12 Quick Prayers to Meditate on When You Are Anxious

In our fast-paced and information-overloaded culture, anxiety is almost unavoidable. Our minds and bodies were never designed to carry the burdens of the whole world. Only God is equipped with the power to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). The best way to find peace in a world that is screaming reasons for fear at us is to meditate on the scriptures and approach God in prayer, exchanging our worries for his peace. They are full of reminders of God’s faithfulness, his power, his plan for us, and powerfully offers our hearts peace that surpasses understanding. 

In moments that I have battled nagging fear, taking time to commit my heart to memorizing God’s Word has helped to shift the narrative that threatens to overwhelm my mind and body. Rather than fixating on the darkness around us I am reminded that the light has come and is greater than the darkness (John 1:5). Instead of believing that the future is hopeless, I read that God has given me a hope-filled future that I can be excited about (Jeremiah 29:11). 

What we fixate our thoughts on, that is what we see. If our practice is to fill our souls with negativity, news that we cannot change or control, and live without faith that God can do good works, we will be filled with anxiety and despair. As believers we have the chance to see a greater reality than what fills the headlines on our screens. We can trust in that the merciful God-of-the-universe is always at work. With him we are never hopeless! 

Here are some quick prayers, verses, and meditations to remind us of God’s goodness when we are anxious:

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