I roll over in bed again and glance at the glowing numbers. 1:09am! Two hours of swirling thoughts! My mind leaps from one concern to the next. Sleep feels impossible.

Worry.

I know what Scripture says. You do too. Jesus, Paul, and Peter all addressed it. The psalms, proverbs and prophets delivered the same message. Even so, our anxiety sometimes spirals out of control.

Anxiety stirs more than our thoughts.

The Bible’s original Hebrew uses six different words for worry, most of them related to fear and trembling. These words reveal what we already know—anxiety isn’t just in our minds; it affects our bodies too. Our muscles tense, our hearts race, and our jaws clench. No wonder sleep eludes us!

Experts recommend mindful breathing to reduce stress. God has a different remedy: trust.

God doesn’t dismiss our concerns but wants us to replace worry with trust in His faithfulness. Confidence in His goodness. Dependence on His provision. Faith that produces inner peace.

Worrying accomplished nothing according to Jesus. The flowers don’t worry, but they’re beautifully clothed by God. Worrying can’t add one hour to your life. (Matthew 6:27)

Why do we worry?

Wise preparation anticipates potential threats, a gift from God that adds countless hours to life. But persistent concern about the what-ifs that keeps us awake at night is pointless. It stems from uncertainty, fear of the unknown, instability and lack of control.

Each of these words—uncertainty, instability, lack of control—points to the real issue: we aren’t in control. Pride tricks us into believing we orchestrate life’s outcomes, but one unexpected loss reminds us how little control we truly have.

Worry steals our peace.

Doesn’t the wise proverb tell us to hold our best-laid plans lightly because God might change them? (Proverbs 16:9) In Yiddish, man plans and God laughs. The apostle Peter calls us to humbly remember God’s mighty (and capable) hand and cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Quell anxiety with trust.

The Lord’s Prayer repeats give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:9-13) referencing how God provided manna day by day to the Israelites in the wilderness. Surplus manna collected spoiled until they learned to trust God to provide manna the next day.

God gives us what we need for today. And God will provide again tomorrow. God’s provision never runs out. Don’t worry about tomorrow…each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34) Stay focused on the present, making it your priority to find His kingdom and live the way God requires (paraphrased from Matthew 6:33).

How do we break the habit?

The scriptures provide clear instructions to control our thinking. Focus on the certainties of God’s promises over the uncertainty of our future.

Capture the anxious thoughts and turn them into prayers. In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6). Every time worry arises, hand it over to God—again and again.

Make prayer your habit. The next time worry wakes you up at night, whisper your concerns to God. Thank Him in advance for working it out. Keep doing this until worry is replaced by peace. And if you drift off to sleep mid-prayer? God doesn’t mind. I imagine God as a loving parent, holding us close, whispering, ‘Rest, child. I’ve got this.’”

Trust God’s faithfulness by thinking about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8)

God promises peace as our reward.

Worry will still sneak in. Each time it appears, you have a choice. Hand it over to God in prayer. Trust Him. Rest in His promises. Because He’s got it. And when you do, His peace, beyond all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

There’s more to explore:
How can we find peace in the midst of the storm?
How is Jesus’ peace different than the world’s?

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