Fear, worry, dread, and depression. These spiritual burdens act like a revolving door in our hearts when we bring our prayers to Christ: they cause pain, but no progress.
First, they stifle our souls so we can’t still our hearts to commune with God. Next, they sneak in any opportunity to extinguish joy and swap wonder for worry.
Combined with a culture of busyness, spiritual burnout can loom on the horizon. But before we throw in the towel and give up on our prayer life, it’s important to pause and recognize the patterns that weigh us with worry. Ask yourself these questions:
- What’s stifling my soul today?
- What one word describes how I currently pray?
- What physical symptoms occur when I feel worried, anxious, or depressed?
Bible verses for anxiety and worry
We aren’t strong enough to handle life on our own. We weren’t made to carry it alone. In our weakness, He is strong [2 Corinthians 12:10]. He knows that it’s hard to pray when we feel fear breathing apathy and anxiety into our prayer life.
Scriptures about fear reverse the hold of the enemy on our lives by refocusing our gaze from condemnation to communion with God’s love. Read each of the following verses twice, noting which word resonates with you most in this moment:
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” [Philippians 4:6, NIV]
- “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” [Psalm 55:22, NIV]
- “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.” [John 14:27, NIV]
How do you pray?
Encountering Jesus means facing our fears head on. Prayer is a powerful weapon to get our hearts and minds in agreement with God’s promises for our lives. It’s a two-way relationship that often gets stuck in the “talking stage” if we’re afraid to get real with God about our worries and cares. That’s why the enemy fights so hard to get us to give up on prayer and surrender to fear.
If you’ve found yourself back at “square one” wondering how to even start a prayer, Paul gives us instructions in Philippians 4:6. We can bring everything to Jesus through prayer, petition, and thanksgiving, knowing that His peace will flood our lives. Let’s put it into practice here:
Prayer: God, this is how I’m really feeling.
Petition: These are my requests.
Thanksgiving: Here’s what I’m grateful for today.
Peace: This is where I invite your stillness and listen for your quiet whispers of rest.
Amen.
Rest today knowing that the Lord is on your side as His beloved child. Invite Him into your worries, knowing that He’s speaking love over every fear. He delights in hearing your prayers [Psalm 34:17].
