Anxiety is described as a feeling of worry or uneasiness, and I’m sure you are no stranger to this feeling, along with so many others. In our current climate where tragic news stories, negative social media, and general feelings of uncertainty are filtering their way into our lives at every moment, it can be of little surprise that one experiences such a feeling. On a micro level, events and situations that take place in your life, can seriously shift your perspective and fill you with dread and fear, without you even realising! What God says about anxiety far outweighs the words of the world, and that’s why as followers of Jesus, it is so important to cling close to Him and His word. So that when doubt, fear, frustration and worry show up, God’s truth can overpower the enemies lies.
If you are experiencing feelings of doubt, insecurity or fear then here are Hosea’s top five verses to keep you firm and grounded in your faith to help tackle the anxiety and provide you with some peace.
1) 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Do you believe that God is able? Fully and truly capable of carrying your whole heart and the burdens that come with it? This verse reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we can give Him all our worries and if we are carrying our struggles and pain, then we have not totally trusted God.
The way to trust Him is to humble yourself before Him. Humility is necessary. Once you recognise your need for God, allow Him to touch you, to work within you and to carry all those burdens you cling so closely to.
2) Matthew 6:25 – 27: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Do you believe that God can provide? You may not know what life has in store next year, next month or even next week, but do you trust that God knows, and will provide for you? Just like the saying, “worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace”, Jesus reminds us that worrying adds no value, but trusting in Him can ease an anxious soul and calm a turbulent mind.
When we are in communion with the Provider, we need not worry about the provision.
3) Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Do you believe that God can sustain you? In this Psalm, David is honest with God about his pain, fear and hurt. Have you been honest with God about the stress and worry you are holding in your heart? Notice the word “cast”, not “place gently” or “rest tenderly” but cast, i.e. hurl, throw, fling your worries onto the Lord and trust that He can carry it.
Casting your cares doesn’t have to be pretty, in fact, it shouldn’t be. Honesty is messy, and casting your cares means throwing all that mess to God trusting that he can hold it.
4) Jeremiah 32:27: “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Do you believe that there is anything too hard for God? Often our mountains seem so huge and our fears so intense that the enemy deafens the still, small voice of the Lord. In this verse, God is reminding Jeremiah of what he himself had declared (“Lord, there is nothing too hard for You” – Jeremiah 32:17), encouraging him that nothing is in fact too hard for God Almighty.
It is not uncommon for us as believers to get caught up in the world and occasionally forget who our God is, but let this be a reminder to you, friend:
Nothing is too hard for our Lord.
Despite your mess, your worry and your anxiety, God is present. No problem, trial or tribulation is too much for Him. He is the God of all humanity, the creator of the universe, the maker of the stars, and nothing is too difficult for Him.
5) Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Do you believe that God will fight for you? In the world, we are taught that any fears we face need to be tackled head-on and challenged with our own entire and complete strength, but the Lord tells us, believers, a different narrative.
Be still.
All we need to do is be still in the presence of the Lord and trust that He will fight the battle for us. When your anxiety and worry are completely overwhelming and you can’t silence the noise of the world, take a deep breath, rest and be still.
Notice how being still requires you to do nothing, but can still require discipline and patience. Being able to rest in the loving arms of the Lord, allowing Him to hold your struggle in His hands and you need not do anything other than simply trust Him, what a sweet and simple promise.