Prayers that will Help You Live Free of Anxiety and Worry
I think we’ve all had times when the notes on tomorrow’s planner page have resulted in a restless night of worry and anxiety.
- A Doctor’s Appointment – for Yourself or Someone You Love.
- A Meeting with Difficult Person.
- A Huge Project Deadline.
- A Major Grade-deciding Exam.
- A Shortage of Money for a Major Need.
- A Job Interview.
- Too Much to Do in Too Little Time.
Jesus said…
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
Matthew 6:34a
And we know it’s true. We know He’s right.
But it’s hard, isn’t it?
I love that Jesus doesn’t just give us platitudes that fall outside of His human experiences and emotions.
He understands.
In a conversation with His disciples, shortly after He entered Jerusalem for Holy Week, Jesus predicted His suffering and death.
And then He said…
“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”
John 12:27–28a
“My soul is deeply troubled.” I don’t believe He said that lightly.
He’d always known that He would come to earth to give His life for yours and mine. And yet, as the hour approached … the process of this sacrifice made Him anxious.
He wanted to glorify the Father through His self-sacrificing love and obedience … yet, He still cried out and asked the Father for a different way to accomplish His mission.
“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Matthew 26:39
I don’t believe He ever wavered in His decision because His love was and is so huge but in that moment of emotion, He set an example for us.
Take your emotions, all your emotions, to the Father in prayer.
I love that Jesus willingly experienced worry, anxiety, and fear as part of His human experience to show us what to do when we are worried, anxious, and afraid.
Pray and give it to God!
Which is what we are doing today. We’re taking our worries and anxieties to the Lord … laying them all at His feet.
Whatever is worrying you today … will you join me and together we will take it to the throne of grace…
Prayers that will Help You Live Free of Anxiety and Worry
You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him, for you are His personal concern.
1 Peter 5:7 (Phillips)
Father, I humbly come to You admitting that I need Your help. This weight of concern feels heavy. I feel alone. Thank you for reminding me today that You are with me.
Your Word says You know the tiny details of my life. You even know the number of hairs there on my head. (Matthew 10:30) I am Your personal concern and it’s okay that I can’t handle it on my own. Please help me. Give me Your peace. Strengthen me.
I pray to release my worries to You that I might live free of anxiety today.
When my worry is great within me, Your comfort brings joy to my soul.
Psalm 94:19 (NLV)
Father, I love Your Word! Thank you for telling me about people who walked and talked with You and still experienced the worries of life. You understand life and You know and understand me. None of my feelings shock or surprise You. You know when I’m worried. I don’t have to hide my feelings and concerns with You … in fact, You invite me to bring them to You in prayer so that You might bring comfort and joy to me. Thank you!
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
John 14:1
Jesus, Thank you for becoming one of us and for showing us how to live through life’s pain and problems in ways that glorify the Father. I want to trust You and live free of anxiety and worry. So, I’m coming to You and asking You to help me carry this burden (Matthew 11:28)
I’m asking You to give me the courage and strength I need each day and the rest I need each night. I believe You will help me again today, Lord. Thank you for the countless times You have helped me in the past.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27
Lord, You give me hard to understand peace. (Philippians 4:7) A peace that covers and protects my heart and mind as I focus on Your promises that never fail. Thank you, for giving me the gift of Your Spirit. He is faithful to remind me of all You have done for me and help me focus on Your eternal promises that will not fail.
Nothing can separate me from Your love. (Romans 8:38) Not one thing on my list of worries. Nothing that makes me anxious. Absolutely nothing can remove me from Your loving care and provision. You said that when I SEEK the Father’s Kingdom above all else … He will give me everything I need.
Lord, I believe. Please help me overcome my unbelief. (Mark 9:24)
So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.
Psalm 55:22 (TPT)
Yes Lord, here’s what I’ve learned … well, at least it is what I’m learning. I can bring everything to You. Every care and concern. All of my worries and anxieties. I can lay them at Your throne of grace and receive grace and strength.
Measureless grace! It never runs out. It never ends. It is a continuous undeserved blessing that assures me of Your promises to give me Your strength and peace.
So, I’m bringing this problem to You trusting Your grace, mercy, and love, assured that whatever tomorrow brings You will give me everything I need. Thank you, Lord.
Live Free of Anxiety
I think one of the hardest things for me to do … is to pray about my worries and then actually let go of them.
Maybe you can relate.
It seems like it’s always the same pattern…
- My mind spin with anxiety.
- I get frustrated with myself and want to let it go.
- I pause and pray.
- And then before I’m even fully aware of it … I start spinning again.
Especially in the middle of the night when I’m overly tired and the day ahead feels overwhelming.
The thing I’m writing to help me remember and wonder if you need to remember, too … is that the Lord welcomes us every single time we come to Him with our prayers. Even our repeated prayers to surrender our anxieties and concerns.
The important truth I believe with all my heart is that God wants us to repeat the following as often as necessary…
God loves you. He wants to help you. And He wants you to live free of anxiety and worry.
So, take whatever is hanging heavy on your heart today, give it to God, and focus your thoughts on His love and all the times He has given you exactly what You needed to get through all those things that caused your anxiety in the past.
He is with you and because He is with you, you never have to carry your worries alone.
Jesus promised…
“Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
And by His grace, He will give you everything you need to live free of anxiety today.
Deb, I can absolutely relate to that repeat cycle of going to God in prayer with all my worries and fears, then snatching them back and praying again for release. So grateful that He loves us in spite of all our faults! Our Father has our backs.
Blessings, my friend!
Even when we know how much better we feel after giving our worries to God, it is still so tempting to pick them up and trying to handle them on our own … isn’t it? I love that He has our backs and never rejects us when we run to Him with the same struggles time after time. Have a beautiful weekend, friend!
I look forward to every Friday when i find your email waiting for me. I have learned a new way to pray and your posts both enlighten me and comfort me. Thank you and may God bless you.
Oh Barb, thank you so very much! That is so kind of you! Asking God to bless you and give you encouragement today!
I can relate to that moment when you waiting for the Dr to explain how serious the sickness is. Trusting God for his intervention but at same time worrying if I’ll handle the news
I’m sorry, Suzie. That is a hard wait that fills with “what ifs.” I’m praying for you!
Hi Deb!
Thank you for your post. I can absolutely relate.
I am Catholic so God has always been in my life and I know He has helped me get through MANY obstacle’s in my life.
Unfortunately, for the last 10 months, I have been in a very dark place. I left my job to seek a different opportunity (which did not work out) and so I have felt like I have no purpose. I have been seeking employment but have not been successful.
The truth is, it’s really not in my heart to go back to work for someone, I want to do my own thing…. but I can’t seem to pull myself out of my funk to make anything happen.
I’ve recently started reading the Bible ( which I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t done since I was a kid) and praying, yet there are still days where I struggle to just get out of bed.
I will now be adding the prayer in this post to my daily prayers.
God bless ????
I’m so sorry you are going through this difficult time, Christine! I’m praying for you and asking God to encourage and guide you each day as you move forward in your new adventure. God bless you and give you His peace.