joshua, and I love how you backed every phrase with specific verses of Scripture. That’s a great way to pray, Joshua, and you’ve challenged me to back my prayers with His promises, too!
Thank you, Julie. I’m grateful for your encouragement. God’s promises are the anchor of our hope.
Spot on! Who doesn’t struggle with anxiety at some point? My go to Bible verse during those times is Philippians 4:6. Love your focused prayer!
That’s such an encouraging verse. Thank you for sharing what helps you in your anxiety.
I don’t worry about much, but when anxiety strikes, it’s helpful to have some go to prayers to help me before the anxiety overtakes me.
Prayer prepares us for trials and helps us lean toward God as we walk through them. Thank you, Jennifer.
Beautiful and timely prayer Pastor Joshua. I love it when we’ve hidden God’s word in our hearts and can remind ourselves of His promises in prayer. I think too it brings a smile to His face when He sees us learning to trust Him. Thank you.
I completely agree, J.D. I think God is filled with joy when we pray His Word back to Him. And our trust in Him makes it possible for us to experience joy as well.
You are a very special man Josh. God has chosen you to lead and teach His word.
That means so much to me. Thank you!
I need this today. Thank you.
I’m so grateful when the Holy Spirit puts just the right thing in front of us that we need. He is a good God. May the Lord continue to encourage you today.
Great prayer. Thanks for this!!!
Thank you, Jacob.
Nice post, Josh. I just this morning storyboarded an overwhelming set of circumstances I’m navigating this month, interestingly, the month I started a 21 day prayer challenge (via the book, The Circle Maker). I was able to externalize the internal conflict and the external circumstances prompting it, a la The Hero’s Journey, which I’m partial to as you know 🙂 Drawing boxes and squiggly characters put the whole mess in perspective and with humor, and immediately translated into hope and a brighter outloook for Monday. Thanks for the timely prayer which I will now add to my journal.
Pat, I’m so honored that you would add this prayer to your journal. I pray the Lord will encourage and strengthen you as He guides you through the circumstances you’ve written down. He is our hope, a clearing in a dark wooded path. Thank you for sharing your process and for your encouraging words.
Wise, practical and helpful, Josh. Thank you!
Thank you, Marilyn. I appreciate your encouraging words.