10 Verses About Worrying and the Lessons We Learn from Them

There seems to be plenty to worry about these days. Inflation is rising. The stock market is declining. Reports of viruses abound. There’s no end to political arguments. And as a nation, we seem to keep drifting further from God. Yes, there’s plenty to worry about these days.

Yet, God tells us not to worry, over and over again. Why? Because worry indicates a heart that is no longer focused on the certainty of Christ and His promises. It indicates a heart that focuses more on the storm than the one who has control over the storm.

Here are ten verses that encourage us not to worry during life’s storms and ten lessons we learn from them:

1. Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. – Psalm 55:22

Lesson learned: Our God is big, and He doesn’t want us carrying around the weight of worry. He wants us to place the burden on His shoulders. He can handle it. Saying, “God, you’ve got this,” acknowledges that the outcome of the challenge or concern we face does not depend on us but on Him. And he will carry us through the situation in a manner that is ultimately best for us and for His glory.

2. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6

Lesson learned: Our mind and heart cannot always be trusted. We are sinful, finite beings, and this influences the way we view and react to the concerns of the world. So, we are to lean into the sinless, infinite one. He is the one for whom all things make sense, and is therefore, without concern. He is the one who can make sense out of the seemingly senseless.  

3. Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. – Proverbs 12:25

Lesson learned: We should be generous with our words, encouraging one another. It is likely you know someone who is weighed down with worry. Reach out to them. Use your words to encourage and point them to Christ.

4. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? – Matthew 6:25-26

Lesson learned: God is the Provider. We can trust that God sees us and knows our needs. He has all resources at His disposal, and he promises to care for us in a way He deems best.

5. Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? – Matthew 6:27

Lesson learned: Worrying doesn’t help the situation. We can waste significant physical and mental energy worrying about things that are out of our control. We are much better off casting our worries on God and trusting Him, the One who is in control. Matthew 6:34 tells us, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

6. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:41-42

Lesson learned: Worry robs us of that which is most important. Worry shifts our eyes from Him and onto ourselves. We can spend a considerable amount of time worrying, even worrying about doing good things. But this robs us of focusing on the best thing—Him.

7. 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

Lesson learned: God is not a God of worry. He is a God of peace. The world is a provider of trouble and worry. So, do not put your hope in the world. Instead, place your hope in the One who give peace.

8. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

Lesson learned: God is waiting to hear your request. Whatever struggle you may be going through, God wants you to petition Him about it. Whatever concern you may have, God wants you to present a request about it. God wants to hear from you.

9. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

Lesson learned: Our God is a loving Father. A loving earthly father cares about the concerns of his children. He cares about their struggle. A loving heavenly Father also cares about the concern and struggles of His children. But He can do something earthly fathers cannot do. He can carry the burden.

10. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. – Psalm 18:6

Lesson learned: God hears your cries. When worry seems to overwhelm, pray to God, knowing that He will hear your voice. You are not speaking into emptiness. You are speaking to the living, listening God.

When worry creeps into our lives, we are to fix our eyes on God. He wants us to lean into Him, pray to Him, and trust Him. He is in control of all things, including that which you are most worried about. Focus less on the storm and more on the One who controls the storm.