When our mind and our heart are engulfed in anxiety, it can be hard to think clearly much less know what to pray. I’ve been there…times when I was so worried I could hardly pray anything other than a simple, “Jesus, help.” And help He will. But when we’re anxious, God wants us to give Him those things we are anxious about. Here are some prayers for when you feel anxious, worried, or afraid. Our prayer for you is that these prayers for anxiety, worry and fear will usher in God’s peace.

1. Prayer for Trusting God

Dear God, life is challenging at times, and so often it’s hard to maintain an eternal perspective in light of our troubles. Thank you that you remind us in your word that you are the “Great I AM,” not the “Great I Was,” or the “Great I am going to be.” You are all that we need. Help me to trust in you because you are sufficient for my every need. And for that you are worthy of my praise.

2. Prayer when feeling overwhelmed

Father, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed with the demands and worries of life. But I thank you that instead of giving us the spirit of fear, you have given us a sound mind, the mind of Christ. I offer to you all my worries, anxieties, and fears in exchange for your peace, which prevails through your power, love, and sound mind. Help me to rest in your presence. Help me to remain alert to the enemy’s lies, trust your Word, believe your promises, and receive your peace. Thank you that you are 100 percent for me and that outcomes don’t depend on me but on your sovereign will, way, and timing. In Jesus’s name, amen.

3. Prayer to replace worry, anxiety and fear with peace and calm assurance

Heavenly Father, we know that you do not give us the spirit of fear but instead power, love, and a sound mind. I ask that you would minister to my anxious heart and replace all worry, anxiety, and fear with your peace and calm assurance. Remind me of your truth, which is greater than anything I might come up against. Rebuke the spirit of fear and in its place loose your peace to every cell of my being. Help me to trust you in all things, despite how they look or feel. Thank you, Lord, that you are Shalom, our perfect peace. In Jesus’s name, amen.

4. Prayer for anxiety

Father God, life can seem so overwhelming. Too much to do, and too little time to do it. At the root of feeling overwhelmed is anxiety which screams not only “it ALL has to be done right now,” but also “if it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” Help me Lord, to remember that you never put anything on us that is ill-fitting. Your yoke is easy and your burden is light. You are an overcoming God, and you tell us that we are more than conquerors so help me to remember that with you helping me, guiding me, and strengthening me, I have no reason to be anxious because you will help me. In Jesus’s name, amen.

5. Prayer to focus on God instead of anxious thoughts

Dear God, when I feel anxious and I am tempted to worry, I thank you for reminding me that nothing takes you by surprise. I know you are not up in Heaven wringing your hands wondering how you will get me through the next crisis. Thank you for reminding me in your word to not fear because you are with me and you go before me. Help me to focus on you instead of those things that compel me to feel anxious. You are faithful and good. In Jesus’s name, amen.

6. Prayer when facing hard times

Father, you know that sometimes life and the circumstances we face are just hard. But you are my source of peace. I pray that despite what I see and feel in the natural right now, that I could take a deep breath and inhale more of you and your peace while exhaling the worries and fears that weigh me down. I want to be anxious for no thing and will go to you in prayer with all my needs, thanking you even now that you know how you’re going to care for every last detail. Thank you that you care about the things I care about and that you are my source of peace in the midst of the storms. In Jesus’s name, amen.

7. Prayer for faith to be a warrior not a worrier

Heavenly Father, you tell us repeatedly in your Word to be anxious for nothing, to not worry about tomorrow, and to not be afraid. Help me to be a warrior, not a worrier. Help me to use my shield of faith to combat the lies of the enemy. You are the author and perfecter of my faith, so perfect my faith even in these situations which cause me to feel anxious and afraid. You never waste our pain, so use even this to draw me closer to you. In Jesus’s name, amen.

8. Prayer when feeling anxious and afraid

Lord Jesus, thank you that you are not only God, but that you were willing to make yourself man and to come to dwell with us. You were faced with temptation and pain, just as we are, and yet your faith in your Heavenly Father and the Holy Word sustained you. Help me to look to you for strength when I feel anxious and afraid, knowing that because of your death, burial, and resurrection, we live from a place of victory in you rather than having to fight for victory in this world. Help me to give you all my worries, fears, and anxieties because you care for me. In Your Precious Name I pray, amen.

9. Prayer to trust God rather than become anxious because God is in control

Dear God, you know that when the enemy is given even a crack, he pushes the door open wide and brings with him thoughts that produce worry, anxiety, and fear. But I am thankful that no circumstance that confronts me ever takes you by surprise. I thank you that you promise to work all things together for my good. I thank you that you are good, your ways are good, and your love for me is everlasting. Thank you, Father, for repeatedly proving yourself faithful and that I can rest in the knowledge that you will supply all my needs in your perfect timing according to your perfect plan for my life. I choose to trust you rather than become anxious, because you, God, are in control. In Jesus’s name, amen.

10. Prayer when afraid

Father, I thank you that you have not given me the spirit of fear but instead power, love, and a sound mind. Thank you that fear is not my portion but merely deception from the enemy of my soul. Help me to trust you more, prepare, and wait on you for the harvest of peace that you desire for me. Reveal to me the lies we have believed and how to counter them with your truth. In Jesus’s name, amen.

11. Prayer to wait on God when tempted to feel anxious

Dear God, when my heart is tempted to feel anxious because of what I see or the circumstances I find myself or others in, remind me that you have helped me get through every difficult circumstance 100% of the time. Your track record is perfect even when mine is not. Help me to be obedient to you, and then to trust you for the outcome, while resting in your peace as I wait on you. In Jesus’s name, amen.

12. Prayer to trust God who is greater than worry, anxiety and fear

Dear Lord, I thank you that you are our peace. You promise to go before me, to walk with me, and to come behind me. You are always holding me with your righteous right hand even when I can’t see it or feel it. Because you never leave me, I lack nothing, including your peace. Thank you for being all I need. Thank you for being greater than the enemy, greater than worry, anxiety, and fear. You have already given me everything I need to live a godly life. Help me to rely on you and your truth to refute the spirit of fear and to trust you in all things. You alone are worthy of my trust because you have proven yourself faithful. Help me to position myself under the safe feathers of your wings. In Jesus’s name, amen.

13. Prayer to cast our cares on the Lord

Father, thank you for being my strength and my peace. Thank you for caring about every detail of my life. And thank you for assuring me that you are always with me. Help me to feel your constant presence. Lift the full weight of worry from my shoulders. Help me cast all my cares on you, confident that you will comfort and provide for me. I ask, Father, that you will give me increased confidence in you. Help me to focus on and rest in the calmness of your loving grace despite my circumstances. Increase my ability to trust your faithfulness and your sovereign plan for my life. In Jesus’s name, amen.

14. Prayer to trust God in difficult times

Lord Jesus, you are my savior and my redeemer. You have modeled for us how to think, act, live, and believe. Never once did you allow worry, fear, or anxiety to get a foothold in your life. Instead, you relied on the truth from the holy scriptures to face every difficult situation. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to remind me of all truth. When I am tempted to worry or feel anxious, remind me of the truth of your word. Give me strength to stand on that truth despite what I see or how I feel, and grow my faith in you. In Jesus’s name, amen.

15. Prayer for peace instead of worry, anxiety and fear

Father God, many times in your Word you tell us, “Fear not.” “Do not worry.” And “Be anxious for nothing.” Surely you knew we would struggle with worry, anxiety, and fear or you wouldn’t have repeatedly told us not to in Scripture. Father, I ask you to infuse peace into my heart in place of any worry, anxiety, or fear I might be experiencing. Let your heavenly peace, calm, and comfort replace all fear or dread. Grow my ability to trust in you for all things instead of worrying about my own limited capacity. I thank you for caring about everything that concerns me. Thank you for being my ultimate provider! In Jesus’s name, amen.

16. Prayer to trade worry, anxiety and fear for power, love and a sound mind

Heavenly Father, thank you that because of your perfect love for me, it is finished, and Satan’s power to torment is over. Thank you for overcoming the world. I choose to receive your power and your peace, to walk in your victory, to have your mind, to walk in one accord. I choose my words wisely to align with your truth, to trust you and not the enemy. I choose to trade my worry, anxiety, and fear for your power, love, and sound mind. In Jesus’s name, amen.

17. Prayer when worried about the future

Father, you know the days are long and the pressures are many. I thank you that while I may plan my day, you establish my steps. I thank you that you know the plans you have for me and that they are plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans for a future and a hope. I pray now, Lord, that you will help me to lay down my worries and instead trust in your perfect provision. Help me to recognize that when I worry, I believe the enemy’s convincing lies rather than trust in your promises. Thank you that you promise to meet my every need and that you care for me even more than you care for the flowers in the field and the birds in the air. I love and trust you. In Jesus’s name, amen.

18. Prayer for peace, joy and hope instead of worry, fear and anxiety

Lord Jesus, when my legs feel shaky, and my footing is uncertain, leaving me worried and anxious, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Be the lifter of my head, and the peace that dwells within my heart, removing all vestiges of worry, fear, or anxiety and replacing them with the calm assurance that I will face nothing without you right there with me. Replace my concerns with your gifts of peace, joy, and hope because of the victory you have already secured on our behalf. In your precious name I pray, amen.

19. Prayer for provision in a time of crisis

Abba Father, you know I am facing a time of crisis right now. I know that you see the end from the beginning and already have a plan to rescue and save. I ask that in your divine mercy you give your presence, protection, and provision for every need and that you turn my aching heart toward you to reap a greater measure of trust in you. You are my shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. I come to you, confident that you will do as you promise, that you are ready and willing to supply my every need according to your glorious riches. I thank you in advance for your awesome deeds. In Jesus’s name, amen.

20. Prayer when we feel weak and full of fear

Dear God, you tell us in your word to be strong and courageous and to know that you are with me. God, sometimes I feel neither strong nor courageous, but instead weak and full of fear. In my own strength there is very little I can do, so help me rely on your strength because you have promised that when I am weak, you are strong. I give you those things that cause me to worry and feel anxious, and ask that in their place you would permeate my heart with your gift of peace that I gladly accept. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Dear Friend, we all have those times when worry, fear, or anxiety seems to creep in from out of the blue. My hope is that these prayers for when you feel anxious, worried and afraid will lend you strength, courage, and His peace that passes all understanding. You remain in my prayers. (If you struggle with worry, fear, or anxiety, I’d encourage you to pick up a copy of the award-winning book, Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises  and feel free to download the Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide or the Free Download: How To Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win.

A few of our Your Hope-Filled Perspective podcast episodes talk about dealing with worry, fear, and anxiety as well.

• What is the Difference Between Worry, Fear, and Anxiety? – Episode 23
• How Worry, Fear, and Anxiety Cause Us to Lose Our Peace – Episode 24
• How We Fight Against Worry, Fear, and Anxiety – Episode 25
• Defeating Anxiety During a Crisis Like the Coronavirus – Episode 50
• Helping a Teenager with Anxiety during a Crisis – Episode 51
• Practical Ways to Exchange Worry, Fear and Anxiety for Peace During a Crisis – Episode 52
• Worry Creeps, Anxiety Seeps, Crises Explode – Episode 53
• How God Gives Us Power to Defeat Anxiety – Episode 54
• How God Gives Us His Perfect Love to Defeat Anxiety – Episode 56
• How God Gives Us a Sound Mind to Defeat Anxiety – Episode 57
• Soul Care: How to Reduce Anxiety During the Holidays – Episode 89

 

 

Resource to Break Anxiety’s Grip

 

No question, we have a lot to worry about. Children, jobs, homes, health, finances, and more. The solution isn’t to rid ourselves of the sources of anxiety – as if we could. Instead, we need to recognize that anxiety originates from a spiritual influence and that we can fight back using the God-given weapons of power, love, and a sound mind.

We can discover true peace in an age of anxiety.

In Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares her own story of emerging from the battle with anxiety as well as the stories of others. She reminds you of your identity as a follower of Christ and of the peace he promises you in spite of everything.

She provides tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety now and, more importantly, shows you how to reclaim God’s peace as a way of life so that you can break anxiety’s grip.

Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com, Books-A-Million, and other fine book retailers.

Click here to learn more:  Breaking Anxiety’s Grip.