30 Prayers for Anxiety to Calm Fear and Worry

Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff Crosswalk.com
Updated Jun 08, 2024

When anxiety starts to creep into my life, it feels like a weight pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I know I’m not alone in this—so many of us struggle with that overwhelming sense of worry and fear. In those moments, I’ve found that turning to prayers for anxiety can be incredibly powerful. It’s not just about reciting words; it’s about finding a moment of peace, a way to center ourselves amidst the chaos.

We all face anxiety in different forms, whether it's the daily stress of work, personal challenges, or the broader uncertainties of life. Sometimes, it feels like we’re carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. But here’s the thing: prayer offers us a way to offload some of that burden. When we pray, we’re not just speaking into the void; we’re reaching out to a higher power, seeking comfort, guidance, and strength.

One of the reasons prayer is so powerful for anxiety is that it allows us to pause and take a breath. In the midst of our worries, prayer creates a sacred space where we can step back, reflect, and connect with something greater than ourselves. It reminds us that we’re not alone in our struggles and that there is a source of peace and strength we can tap into.

For me, prayers like the serenity prayer or simple, heartfelt conversations with God have been lifelines. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” These words help ground me, reminding me to focus on what I can control and to let go of what I cannot.

Praying through the Psalms has also been a source of immense comfort. Verses like Psalm 94:19, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy,” remind us that even in biblical times, people faced similar struggles. These ancient words offer timeless comfort, reminding us that God’s presence is a constant source of solace.

So, let’s explore together how prayer can be a powerful antidote to anxiety. Whether you’re a seasoned prayer warrior or new to the idea, there’s something profoundly healing about opening our hearts and minds to God. In doing so, we can find the peace that surpasses all understanding and the strength to face whatever comes our way.

Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

Prayer to Trust God

Heavenly Father, when my heart is overwhelmed, overwhelm me with Your peace. Lead me to You, my rock. Guide me to Your word, which gives me strength and refuge. Help me not to run from my pain but to trust fully in Your goodness and power to carry me through. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Prayer for Strength in Tough Times

Lord God, I feel uncertain and anxious about what I face. Please give me the strength to endure and the clarity to see Your hand at work in all things. May Your will be done in my life, and may You guide me on a path of peace. Amen.

Whatever stress and worry you face today, remember that God can bring you an incredible sense of peace (Philippians 4:7). Start praying over your anxious thoughts and trust God for what's ahead. When anxiety creeps in, turn to God in prayer. Discover the peace that comes from giving your worries to Him. Through prayer, you can release worry to Him, who loves you, and know He has a plan for everything in your life.

Browse our full collection of powerful prayers for anxiety to use when you begin to feel your emotions start to reel. Keep these close to you, and pray when you feel overwhelmed.

Prayer for Worry and Depression

Dear Father in Heaven, so much in my life is broken. I have so many concerns and cares, and they weigh me down. While I desire to cast my cares upon You, I find I usually pick them back up again, and they only add more anxiety and stress. Please help me learn to cast my cares on You as I learn what it means to rest and trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Chrystal Hurst)

Prayer for Peace Over Worry

Dear God, help me wait well. Help me know what to do and when to do it. Then, help me do the holy work of rest, even when I would rather work and worry. Give me peace, and teach me to trust You as I wait for You to answer my prayers. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Chrystal Evans Hurst)

Trade Worry, Anxiety, Pain for Peace

Father God, I thank You that You are compassionate, merciful and faithful in Your love for me. I thank you that You know every thread of every thought I have. You care deeply when I hurt and You care deeply when I am joyful. Help me to come to you in prayer with all my worries, pain and anxiety and trade them for Your peace that passes all understanding. Help me to come to You with all of my joyful moments and rejoice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Ramona Davis)

Prayer to Replace Struggle with Joy

Heavenly Father, You alone are my secret keeper and know the darkest places within my heart. Lord, I feel tired, overwhelmed and unworthy of Your love. Help me to truly surrender the things that keep me imprisoned inside my heart. Replace my struggle with Your joy. I want my joy back. I want to stand beside You and celebrate this life that You have paid so dearly to give me. Thank you, Lord. You truly are the greatest gift of all. Consume me in Your joy, for I believe that the Joy of YOU Father, is where my strength is found. Thank You, Lord … In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (AJ Luck)

Peace for the Overwhelmed Heart

Lord, when my heart is overwhelmed, overwhelm me with Your peace. Lead me to You, my rock. Guide me to Your Word which gives me strength and refuge. Help me not to run to lesser things. Draw me to run to You first. Help me get into the habit of taking my “overwhelmed” and placing it under your will. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen (Jennifer Rotheschild)

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Kieferpix

A Prayer to Overcome Anxiety

Heavenly Father, thank You for being an overcoming God! I know I can take heart because You have overcome the world. Empower me to rise above my circumstances. Help me cast my anxiety on You because You care for me. Give me Your power to overcome. Thank You for giving me the victory! In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Esther Fleece Allen)

A Prayer for Anxiety and Depression

I come before you, burdened by the weight of anxiety and depression that I carry. You, who know the depths of my heart and the struggles I face, I lay these heavy burdens at your feet.

Lord, grant me your peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding. Lift the fog of depression from my mind and replace it with clarity and hope. Calm the anxious thoughts that race through my heart and replace them with trust in your loving care.

I seek your guidance, Lord, in seeking help and support, and I pray for wisdom for those who are providing care and treatment. Surround me with understanding and compassionate individuals who can offer love, encouragement, and comfort.

May your presence be a constant source of strength in my life, Lord. Help me find the courage to face each day and the faith to trust in your plan for my life.

I release my anxieties and depression to you, dear Lord, and place my trust in your unfailing love. May your light break through the darkness, bringing healing, peace, and joy.

In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

A Prayer to Calm Your Anxiety

Lord, you know me. You made me. You love me. Meet me where I am in this moment. You knew I’d be here. Do what You want with my churning insides and my spinning mind and my blown-up fear. Don’t waste a minute of my anxiety. Heal it. Use it. Change it. Instead of begging for something specific, I give myself to You. What do you want from me and for me? Thank you for understanding me when no one else does and loving me anyway. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Lori Freeland)

To Feel God's Love and Care

Dear God, help me know You love me. Help me feel Your caring arms around me today, even in the dark. Help me hear Your voice singing over me. In Jesus' Name, Amen (Emily T. Wierenga)

Finding Calm to Quiet Your Soul

Dear Lord, thank You for the calm and quiet you promise is accessible to me even in the middle of the chaos. God, it often feels impossible to find when life is spinning out of control. Help me to remember that when I feel overwhelmed by what I can’t predict or plan, that You already know what will play out and are with me through the process. Help me, Lord, to trust You as I steady my mind and heart on Your promises. Help me to care for my body in the way it needs so that my mind can embrace Your Truth more easily.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Elisa Pulliam)

A Prayer to Focus on God Not Stress

Father, in the midst of my stress and panic, please open my eyes. Show me what You are doing. Remind me that You are greater than all those who are against me. Help me see where You are at work and give me Your joy and encouragement. In the Name of Jesus, who is for me, I make this prayer,
Amen. (Mary Southerland)

Quiet My Anxious Heart

Dear Lord, Would You please quiet my anxious heart? Give me courage to step out in faith, beyond what I can see or attempt to control. I bring You these burdens now: ______________.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Gwen Smith)

Prayer for a Troubled Heart

We know that in whatever we face, you are our Peace and Refuge, a very present help in times of trouble. Thank you that you remind us throughout your Word, we do not face the storms alone, but you are always with us. Whispering calm. Speaking peace. Bringing rest to our souls.

We confess our need for you. We ask you to forgive us for trying to figure everything out on our own, for not trusting that you are more than able and powerful to work on our behalf. Forgive us for picking back up what we already determined to lay down at your feet. Give us the ability to trust you more, give us a heart that finds rest in your presence, give us the wisdom to seek peace and pursue it, remembering it’s only to be found in you alone.

Thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Thank you that you care for us. Thank you that the peace of your loving and strong presence guards and protects our hearts and minds in you. Thank you that we do not have to walk in fear or live in overwhelmed cycles of worry and stress.

Thank you for your voice that breaks through the greatest wind and storm swirling around us, and whispers “Peace, be still.”

Thank you that you sent your One and Only Son to set us free.

In the Mighty Name of Jesus,
Amen (Debbie McDaniel)

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/kieferpix

Lord, Help My Anxious Heart

Gracious Father, You are trustworthy, and yet I forget that. Too often I try to work out every situation in my own thoughts without once acknowledging You. Give me the right words to help my child. Give me a heart of love and patience. Use me to remind them that You are with them, You will be their God, You will strengthen them. Remind me You will uphold them, You will be their help. Please be my help today. Be my strength today. Remind me that You have promised to love me and my children eternally — and that You will never leave us. Please let me rest and trust in You, and help me teach my kids the same. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Jessica Thompson)

Prayer for Inner Peace

Bless our lives with Your peace. Let it permeate our thoughts. Holy Spirit, remind us of the peace we have in Christ when we are stuck in rogue worries holding us captive. Every day, may we lay down what burdens us in exchange for the Peace in our hearts. Christ Jesus, You are with us always. Your Holy Spirit dwells in us, and we in You. You never leave us or forsake us, and our peace comes from You. Let the peace living in us not stop with us, but shine and love all of the people You have placed in our lives.

Despite what’s happening in the world, You have a good plan for our lives! Help us to embrace Peace when our lives threaten to come unwound …or are attacked by circumstances out of our control. Let us embrace each day on earth as a gift and a privilege to love on others and embrace Your blessings. Bring Your Word alive in our lives, Father.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Meg Bucher)

A Prayer for Peace and Relief from Anxiety

Lord, Today I pray that You would help me exchange my attempts at escape and relief for Your perfect peace. I pray that You would give me wisdom in my decisions, and use them to bring a harvest of righteousness in my life. Today Lord, I choose to trust You and Your peace as my guard. Teach me to cast all my anxiety on You, because I know You care for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Grace Mills)

To Be Anxious For Nothing

Heavenly Father, Thank You for never leaving us nor forsaking us. As your daughters walk through valleys and experience painful anxiety, heal us completely if that is Your will. If You have a different plan for our lives, give us Your strength, love and courage and walk with us each day. We love You dearly. … In Jesus’ Name, Amen (Lara Sadowski)

To Be a Warrior not a Worrier

Father, thank You for being good and kind to us. You are loving and faithful beyond all reason. Thank You for the gift of faith. Thank You for reminding us that You are our provider and it is Your delight to do so. You call us beloved. You shower peace in our hearts and rest to our souls. May we seek You above all the cares of this world. May we tune every other voice out in order to hear Your whisper. We thank You for the work You’re doing even when we don’t understand or can’t see it. May our lives trust You at all times, in every way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Karina Allen)

Casting Worries and Anxieties on God

God, I know that You are strong and mighty. You can carry the weight of all the burdens that I am struggling to carry. I am casting off my worries and tossing them onto You. Thank You for bearing my burdens for me. Amen.

Lighten the Load Jesus

Lord Jesus, I have carried this burden far too long. My present sin is disabling my heart. My past guilt has paralyzed my future obedience. Anxiety over things I can't control has taken siege over my soul. I am worn out. I cannot continue on my own. Right now, I come to You. I am taking You at Your word. I am seeking to partner with You and have You take my load. I am ready for my burden to be lightened and my heart to find rest. In Your name. Amen. (Ron Moore)

Photo credit: ©GettyImages

A Prayer for When You Feel Weary and Burdened

Thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Thank you that you promise to give the worried, the hurried, the pressured, and stressed out - rest and peace for our souls - if we'll just come before you. Thank you that you already know all that concerns us, and you care. We’re so grateful for your reminder that we don't have to carry it all on our own. Forgive us for the times that we’ve tried to fix things in our own power, for not taking the time to rest, or coming to you first with our needs and burdens. Thank you for the refreshing that comes from your Spirit, filling us with joy, covering us with a shield, leading us forward with hope. Equip us to be those who take notice of others who seem weary and burdened too. Help us to slow down, to take the time, to point others to you. In Jesus' Name, Amen. (Debbie McDaniel)

Prayer for Faith Instead of Fear and Worry

Father, please forgive me when I give in to fear and worry instead of stepping out in faith and believing You. Help me learn how to capture my thoughts and train them to focus on You. I want to become a woman who trusts You – no matter what. My faith is small, but I now choose to place it in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Mary Southerland)

For Brave Faith When Life Gets Scary

Dear God, I need Your peace today. I know that in order to be at rest I have to stop juggling fear with faith. So I ask for Your wisdom. Help me to be brave. I come now and hand over these concerns (pause to personalize this). Fill me with Your love, joy and peace instead, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen. (Gwen Smith)

For Peace When Tempted to Panic

Father God, I know it is normal for us to sometimes find ourselves in a pit of fear and discouragement. But we don’t have to stay there. Today, we’re choosing to fix our eyes on You. And we’re remembering that each thing we verbalize our thankfulness for is like a steppingstone out of the pit we’ve been in. Thank You for providing Your timeless truths that prove to us over and over again how powerfully capable You always are. With You by our side, we have no need to fear. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Lysa Terkeurst)

A Prayer to Overcome Panic Attacks

Lord, I come to you and I thank you for drawing near to me when I draw near to you. To think that you are mindful of me — it overwhelms my soul. But Lord, today my spirit is heavy and my body is weak. I cannot bear the weight of this anxiety and panic any longer. I recognize I can’t get through this alone, and I pray against the very active enemy who is trying to shake my faith and tear us apart. Help me stand strong in you. Fortify these weary bones and remind me of the truth that this pain and panic will not last forever. It will pass.

Fill me with your joy, peace and perseverance, Father. Restore my soul and break the chains of anxiety and panic that bind me. I trust you with my panic and I know that you have the power to take it all away. But even if you don’t, I know I don’t have to be a slave to my fear. I can rest in the shadow of your wings and I will rise and overcome by your unwavering strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Lauren Gaskill)

For Freedom from Stress and Anxiety

Dear Lord, help me trust You, consent to Your healing, and spend time in Your Word and in prayer. Rescue me from my distress and from the grave. Thank You for caring about my life and that I can be free from stress. In Jesus' Name, Amen. (Stephanie Clayton)

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)

Prayer for Peaceful Sleep

Dear God, We’re in need of your peace and truth to soothe our hearts and spirits right now. When we find ourselves awake in the middle of the night, our pressing needs and worries can feel overwhelming. We need to be reminded of your constant love, healing, and grace. We ask for your Mighty Power to surround us.

— Debbie McDaniel

A Prayer to Fight Fear

Dear Lord, I'm declaring today that I will not live in a state of fear. I place all of my fears into Your hands and commit to trust Your plan. In Jesus' Name, Amen. (Lysa Terkeurst)

To Trust God When Doubting

Dear God, I want to honor You with my life. Sometimes I’m afraid I won’t become the woman You want me to be. Help me do my part to live the abundant life You’ve made possible for me. Reveal Yourself to me through Your Word, and show me how to honor You with my actions. And when doubts arise, help me trust that You are a gentle Shepherd who has promised to lead me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Chrystal Evans Hurst)

To Come to Jesus for Peace

Lord, there are a lot of weary women out there trying to be perfect – zipping up their feelings until they feel like they are going to explode. Jesus, please help these girls know that there is healing in Your Open Arms. They don’t have to act like they have it all together. They can lay down the concealer and come to You. Massage into their tired hearts that they don’t have to be perfect because You are. All You are asking them to do is to come to You and learn from You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Robin Jones)

A Prayer for Hope When Trusting God is Hard

Heavenly Father, even when it feels like there’s a delay, help me to never doubt You have my best interest in mind. Give me divine wisdom in handling whatever situations are weighing me down, and help me release my cares to You. Thank You for Your unconditional love. I love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Binu Samuel)

This article is part of our Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

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Prayer for Peace
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers

Prayer for Healing
Prayer for Protection
Prayer for Anxiety
Prayer for Strength

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