Anxiety & Fear: A Biblical Perspective

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

for the sake of His name.

Even 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.

Psalm 23:1-4

            Anxiety and fear are emotions that everyone is intimately familiar with, no matter who they are, where they are from, or how they were raised. Those who struggle with anxiety often feel overwhelmed and unable to do anything about it. When it comes down to defining and explaining either anxiety or fear, most will have a difficult time, only really able to explain the effects it has on their body. However, what does the Bible say about anxiety and fear, and how are believers called to respond to these emotions?

Anxiety

In order to develop a biblical understanding of anxiety, we must first define it. John MacArthur defines anxiety like this: “Anxiety is, at its core, an inappropriate response in light of the circumstances—very different from the cares and concerns in life that cause people to attend to business in a responsible way.”[1] Essentially, anxiety is an overblown or exaggerated response to the circumstances that are being confronted. This is different than someone expressing situationally appropriate concerns or cares for something that they are responsible for in an appropriate way, which would not be considered anxiety.

A fundamental characteristic of anxiety is a focus on the future. Anxiety occurs when someone is so consumed by the future that they are not able to function properly in the present. MacArthur rightly states that “we allow our daily concerns to turn into worry and therefore sin when our thoughts become focused on changing the future instead of doing our best to handle our present circumstances.”[2] A reality that must be acknowledged and interanilzied is that no amount of anxiety, no matter how intense, powerful, or overwhelming it is, has the ability to change the future, let alone any outcome for the better. Matthew 6:27 asks, “. . . which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to this span of life?” The reality is that no amount of fear or worry associated with anxiety will add anything to our lives. There is an argument to be made for the fact that anxiety does have the potential to negatively impact the future or the outcome of the circumstances being worried about by exhausting the individual or by causing them to neglect their duties. In fact, the Word of God teaches that anxiety actually weighs a man down (Proverbs 12:25).

Worry

A companion to anxiety is the concept of worry. MacArthur teaches that “the word worry comes from the Old English term wyrgan, which means ‘to choke’ or ‘strangle.’”[3] As the anxious person sits, spinning and toiling over matters that have not come to pass, nor may ever come to pass, they are choked and strangled by their worry, unable to effectively do anything meaningful in the present, even neglecting their duties and responsibilities. In effect, they are stuck.

            The anxious person exerts their efforts by worrying about things that ultimately do not matter, things that are meaningless, things that will never actually come to pass. While the majority of their efforts will be placed on hypothetical matters that will never come to pass, the more significant tragedy is that their focus will be removed from Jesus Christ and from eternity, as it is intensely focused on this temporal plane of existence (Colossians 3:1-2).

Fear

            Fear is something different than anxiety, although they are closely related. While anxiety is often a response to an unknown or hypothetical future, fear tends to focus more on the immediate, on the belief that there is danger imminent. Ultimately, fear is intrinsically tied to trust. For example, when a person climbs out onto a set of scaffolding hundreds of feet in the air, they are trusting that the scaffolding was assembled correctly, placed on a stable foundation, and that the planks they are standing on have enough integrity to hold them up. Certainly, there is a lot of trust involved when someone stands out on some scaffolding, or uses ropes to climb up a rock face, or jumps out of an airplane with a parachute. Each of these activities is almost synonymous with fear.

Biblically, the concept of fear becomes even more complicated because believers are repeatedly called to “fear God,” but does that mean that danger is imminent? In some sense, yes, danger is imminent because the Bible teaches that everyone who has ever lived has sinned against our Holy God (Romans 3:23). God the Father is a perfect Judge, and as humanity stands before Him, if standing on their own merit, they must be rightly condemned as guilty, with only God’s wrath building up against them (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 7:11; Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 3:36; Nahum 1:2-3). Therefore, if mankind had a proper understanding of their standing before a Holy God, their right response would be to sincerely fear the Lord, because without an intervention by Jesus Christ, they would be in imminent danger of receiving His righteous wrath.

But there is another way to think about fearing the Lord, in the sense that mankind is called to revere the Lord. Reverence is a deep, humble respect and awe toward God, especially with reference to His holiness, authority, majesty, and glory. This includes an element of fear, but not merely terror or dread; it is a worshipful fear that leads to obedience, submission, and adoration. Hebrews 12:28-29 speaks to this, saying, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for God is a consuming fire.” Therefore, when a believer comes to know the Lord rightly, they will display a deep reverence, a fear of God, because He is perfectly holy, a consuming fire.

The Manifestations Of Anxiety And Fear In The Inner And Outer Man

 

            The Scriptures offer a framework for understanding the dichotomy of man. Man consists of both body and soul (Ecclesiastes 12:7; James 2:26). The inner man consists of the heart, mind, will, and affections, while the outer man consists of the body and the flesh. The Apostle Paul speaks about these distictions in 2 Corinthians, when he says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). As the body is wasting away, the soul, that is the heart, mind, will, and affections are being renewed day by day. This dual nature of man helps us better understand the way that anxiety and fear take hold within a person.

Anxiety and fear, although often expressed through the body, are not typically caused by something in the environment, although a strong argument could be made for fear resulting from environmental factors. Rather, they arise from within the inner man, particularly through established patterns of thinking that are likely quite sinful. It is the thoughts and meditations of the heart that trigger the bodily response to both fear and anxiety. This is why someone can experience serious anxiety even when there is no actual threat present in their environment, because their heart is dwelling on potential future threats, oftentimes some that could never occur. As those thought patterns become habitual, the mind develops deep ruts of fear that continually cycle through “what if” scenarios.

These inner thoughts produce literal physical responses in the outer man. The body will often dump adrenaline into the bloodstream, increasing the heart rate, dilating the pupils, and causing muscle tension. The person may feel panicked, jittery, or overwhelmed. In these moments, although the body is clearly responding, the cause is not external, but internal, from the inner man, the mind. That is the power of the inner man over the outer man.

Dr Stuart Scott highlights this relationship when he notes that while “anxiety usually involves worrying about what could possibly happen. Fear goes a step further and is more convinced that what is dreaded will really happen.”[4] In other words, while anxiety lives in the realm of speculation and hypotheticals, fear is more confident in the danger. And yet, both start in the heart and mind. Even if there is no external danger, the inner man’s perceptions create a reality that the body responds to as if it were under actual threat.

The sinful flesh plays a significant role in this process. The flesh is naturally self-focused and self-reliant, always resisting dependence on God. As a result, when anxiety or fear arises, the sinful flesh directs a person inward, to their own knowledge, cares, and concerns, as opposed to turning to God. It is the lack of faith and trust in God and total reliance on oneself that is where anxiety is firmly planted, and that is where it becomes sinful. Rather than relying on the God of the universe, and His promises, which are as sure as the sun rising in the East (Lamentations 3:22-23), and yet the anxious person relies on their own flawed and shockingly limited understanding, attempting to see every outcome, every possibility, and avoid any danger. All of this flows from the desires and beliefs of the inner man, good for good and bad for bad (Luke 6:43-45).

This becomes especially grievous when anxiety or fear prevents obedience. Jesus rebuked the servant in Matthew 25:24-28 who buried his talent out of fear. Fear led him to disobey his master. In the same way, when fear keeps us from loving others, telling the truth, or stepping out in faith, it becomes sinful. Cubby Westerberg explains, “Paralyzing fear brings our focus to self and self-protection rather than love for others and doing what is right. It also shows a lack of trust in God.”[5]

Externally, fear and anxiety can cause avoidance, procrastination, emotional outbursts, or even sinful coping mechanisms like addiction or isolation. Internally, they result in constant turmoil, spiritually fractured thinking, and spiritual stagnation. The person may be left physically exhausted and spiritually dry. The fruit is paralysis and unfaithfulness.

This leads naturally into the question: What drives these thoughts, beliefs, and patterns of anxiety and fear in the first place? Why does the heart dwell on things it cannot control, and why does the body follow suit with such intensity? To answer these questions, we must turn to Scripture and examine the theological and biblical factors that fuel anxiety and fear.

The Biblical Factors That Drive Anxiety And Fear

            The Scriptures clearly teach that not all fear is wrong. In fact, some forms of fear are commended and even commanded. The fear of the Lord, for example, is a holy, reverent awe that rightly recognizes God’s majesty, power, and justice. Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10 both declare, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” and “the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 19:23 states, “The fear of the Lord leads to life,” while Proverbs 14:27 describes it as “a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” Fearing God rightly leads to humility, obedience, and peace.

However, the Bible also presents another kind of fear, a sinful fear that flows not from reverence, but from a lack of faith. This kind of fear, often expressed through anxiety, becomes sinful when it dominates our thoughts, controls our decisions, and keeps us from obeying God. As Jesus taught in the Parable of the Talents, fear led one servant to disobey and bury what was entrusted to him (Matthew 25:24–28). In a similar way, when fear prevents us from doing what is right or compels us to act in self-protective or manipulative ways, it reveals the root of the problem: a lack of faith, a burying of what was entrusted to us.

At the heart of anxiety and fear is unbelief. When someone is wracked with anxiety, they are often trusting in their own limited understanding, abilities, and control rather than in God’s sovereign care. This is why anxiety is not just an emotional issue; it is actually essentially a theological one. When Jesus addressed anxiety in the Sermon on the Mount, He challenged His listeners with this piercing question: “If God so clothes the grass of the field… will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30). In other words, anxiety reveals a small view of God and a large view of self. It reveals a significant lack of faith and trust in God.

As mentioned above, Cubby Westerberg pointed out that when fear becomes crippling, it turns our attention inward, toward preserving ourselves, rather than outward, in love and doing what’s right. At its core, this kind of fear exposes a heart that struggles to trust God. This self-focused orientation is a product of the sinful flesh. The sinful flesh seeks to preserve self at all costs, whether through avoidance, over-control, people-pleasing, or obsessive planning. This is why anxiety and fear are often linked to self-preservation: they arise when we feel that something we value, such as our comfort, security, reputation, or control, is under threat.

This type of fear is nothing short of idolatry. This fear is a form of misplaced worship, treating something created, ourselves, our comfort, our safety, or our reputation, as though it must be protected at all costs, instead of fearing and trusting the Creator. This is why those who live in constant worry may either lack a proper understanding of God’s character or have allowed their focus to shift away from Jesus Christ. As John MacArthur puts it, “It is not necessary to worry about finances, the basics of life, and what we eat or drink or wear because of who our heavenly Father is.”[6] When the character of God is rightly understood, especially His sovereignty, goodness, wisdom, and depth of love, there is no rational basis for anxiety or crippling fear.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 reminds us to “. . . Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” The person who fears the Lord rightly does not need to fear anything else, not be anxious about anything. This kind of holy fear displaces all others. The greater our view of God, the smaller our fears become.

Still, even the most faithful believers wrestle with moments of weakness, fear, and unbelief. The question is not whether fear will come, but how we will respond when it does. Will we retreat into our sinful flesh, trusting in our own strength? Or will we run into the arms of a Holy God, casting our cares on the Lord?

The answer lies in the biblical strategies God has provided to combat anxiety and fear. These strategies do not ignore our emotions; they address them at the root. They do not offer shallow encouragements but call us to deep trust in God's promises. In the next section, we will explore how Scripture teaches us to respond to anxiety and fear with faith, prayer, renewal of the mind, and a deliberate pursuit of God's peace.

Biblical Strategies To Respond To Anxiety And Fear

            Anxiety and fear, if left unchecked, can become life-dominating. They steal energy, cloud judgment, distort reality, and hinder faithful obedience. They thrive when the heart is consumed and overwhelmed with the future or with circumstances beyond our control. However, God is faithful, always keeping His covenants and loving those who keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9), which offers a foundation for the help and hope God’s people ought to hold onto. Scripture provides concrete, Spirit-empowered strategies to address anxiety and fear, not simply to suppress the feelings, but to renew the mind, refocus the heart, and restore peace.

The Apostle Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, 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 in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). What a powerful statement to God’s people, to not be anxious about anything, but to wholly trust in Him for everything. The antidote to anxiety is not passivity or distraction, but active dependence and whole-hearted trusting in the Lord through prayer. Rather than allowing fear to fester in the mind, the believer is called to lay it before the throne of God, with a heart that is both humble and thankful. God’s peace, which surpasses comprehension, is promised to those who do so. It doesn’t always change the circumstances, but it guards the heart and mind, protecting the believer from the crushing weight of fear.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus directly addresses anxiety, urging His followers not to worry about their lives, what they will eat, drink, or wear (Matthew 6:25-34). He anchors this command in the character and provision of the Father, who feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. “Are you not of more value than they?” Jesus asks (v. 26). Here the strategy is clear: combat anxiety by remembering who God is, what He has done and promised, and how deeply He cares for His children. This is not a call to irresponsibility, but a call to trust. As Jesus concludes, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (v. 33). Therefore, believers ought to develop a deeper understanding of who God is by searching the Scriptures. By reading about the life and death of Jesus Christ, believers obtain a more complete picture of what it looks like to live a life of faith-filled dependence on the Father, despite hardships and life-threatening environmental challenges.

Another vital biblical strategy involves renewing the mind. Colossians 3:2 commands believers to “set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Anxiety flourishes in a mindset on earthly worries, but it is weakened in a mind that is focused on the eternal. The believer must actively redirect their thoughts away from temporal troubles and toward heavenly truth. Paul reiterates this principle in Philippians 4:8-9: “Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable… think about these things… and the God of peace will be with you.” The practice of biblical meditation, dwelling on God's truth, is essential to overcoming anxious and fearful thought patterns.

This process of transformation is further described in Ephesians 4:22-24 as a “put off… be renewed… put on” pattern. The believer is to put off anxious thoughts and behaviors, be renewed in the spirit of the mind through truth, and put on faith-filled, obedient responses. For example, someone who habitually worries about financial security may need to put off the idol of control, renew their mind with Scriptures about God’s provision, and put on habits of gratitude, generosity, and stewardship. He will also need to contend with the fact that God is sovereign, and, like Job, it may be God’s will for his life that he struggles financially, instead being forced to rely on God day-to-day for his provision. The change is not superficial behavior modification; it is heart-level transformation through the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Additionally, believers are called to live in community, bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and encouraging one another daily (Hebrews 3:13). Anxiety often isolates, but God calls His people into relationships where confession, prayer, and truth-telling can occur (James 5:16). Wise, biblical counsel and mutual encouragement are God-ordained means of grace to help the anxious and fearful heart find strength and direction.

Finally, it must be remembered that these strategies are not formulaic steps to eliminate discomfort but are acts of faith, offered in dependence on God. The goal is not simply the absence of anxiety but the presence of trust, peace, and obedience. Fear will come. Anxiety will rise. But by God’s grace, believers are not left to be slaves to these powerful emotions. Through prayer, truth, community, and a renewed mind, they can learn to cast their cares upon the Lord, “because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

[1] John MacArthur, Anxious For Nothing: God’s Cure For The Cares Of Your Soul (Cold Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2012), 10.

[2] Ibid., 11.

[3] Ibid., 18.

[4] Stuart Scott, Anger, Anxiety And Fear: A Biblical Perspective (Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 2009), 13.

[5] Cubby Westerberg, lecture notes for Foundations Track of Biblical Counseling Conference, Cross Pointe Church, October 2023, 2.

[6] MacArthur, 21.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

MacArthur, John. Anxious For Nothing: God’s Cure For The Cares Of Your Soul. Cold Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2012.

Scott, Stuart. Anger, Anxiety And Fear: A Biblical Perspective. Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 2009.

Westerberg, Cubby. Lecture Notes for Foundations Track of Biblical Counseling Conference. Cross Pointe Church, October 2023.