Bible Scriptures on Stress
Let’s Talk About Stress
I think we need to take it seriously when we experience excessive stress in our lives. Stress can impact our health more deeply than we can imagine.
The question is: how does stress impact your life? We all need a healthy amount of stress to keep us motivated, excited, and moving forward in life—helping us reach our goals and work hard. We do not want to be lazy as Proverbs 31:27 points out: She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
But we do not want to be so stressed that it damages our health, harms our relationships, and destroys our joy. I believe we all have different stress tolerances. We are unique and experience stress in different ways. Some things that stress me out may not stress you out, and vice versa.
Of course, we cannot always control the events around us. We all face stressful situations or go through difficult times that negatively affect us. During those moments of trouble, the question is: “How am I going to deal with this?” “How will I move forward?”
Naturally, it depends on the situation and the kind of trouble you are experiencing. Handling stress peacefully is easier said than done. I recently went through an extremely stressful event that caused significant emotional distress and made me physically sick.
When you go through trials of many kinds, your faith may be tested. At least that was my experience. The good news is that God is near. He hears our cries and our prayers. Our heavenly Father is not pleased when we suffer, but sometimes, He allows things to happen to test our faith or to let natural consequences unfold. I believe we have much more power to control our lives than we often realize.
Going Through Times of Stress: Practical Ways to Overcome It
- Take a walk in nature.
- Take a deep breath.
- Sit down for a moment and reflect.
- Practice mindfulness.
- Talk to a trusted friend.
- Drink a glass of water.
- Read some of your favorite Bible verses.
- Listen to soothing music.
- Read a good book.
- Watch the birds of the air.
A very good book in the Bible to read during stressful times is Psalms. In my experience, reading the Psalms soothes anxious thoughts because the security found in God’s love provides unwavering peace and protection. When you are going through hard times, I encourage you to give yourself time to recover, try to see the big picture, and recognize the mighty hand of God in your life. It is so easy to become so focused on your troubles that you lose sight of everything else. That is why God’s Word is essential—it helps you regain perspective and provides you with a sound mind. Jesus said, “and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32)—and that is truly a comforting promise for an anxious heart. Because freedom in Christ brings pure joy!
Powerful Bible Verses for Trouble and Trials
Psalms 9:9
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.
Psalms 25:12-13
Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths…
Psalms 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Bible Texts on Strength and Stress Relief
II Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalms 34:4
I sought the Lord , and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Hebrews 13:5-6
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Psalms 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
II Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.
Psalms 94:19
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Through the Lord ’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
God’s Precense and Comfort
Deuteronomy 31:8
And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Psalms 16:8
I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
II Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Trusting God’s Plan
Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the Lord , And your thoughts will be established.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Psalms 121:1-2
I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord , Who made heaven and earth.
Finding Strenght and Courage in God
Nehemiah 8:10
…Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Psalms 29:11
The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Habakkuk 3:19
The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills…
I Chronicles 16:11
Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
Peace and Rest in God
I Peter 5:7
…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Psalms 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord , And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Exodus 33:14
And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
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 heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you 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.”
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 heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Romans 16:20
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Psalms 4:8
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Mark 6:31-32
And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
Hebrews 4:10
For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Everyone is Struggling with Something!
We all face challenges and go through tough times in life. However, setting aside time for God—whether a moment or an hour—can lift your soul, give you hope and peace. In my experience, spending time alone with God helps me stay on the right path, remain focused, and remember all that He has done for me. He has not forgotten us, nor is He absent. We have a responsibility to stay informed and never forget the love of God, His forgiveness, His encouragement, and the many good gifts He wants to give—and is giving us—today.
The Bible is flooded with promises and hope! Our heavenly Father knows our troubles and what we are going through. If you think about it, the span of life is very short, really, and I will not belitteling the trouble you and I are going through. BUT, the good news is that this time is short in comparison to the eternety.
Sometimes we just need to push it through. Push the negative thoughts away and start praising God for who He is, what he has done, and what He is doing for you. Push it through- making the positive thought overcome the negative. It will surely help you feel better, because the thoughts produce our feelings. Therefore it is vitally important that we stay focused on the good things and commit ourselves to focus on the promises that God has given us. He is the Lord of peace and is our ever-present help!
A simple tip if you are struggling to understand the Word of God is to read it in another translation. You could also refer to a Bible commentary, but different translations have been a great complement to my personal study. Therefore, I highly recommend it.
It really comes down to what you set your mind on and what you allow to be present in your life. Feeling overwhelmed by stress? Reduce your schedule, make time to recover, and spend time alone with God.
“…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
