5 Prayers that will Strengthen You When You are Anxious and Afraid
Many of us have spent the week praying for hurting families in El Paso and Dayton while at the same time trying to get their heads around the unsettling feeling that the places we’ve always believed we were safe, may not be.
It’s understandable that some of us are feeling anxious and afraid. In the past week, news channels have recapped every terrifying event from recent history.
Friends, there is a spiritual battle going on. The enemy wants us focused on the evil side of the battle … crippled by anxiety and fear.
But the holy angelic warrior side of the battle is powerful and real. God is on the throne and His angel army fights for us.
I have held the following verse close this week…
“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!”
2 Kings 6:16–17
I’m fighting my anxious and afraid thoughts with the truth of God’s Word and prayer and I thought maybe you might be blessed by these prayers as well…
5 Prayers that will Strengthen You When You are Anxious and Afraid
Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world.
Ephesians 6:10–12
Father, I want to be strong in You … in the power You give. Please clothe me with the belt of truth, the shield of faith, and the shoes of peace. Please help me focus on the truth of Your Word when the enemy works to discourage me with anxiety and fear. Help me remember that You are with me; I am not fighting my battles alone.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
Isaiah 26:3
Lord, You are my Shepherd … I have everything I need. I trust You to care for me today and eternally. Please keep my heart and mind focused on all You are doing in my life. When I am tempted to fixate on all that is wrong in the world. When I’m anxious and afraid. Please help me by the power of Your Spirit to trust Your sovereign grace and love and rest securely in Your perfect peace.
We can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6,8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Father, I love these verses! They define faith! With Your Spirit’s help, I can say with confidence that You are always with me helping, guiding, providing, and protecting.
Your love is constant and never-changing. You proved Your love through Jesus life, death, and resurrection. By Your grace, I have nothing to fear.
Yet, sometimes fear still rises up in me. Please help me. When I am anxious and afraid, fill my heart and mind with Your promises and the truth that is unchanging and never fails.
I know the Lord is always with me.
Psalm 16:8
I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.
Lord, When I am anxious and afraid, please help me remember the times You have helped me in the past. You lifted me out of the pit of fear and despair, placed me on solid ground, and steadied me as I walked along. (Psalm 40:2) I can trust You are with me today and always. Thank you!
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt His name together. I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:3–4
Father, I will praise You and lift You up. I will tell of the good things You have done for me. I lived afraid and anxious for so many years. I’ve trusted You for my eternal future for as long as I can remember but I struggled to trust You with my days … with my daily decisions, with my loved ones, with unknown circumstances and worldly terrors.
But because of Your grace and mercy, You carried me as I lived through one of my worst fears. You held me close as You met every need. I prayed and You answered me! And I will tell, all who will listen, of Your marvelous works … of Your greatness, Your grace, mercy, and love. Amen.
Friend, I’ve realized God is giving us an amazing opportunity!
When our anxious and afraid friends voice their concern…
We can tell them about God’s love. We can tell them that He is able to make us strong and give us peace.
Yes, there is a spiritual battle going on around us. Both good and evil are present in our fallen world. But God is greater! Jesus has already won the victory. And as God’s children … we are victorious, too.
Thank you for the reminder that I am never alone and that God is always near me. I’d like to thank God, because I was ill with stress about finding work and how I could continue to take care of my bills and take care of myself. Today, after months of applying and a job I thought I had didn’t come through as quick as I’d like- I received a job offer for another position and right now it seems heaven sent. I still want to pray for my daughters happiness and my parents health and for a friend who has health problems that she is soon recovered. ????
Yes, we have a victorious God & Savior who is with us. I love the Kings scripture you use here Deb.
Bless you,
Jennifer
I’m sure that God is amused by our willingness to trust Him with the “big” things and our irrational grip on the everyday decisions and anxieties.
Grateful for his wisdom and his patience!
The timing of your prayers and inspiration from God’s Word couldn’t be better, Deb. Yes, I’ve been anxious and afraid this week, but have been praying to the Lord about it all. He has answered!
Blessings!
I’m so glad I don’t need to understand it all. Don’t get me wrong — I want to. But I don’t need to because God does. And I can trust Him in all of it.
Thank you for featuring my post from last week. It is always an honor to have something I have written catch your eye.
Deb – Thank you for the verses today. I tend to struggle with fear from time to time. I needed these verses today.
Blessings, Maree
I read this week that our love “dazzles God.” Perhaps. But I’m thinking my trust dazzles HIm more. He’s just so relieved I’m finally believing who He says He is. Thanks, Deb, for your faithful calling us back to an accurate picture of Him.
These are wonderful! It’s so important that when we face fear, doubt and anxiety that we lean into him.
Deb, these are some of my favorite Scriptures. I must be a worry wart, because they always speak to me.
What an answer to my prayers. Just last night, in the midst of fighting another anxiety attack (in the shower no less!) I prayed
( pleaded?) with God, asking for Him to help me deal with these anxiety attacks or give me a sign. He did, through this post.
I have my eye on several other posts I found here that pertain to my life.
Thank you! I have hope that I may have some peace. Bless you.
I’m so sorry, Kimberly! It’s so hard. I used to struggle most in the middle of the night. It takes lots of prayer and claiming God’s promises but I am doing better. I call it being in recovery because I’ll admit, I still have moments … but by God’s grace they don’t last as long! God bless you