4 Times People in Scripture Prayed through Anxiety
Share
When life feels overwhelming or you land in a crisis, do you find it hard to pray? Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in those moments “through wordless groans.” That comforts me when my brain stalls. But I also appreciate the prayers recorded in Scripture. They help me articulate what my anxiety makes hard to express.
Here are some biblical prayers that strengthen my soul when life feels shaky and uncertain.
1. When You Feel Trapped with No Escape
In 2 Kings 19, King Hezekiah, who reigned over Judah during the time of the prophet Isaiah, faced a terrifying threat from the Assyrian’s fierce army known for its cruel brutality. Terrified, he quickly sought the Lord.
“Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God” (2 Kings 19:15-19).
Notice his example. He acknowledged God’s power and sovereignty. This brought comforting perspective. Yes, Assyria possessed a vicious, 185,000-plus man force (Isaiah 37:36), but the so-called gods they relied upon were merely inanimate, man-made objects.
Meanwhile, Hezekiah and his people belonged to the Lord Almighty, Yahweh tsaba in the original Hebrew — the God of Heaven’s Armies. Unlike the lifeless idols of their enemies, Judah’s God and protector held limitless power and reigned supreme over all.
With his fearful heart now anchored in truth, the king asked the Lord to rescue them, for their sakes and His glory.
God heard their prayer and “rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened them. So there was peace throughout the land” (2 Chronicles 32:22).
This provides an easy and effective example for us to follow when we feel threatened:
Begin with praise. This re-centers our souls on Christ’s power, presence and provision.
Acknowledge the threat. Doing so honors our emotions and increases our faith once we experience the Lord’s protection and defense.
Recognize and trust in God’s power. The Almighty remains greater than anything that comes against us (Romans 8:31; Jeremiah 32:7).
2. When You Can’t See the Path Ahead
Prior to taking the throne, David, ancient Israel’s second king, spent over a decade as a fugitive, in fear of his life. Relentlessly pursued from every side, he needed God’s guidance to stay alive.
He prayed:
“I cry aloud to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.I cry to you, Lord;
I say, ‘You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living’”(Psalm 142).
At this point in his story, David was hiding in a dark, damp cave. He felt exhausted and abandoned. He honestly expressed his emotions, including the catastrophic thinking (v. 4) that often comes during times of pain and crisis. Though he still had supporters, his hardship made him feel utterly alone.
Have you been there — so flooded with anxiety that you can’t think straight? When David reached this place, he turned to the One Who’s never distressed, panicked, or surprised.
Regardless of how limited his perspective, David trusted that God knew and saw all and would lovingly lead him to safety.
In Isaiah 30:21, the Lord made us the same promise, stating:
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
When we feel lost and paralyzed with uncertainty, we can follow David’s example and pray, “Father, I feel vulnerable and inundated with racing thoughts. Please comfort and guide me in my overwhelm. Lead me to safety by Your perfect wisdom and love.”
When our thoughts become jumbled and the path ahead unclear, David’s heartfelt pleas encourage us to:
Approach God with bold honesty. He invites us to express our feelings and concerns unfiltered. Naming our emotions helps reduce their intensity and our sense of isolation.
Seek His guidance with a heart determined to follow however He leads. We don’t need to rely on our limited wisdom and faulty perceptions. We have constant access to the Holy Spirit, residing within, who teaches, comforts, and strengthens us and reminds us of the truths we already know.
Find refuge in Christ (Ps. 142:5), assured that He faithfully watches over and cares for His own.
3. When Our Burden Feels Too Heavy to Bear
In Exodus we meet Moses, a prince turned fugitive whom God called to liberate His people from 400 years of slavery and oppression by the most powerful nation at the time. Initially reluctant, he eventually obeyed.
This was far from an easy assignment. The people, who’d experienced a lifetime of trauma that severely challenged their ability to remain calm in times of stress, grumbled, complained and repeatedly accused the Lord, their rescuer, of harm. At one point, the entire camp wailed — all night! — in distress.
Exasperated, Moses cried out:
“‘Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? … I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” (Numbers 11:11-15).
In response, God told him to choose 70 wise and respected elders to help them lead the people.
I used to find this confusing. Why did God become angry with the ancient Israelites’ complaints and supportive with Moses’? Now, however, I see an important difference between Moses and the people. Whereas they grumbled to one another, essentially exacerbating each other’s fears, Moses brought his worries to God.
God can handle our intensity, confusion, and raw emotions. He already knows our thoughts and welcomes our honesty. He invites us close, comforts us in our overwhelm, and speaks truth to our fears.
Moses’s anguished cry invites us to:
Seek God’s presence when we feel weak and panicked. When we want to go numb, hide, or react in anger, grace gently calls us to the One who knows us completely, loves us fiercely, and meets us right where we hurt.
Honor our capacity. Our culture, which idolizes independence and external success, teaches us to deny our limits. But Scripture teaches that our weakness, when acknowledged and yielded to Christ, leads to supernatural strength (2 Cor. 12:9).
Permit ourselves to voice our inner struggle. God won’t punish our honesty or react to our cries with frustration. He meets us in our pain and responds with the compassion of a protective Father attending to His beloved child.
4. When Fear Overpowers Our Faith
Imagine watching someone you care deeply for disconnect from reality and engage in self-destructive behavior. Maybe they become suicidal, destitute from addiction, refuse necessary mental health treatment, or remain chained to an abusive relationship.
Perhaps that’s your experience now.
You’ve prayed for your loved one for so long, doubt invades your soul.
If so, you’ll resonate with the father in Mark 9. According to Scripture, a demon possessed his child, robbed him of speech, seized and threw him to the ground, and often tried to kill him (Mark 9:17-22).
The father initially sought help from the disciples, but they failed. By the time Jesus arrives, the man seemed more discouraged than ever. Do you sense the hesitation in his words:
“…But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22b).
This occurred well into Christ’s ministry, and therefore this man must have heard about all the miracles the Lord performed. He was known for casting out demons, healing lepers, and brought sight to the blind and speech to the mute.
But in his anguish, panic took hold — fear that likely intensified when Christ said:
“‘If you can’? said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes’” (Mark 9:23).
He responded with a guttural cry and desperate plea:
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (v. 24).
Jesus granted the man’s request by healing his son. This account encourages us to:
Come to Jesus in our weakness and with our doubts. While we don’t know how much disappointment he carried into this situation, the Bible reveals his soul-crushing letdown, experienced mere moments before the Lord’s arrival. He could’ve walked away, defeated. Instead, despite his faltering faith, he turned to the Lord.
Persevere in our request. According to Scripture, the boy had suffered “from childhood.” The father had probably begged God for help for years. He could’ve deemed the situation hopeless and found ways to numb his pain. Instead, he refused to give up. His love for the boy drove him to Jesus, who accepted the man’s timid faith and restored his son.
Ask for increased faith. Unfortunately, doubts plague us all. None of us possess unshakable faith, nor can we create this ourselves. Belief comes from the Holy Spirit. He alone ignites our passion, reveals God’s heart, and steadies our souls in His promises. Our requests for increased faith don’t frustrate Him; they please Him and move Him to action.
When fear spikes and words fail, biblical prayers offer language for our overwhelm. Their raw vulnerability encourages us to bring our whole selves to the God who accepts us as we are, meets us with compassion, and always leads us toward His best.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Jacob Wackerhausen
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.