The Bible is filled with a wealth of advice about how to handle worrying and stresses of everyday life. It reminds us to take everything to God in prayer, showing us that no matter how big or small our worries might be, He is always with us. Stressing over situations in life that are uncontrollable and feeling overwhelmed with the ruminations of our minds, can be detrimental to our wellbeing. The Bible encourages us to have faith and trust God, to put our worries and doubts into His hands and wait upon Him.
In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.” Worrying and stressing over the little things in life can cause us added worry and discomfort. Small worries like what we’ll wear for the day, what we’ll eat for dinner and the littlest of inconveniences during the day, can too easily become a concern that takes over our thoughts from time to time.
As it states in Philippians 4:6-7, “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”. Here, it is explained to us that the power of prayer can be used to combat our worries, if we allow it to. Praying to God and giving Him our worries can be the biggest help of all, which can often provide us with the courage to face our worries.
In 1 Peter 5:7, it’s said to us “casting all your anxieties on [God], because he cares for you”. The relief of simply understanding that God cares for us in our time of stress and worry can be a reminder of how much He loves us and how he is always available to listen and help us with our worries. Knowing that God is our protector can provide us with the courage to face our worries instead of letting it wear us down slowly.
The other way to combat worry and stress, is to remember that the future holds no guarantee, so it doesn’t make sense to worry about it anyway. As it says in Matthew 6:34, Jesus reminds us “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”. Understanding that no matter how much we worry, things will only happen as God plans it, and He has already accounted for hard times.
In summary, the Bible outlines a few key suggestions to those who are finding it hard to manage their worries, such as praying to God, knowing their worries are heard, trusting in God and remembering that the future holds no guarantee.
Practising Self Care
The bible teaches us multiple lessons on how to take care of ourselves and to remain at peace during troubling times. It’s important to remember to take breaks, take a step back and acknowledge our own thoughts and feelings. Acknowledge, take care of and act on our needs. Practising self-care is the first step in proactively solving our worries, preventing further concern and allowing us to live a life with less worry and stress.
For example, Matthew 11:28-29 says “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Instead of stressing over our worries and expecting too much of ourselves, take a break and surrender it to God. Refuse to dwell on negative thoughts and feelings, worrying about the future. Stressful feelings will subside and a peaceful spirit will come in its place.
Having times of peaceful rest is essential for mental health. So, it’s important to make time for ourselves, to attend to our own needs and feel rested. Proactively addressing our concerns and stresses enables us to know we can find solutions to our worries and can provide us with the clarity we need to make decisions that are best for us. Taking a step back and allowing our self the space and time to rest, also allows us to listen to our intuition and understand what it is that we actually need.
Spending Time With Loved Ones
Spending time with those close to us, spending time in fellowship with those we love, can be an important part of giving us the strength we need to find solutions to our worries. Proverbs 12:25 says: “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad”
Having meaningful conversations with those we are close to, can help us think through our worries, share what is troubling us and receive advise from those we can trust. Connecting with those who understand our struggles and can relate to our situation can be a powerful tool for gaining solutions.
Even sharing moments of laughter with those we love can make us feel joyful and confident enough to tackle our worries. Proverbs 17:22 states: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” which is a reminder that laughter and joy are healing agents, capable of helping us manage the anxieties that lie within our hearts. Overall, it’s important to have meaningful and positive connections with those around us, as its an effective step in finding peace and conquering our worries.
Smiling Through Tough Times
The bible teaches us to always be thankful and to focus on the positives. It instructs us to remain calm and present in the moment and to be mindful that our experiences are unique. Proverbs 15:13 says “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken”. Knowing that we are not alone in our struggles and that there are people and prayers to support us can give us a renewed sense of peace to keep working hard and remain hopeful.
The bible teaches us that our struggles can also lead us to knowledge. Proverbs 24:16 states “The righteous man falls seven times, and rises again” – reminding us that our experiences, although difficult,advance us towards greater understanding. Knowing this will help us to maintain an attitude of perseverance, to remember that no matter how difficult the situation, brighter times are ahead. It is this attitude that will keep our worries in check.
Regardless of our worries and struggles, the bible reminds us to never lose sight of faith and to stay positive in our outlook. It is through remaining mindful and being thankful in our hearts, that we can face our worries and anxieties armed with faith, prayer and love.
Setting Healthy Boundaries
Another lesson we learn from the bible is the importance of knowing when to say no. It’s vital to understand our limitations, to be honest with ourselves and to set boundaries that support us in accomplishing our goals and living a peaceful, secure and successful life. In James 4:7 we learn that God desires for us to keep our commitment to him and be obedient, understanding that he is there for us every step of the way. Reminding ourselves that God is always there and will provide us with what we need, can help us establish and maintain a healthy pace at which we can tackle our worries.
We should set boundaries in our lives to help us identify when and where we feel overwhelmed by worrying and stressing unnecessarily. This can be achieved by understanding where we lack in faith, what makes us worry more and developing healthy strategies for tackling those exhausting feelings. Not only will this help us feel more in control of our worries, but it will also help us to appreciate and understand our own needs better.
In Ecclesiastes 3:11 we learn that God made everything and planned it all out ahead of time. Knowing this can help us to prioritize our responsibilities, to keep our faith strong and to never allow our worries to consume us.
Focusing On The Present
The bible encourages us to be present in the moment and to stay mindful of all that we are being blessed with. It teaches us the importance of being humble and gracious in all we do and to acknowledge our successes, big and small.
Matthew 6: 34 says “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”. This is a reminder that any worries we have today, should be enough and that anything that comes tomorrow, we will be able to handle if we have faith and stay present.
John 14:27 also teaches us to not worry: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. It does not make sense to worry about the future when we have no control over it; so it’s okay to remind ourselves to stay in the now and focus on the peace we can acquire in our present moment.
We can use prayer and meditation to stay present and gain insight over our worries. We are told in James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you”. Spending time with God during prayerful moments of quiet will give us the charity of His presence and the courage to tackle our worries calmly and clearly.
