What does the Bible say

about worry and anxiety?

Worry vs. Anxiety- What Is The Difference?

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Xavia Malcolm

Treating Anxiety At Jamaica Hospital
Although many use the words worry and anxiety interchangeably; the two are very different psychological states.

According to Psychology Today, “Worry tends to be more focused on thoughts in our heads, while anxiety is more visceral
in that we feel it throughout our bodies.”

Worry and anxiety affect our bodies in different ways.   Because worrying tends to be temporary, the effects are mild. You
may experience short-term emotional distress or tension. The physical reactions caused by anxiety, however, can be more
intense. Someone with anxiety may experience symptoms such as tightness in the chest, an increased heart rate, rapid
breathing, headaches, trembling, gastrointestinal problems or trouble sleeping.
Symptoms
Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

• Feeling nervous, restless or tense

• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything
other than the present worry
• Having trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Having difficulty controlling worry
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety
Mental Effects: Effects of Worrying and Stress on Mind

• Worry is the destroyer of understanding.

• Worry is a fire. One becomes consumed with anxieties that something bad may happen.
• Worries can lead to depression.
• The person who worries has lower concentration.
• A worried person takes longer to make decisions and they are usually not the right ones.
• Pessimism creeps in due to excessive worrying.
• Worries make a person focus on the problem and not on the solution.
Examples of medical problems that can be linked to anxiety include:

Physical Effects: Effects of Anxiety on the Body

When you worry, the brain releases stress hormones into the bloodstream; the muscles get tensed and this results
in backache, headaches, tremors, etc. Stress reduces the protective lining of the digestive system leading to
gastrointestinal disorders.
Other physical effects that persuade us to make a firm determination of not to worry are:

• Lower immunity
• Insomnia
• Weight gain or loss
• Hair loss
• Skin damage Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism
• Respiratory disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma
• Drug misuse or withdrawal
• Withdrawal from alcohol, anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines) or other medications
• Chronic pain or irritable bowel syndrome
• Rare tumors that produce certain fight-or-flight hormones
Complications

Having an anxiety disorder does more than make you worry. It can also lead to, or worsen, other mental and
physical conditions, such as:

• Depression (which often occurs with an anxiety disorder) or other mental health disorders
• Substance misuse
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Digestive or bowel problems
• Headaches and chronic pain
• Social isolation
• Problems functioning at school or work
• Poor quality of life
• Suicide

We worry about things we cannot control, and the amount of things outside of our control is overwhelming. You
can’t control the other drivers out there so you worry every time you hit the road. You can’t control your child’s
actions so you worry about them every Friday night. You can’t control the economy so you worry every time the
next hint of layoffs comes floating through the office.
Biblical Steps to Overcoming Worry and Anxiety
In Genesis 32, Jacob is returning home after many years away. One of the reasons he had left home was to
escape the anger of his brother, Esau, from whom Jacob had stolen the birthright and blessing from their
father. Now, as Jacob nears his homeland, he hears that Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob is
immediately anxious, expecting a horrible battle with his brother. In this case, the anxiety is caused by a
broken relationship and a guilty conscience.

In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah is distressed because she was unable to conceive children and she was being
taunted by Peninnah, her husband’s other wife. Her distress is caused by unfulfilled desires and the
harassment of a rival.

In Esther 4, the Jewish people are anxious because of a royal decree allowing them to be massacred.
Queen Esther is anxious because she was planning to risk her life on behalf of her people. Fear of death
and the unknown is a key element of anxiety.
(Matthew 6:25-34
Give your Life and Your Thoughts to Christ 
Billy Graham once said: “At its best, anxiety distracts us from our relationship with God and the truth that He is “Lord of
heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25). At its worst, anxiety is a crippling disease, taking over our minds and plunging our
thoughts into darkness.”

Ask for Anointing Prayer

It’s important for Christians to understand, anxiety changes us. It changes our perception. It challenges our physical
bodies. 

The Gospel is Everything

For those of us living with anxiety, it feels as though our feelings and thoughts are actively trying to kill us. At the same
time, we also know our feelings are lies that cannot and should not ever be trusted. 

Matthew 6:25-27 “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? Look at the birds of
the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more
value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
Scripture about Anxiety
There were moments throughout my path to healing where all I could do was hold my Bible and it brought me so much
comfort. The promises of God echoed through my mind as often as the panic, depression, and fear. Over time, I began
to heal as I worked through counseling, met with my Pastor’s wife, friends, took my medication and learned to be still
before God. Here are a few key verses that will help diminish fear and point your heart to God. 
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your
God will be with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the
day is its own trouble.”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,
and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light.”
Luke 12:25 “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you;my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts
be troubled, neither let them be afraid. “
Philippians 4:6, we are commanded, “Do not be anxious [do not worry] about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

“Those who know your name trust you because you have not abandoned any who seek you, Lord.” — Psalm 9:10
The Good News: When you seek God and His goodness, He will hold up to His promises.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!” — Hebrews 13:8
The Good News: No matter who you become or who you are, Jesus Christ will always be the same towards you.

“My God will meet your every need out of his riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19
The Good News: God will always provide for you.

“But Jesus overheard their report and said to the synagogue leader, 'Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting.'” — Mark 5:36
The Good News: No matter how unfortunate things may seem in your life, trusting in God will help ease your pain.

“Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me.” – John 14:1

The Good News: You can rest easy knowing that Christ is strong enough to carry your heavy load.
“We live by faith and not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7
The Good News: Trusting in something you cannot see may not be easy, but God’s love for you can be felt every day.

“We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to
his purpose.” — Romans 8:28
The Good News: We may not understand God's big plan, but we should trust that He has one for us. Everything in our
lives happens that way for His reason.

“This is the confidence that we have in our relationship with God: If we ask for anything in agreement with his will, he
listens to us.” — 1 John 5:14
The Good News: Part of being able to count on God is knowing that He is there whenever we need him. Our prayers will
never go unheard.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your
ways straight.” — Proverbs 3:5-6
The Good News: It's hard for us to see God's vision for our lives, but if we trust in Him and have faith, He will guide us
down the road that He's built especially for us.

“Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.” — Hebrews 11:1
The Good News: Having faith means that we get to know that our hopes are heard by God and that he is on our side even
though we cannot see Him.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will
be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9, ESV, emphasis added).