5 Bible Verses About Finding God in Stressful Situations

Although stress and anxiety have indeed become major issues in this modern age, people throughout history have had to deal with stressful situations. We might not know how to deal with stress, but the Word of God and His promises can be our first port of call in a storm. Read more to discover Bible verses about finding God in stressful situations.

Bible Verses about Finding God in Stressful Situations

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” – Isaiah 30:15, NIV

Even in a rebuke, God reminds us that being connected to Him is how we find salvation, quietness, trust, and strength. It’s not always easy to experience that quietness, but if we remind ourselves of God’s sovereignty over life’s chaos, we can begin to remember where our strength is rooted. He is unchanging and unwavering, and that is our hope.

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. – 1 Kings 19:12, NIV

This is the part of Elijah’s story when he went on the run for fear of his life. Elijah was disheartened to the point of wanting to die, but God spoke to him at that moment. Elijah experienced unnatural and terrifying weather conditions but afterward heard the voice of God come as a gentle whisper in the quiet aftermath of these events.

When our lives are tumultuous and our heads become noisy, that doesn’t mean that God is far from us. There might be a small moment of calm in which God reminds us that He is still here. God’s gentle presence in our lives is often contrasted by the chaos that surrounds us.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. – James 4:8, NIV

James reminds us that if we want nearness and intimacy with God, the onus is on us to establish it. Note that he doesn’t say that we have to wash our hands and purify our hearts so that we can come near to God.

Intimacy with Him comes first and it is that which gives us strength to realign our thoughts and actions with His. Stress can steal our focus and intimacy with God, but only if we let it. God is never far off, and nothing is too big a boundary between Him and us.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7, NIV

If you have ever had someone say to you, “Stop being stressed,” or even, “Stop worrying!” you will know how frustrating this Scripture can be to read. Paul doesn’t leave it at that, however. He presents a way that we can invite God into our stressful situations. The most honest types of prayers are the ones that express our greatest struggles and deepest desires. When we vent all of that to God, His peace settles on our thoughts and feelings.

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? – Matthew 6:25, NIV

This time it’s Jesus Himself telling us not to worry. He is not minimizing our struggles, after all, He was called “a man of constant sorrows” by believers. Instead, He gently reminds us that the focus of our stress is often on things that don’t matter as much as we think. Life is full of real stresses, but it is also full of real blessings. We can be grateful while being overwhelmed when we take stock of the blessings in our lives.

Help for Your Struggle

The Bible is full of characters and incidents where people were overwhelmed, sometimes to the point of not wanting to be alive anymore. God doesn’t berate us for feeling stressed, because even Jesus became overwhelmed from time to time. He does offer ways to deal with stress. He reminds us that when we bring Him into the midst of our anxieties in prayer, worship, and meditation, our minds and hearts begin to change, even if our situation does not.

Stress has a way of affecting not just our peace of mind, but our physical health, too. If you would like to offload your burdens with a counselor, we can help. When you contact us, we will connect you with a therapist who can help you unpack your concerns and find strategies for coping.