A Christian’s Guide to Thriving Despite Anxiety

Last Updated on March 30, 2026 by Andrea

Anxiety has plagued me most of my life. I remember for many years looking for a way to overcome my  anxiety. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you’ve been blessed not to experience this mental health challenge. Allow me a moment to give you a glimpse into a life lived with anxiety. 

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A life of anxiety

Everyone who experiences anxiety may have different symptoms, with some overlap. For me, anxiety is characterized by racing thoughts, racing heart, and a general unsettled feeling. You know how a pebble hits your windshield and a spider web of cracks spread out from that one initial hit? That’s what happens with my thoughts. One thought spawns a hundred others, branching out in multiple directions, each one more disturbing than the one before. 

My heart races for no apparent reason. At times my husband would ask what was wrong. But there’s nothing really wrong. I have no immediate danger or worry – just this generalized sense of being on guard.

For me, anxiety is separate from fear. This anxiety just makes my heart races in anticipated of something, some unknown thing lurking just around the corner. I have this global sense of unsettledness. I have no peace as my body seems to take on a life of its’ own in dreadful anticipation of something I can’t see. 

These racing thoughts, heart, and unsettled feelings bring me to a place where I can’t make decisions. I get overwhelmed to the point of inaction. I see so many options and no way out. No answer is right; every solution fraught with challenges. 

The best cure for anxiety

I’m happy to say that my anxiety solution has been achieved in a two-prong effort. 

Step 1

First, my go-to for my entire life is Scripture.

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, make your requests be known to the Lord and the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” 

Did you catch it? The best way to relieve our anxiety is to entrust it to God. 

There are three parts to this verse that quell my anxiety and the first is to give it to God. 

The second part is that He doesn’t want me to be anxious about anything. Nothing. I once attended a Women of Faith conference and Thelma Wells was preaching on this verse. She said (imagine this in a wonderful Southern drawl), “Be anxious for NO-THANG.” Every time I read this verse, I hear her voice and it make me smile.

Back to relieving our anxiety.

The third part that really helps me is that God will guard our hearts and our minds with a peace that passes all understanding. 

Let’s take a few minutes and unpack these truths.

Trusting God With Our Anxiety

God loves you so much. Did you know that? Maybe you know it with your head, but do you really know it with your heart? Understanding this, feeling it deep in my soul, was the first step to really moving past my anxiety. 

I know all the Scriptures about God loving me and I know the song, “Jesus Loves Me.” But that’s head knowledge. I also know what I’ve done that makes me pretty unlovable, especially by the God of the universe. 

But He does. He loves me, and you, so much that He sent His son to take away our sins (John 3:16). He loves us so much that He doesn’t want us to be slaves to our sins and bad choices any more.  

Instead, He wants us to give our regrets, bad choices, and our past over to Him. Elsewhere, we’re told to “cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). 

So we need to give everything to Him, because He cares for us. Even that hard-to-define anxiety that won’t leave us alone. Those thoughts that we aren’t worthy – give them to Him. Regrets and bad decisions can be left with Him in prayer, too.

Prayer

Did some come to mind while you were reading? Take a moment now to surrender all those thoughts and feelings to Him. 

Not sure how? Here’s a simple prayer to get you started. Take over with your own words as they come to you… “Dear Lord, I’ve made a mess of things. I’ve allowed my life to move away from you. You sent your Son to die for my sins, but I’m not worthy of that. I’m so sorry for all the things Ive done. I give you my fear, insecurity, sins, bad decisions, anxiety [name everything you need to surrender to Him]. I ask You to fill me with Your peace, just like Your Word says. Thank you in advance for doing this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Anxious for Nothing?

Does God really mean it when He says we shouldn’t be anxious for anything? Really? Well, God can’t lie (Titus 1:2) and He always keeps His promises (Psalm 145:13), and this verse is a promise to us. 

Here’s what I know. Every single time, 100% of the time, that I am anxious and turn it over to God, He take the anxiety from me. Every. Time. Sometimes that’s anxiety about a particular situation – He resolves the situation. Sometimes it’s just that irritating general anxiety – He relieves it. 

He gives us the cure for anxiety right there in the verse – give ALL our anxieties over to Him. 

Does this mean we shouldn’t have any problems? Of course not. Jesus said we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33) but He also said He has overcome the world. So we don’t have to fuss about the trouble. We don’t need to wallow in our anxiety. We can know that anxiety is truly not God’s best for us. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in the middle of an anxiety attack and I remind myself (or the Holy Spirit reminds me) that God doesn’t want me anxious at all. When I immediately pray about it, God gives me His peace.

Peace That Passes All Understanding

I don’t know about you, but this phrase seemed impossible to me for a long time. I mean, it felt like a dream. Truly? Peace beyond what I could even fathom?

But it’s true. The essential part of this verse is that it’s the Peace of God that passes all understanding. It’s not man-peace. This peace doesn’t come from my husband giving me a great gift or eating a perfect cookie. It’s not “all is right in my world” peace. The stars don’t have to be aligned just right for this peace to come to me. 

Some translations call this the “peace of the soul.” I like that imagery even better. Biblical Scholar Ellicott says, “it includes peace with God, peace with men, peace with self.” Barnes says, “The peace here particularly referred to is that which is felt when we have no anxious care about the supply of our needs, and when we go confidently and commit everything into the hands of God. “

This peace is heavenly. Perhaps that’s why it seems so much like a dream. But it’s ours to claim. It’s truly that simple. 

Even better than just having this heavenly peace is that it will guard our hearts and minds. So the peace isn’t just for a second, but it’s to protect us. It will guard against the anxiety we started with. This peace protects us, as only God can. 

Sources of Anxiety

I recently read Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio and it was life changing. In this book Giglio explains that we allow the enemy (the devil) to sit right down and take part in the feast God has planned for us. We inadvertently invite him right over. 

For many of us, that invitation also invites anxiety to sit down and make itself comfortable. Anxiety just settles right in and takes over our mind. You can say no! 

If fear, depression, or anxiety have beset you, I highly recommend this book. You can find your way back to God’s peace when you understand what might be happening. 

Part 2 of the Best Cure for Anxiety

I said earlier that there were two solutions for my anxiety. The first was the verse we use talked about in Philippians.

The second is really solid Christian counseling. I found a counselor near me and she’s amazing. If you’re not sure how to find a counselor, you can use this service at Focus on the Family. They are a great resource. 

My counselor has walked me through truly understanding that God loves me, despite everything I’ve done, and despite how unworthy I feel. 

She’s also taught me that anxiety can serve a purpose. Anxiety itself is not the enemy. In an odd way, I’ve become acquainted with my anxiety and don’t see it as an adversary any more. 

I’ve learned how to respond when anxiety starts to creep back in and attempts to take attention away from my peace. 

I can’t stress enough the value of a good counselor. Check your insurance – many have great plans for mental health coverage these days. There are also free options, or income-based plans. Many churches have licensed counselors on staff who can help you for free or low cost, so don’t let finances stop you from getting help.  

Your Best Future

So there you have it. My best cure for anxiety – learning to really live Philippians 4:6-7 and a good quality Christian counselor. 

I’m still learning and growing – in my faith and in counseling. 

I wish I could let everyone know that anxiety doesn’t have to be a permanent part of your life. God’s best does NOT include a lifetime of anxiety. 

Claim God’s promise to give you peace today. 

With love,

🌸 Andrea

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