Anxiety can be very treacherous at times, but the Bible teaches us that the love and mercy of God become an assurance that our fears and worries stand nowhere close to the sovereignty and providence of the Father.
Our God makes this clear by the greatest expression of His love -- the sending down of His one and only son to become a sacrifice that will take away every fear in our heart. 1 John 4:18 reminds us, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."
It seems that nowadays it's so easy for us to find things to be anxious about. I was once told that most of the things we worry about are things that are not even likely to happen. Anxiety masks itself as a functional response that protects us from life's most unforeseen circumstances.
And while a certain level of foresight and preparation can come in handy, what anxiety actually does is throw us off balance by leading us to trust in ourselves too much. This leads to much frustration given that we as humans are finite and will always be unable to control everything arounds us.
God's Word, however, promises that though we are not in control -- God is and He makes all things work together for our good. Jesus said in John 16:33, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
We may not be able to overcome our fears and anxieties, but once they are surrendered to Christ, we can walk in freedom from worries and fears. Here are five more scriptures that promise us freedom from anxiety through the love and grace of God.
Psalms 127:2. "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep."
Isaiah 35:4. "Say to those who have an anxious heart, 'Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.'"
Jeremiah 17:7-8. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Matthew 6:25. "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. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
Philippians 4:6. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
