7 Bible Stories About Anxiety and How to Handle It

Everyone deals with stress or anxiety at some point in their lives. It's only natural to feel worried, but you don't need to stay that way. A great way to deal with your stress is to learn how others who came before you dealt with the same emotions. To help you out, here are seven great Bible stories about anxiety and how to handle it.

These stories are about great men and women who helped to shape the world we know today. However, as you'll see, even back then, it wasn't always easy. Even the savior, Jesus Christ, dealt with some level of anxiety and he was essentially perfect, so we're guaranteed to deal with some strife. Think about these stories and apply them to your own life, and you'll feel better about what you're facing. Then, teach your kids so they can learn to cope with their emotions as adults. If you still need support, you can also read about the Bible stories that teach about perseverance.

The first of the Bible stories about anxiety that really drives home the point is that of Moses when God put him in charge of helping the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt and find the promised land. However, while God was there to protect them, it was not an easy journey. Even though the Israelites had all the food they could eat and everything else they needed to survive, they still complained constantly. As a leader, constant criticism and doubt can be very stressful, especially over the course of many years. To deal with the anxiety, Moses would constantly pray and talk to God about what to do. Every time, God would deliver and help, but still, they complained. There's an important lesson here for kids, especially if they plan to start their own business or be a manager in the future. It's not easy to lead a group, but they must know to reach for help when they need it.

Back in the Bible, there was Hannah. She wanted a baby for many years, and no matter how hard she tried, the baby wouldn't come. It was made worse by the people who mocked her for her failure to become pregnant. She constantly prayed and even offered sacrifices to God, but there was no baby. However, she didn't give up. One time, she was praying, and a priest heard her cries, so he also prayed that she would have that baby. It can be hard to want something so special and never see it come to fruition. Your kids need to learn that sometimes life can be hard, but they must continue forward. In the case of Hannah, she continued to pray to the Lord, and she never strayed from her faith. Your kids can also pray and they can also seek a parent or someone who can be a shoulder to lean on until they accomplish their goals.

Another one of the great Bible stories about anxiety is the one that centers around Elijah. This is a lesson that shows that even people who seem to have everything working for them can still deal with stress. Elijah was doing well with God's blessings except for one issue. Jezebel, who was the wife of the king of Israel, was out to hurt Elijah so he had to run for his life. He was so tired and stressed that he even prayed to stop living. God hears his prayers. However, instead of changing his mind or punishing him for not wanting to live, God tells Elijah to eat and rest. After he engages in some self-care, Elijah travels to the mountain of God and waits for the next step, and eventually, everything is solved. The lesson for everyone here is that the cure to stress and anxiety is often to rest and eat a healthy meal. Self-care can help with our mental and physical well-being, so consider it the next time you're feeling stressed.

This lesson tells you about the stress that can come along with losing the things you love. Job was caught in a situation between Satan and God. Satan was convinced that if he was able to take everything that Job loved and put him in misery, he would lose his faith in God. As a result, Job lost all of his kids and all of his money, so he could barely provide for his wife. Then, Satan made him sick, so he was in incredible pain. In the end, Job never lost faith in God, and God replaced everything that was taken. However, Job had to deal with a lot of anxiety during this time. He had to keep the faith that things would work out and continue working through his issues. While you or your kids will likely never go through the same torment as Job, there will be tough times. Things may seem desperate, but you can seek help. Rely on your faith and consider other ways to cope, like talking to a therapist or a trusted friend.

Another one of the great Bible stories about anxiety centers around David, the shepherd boy who would become king. He faced many struggles both before and during his time as king. There were people trying to hunt him down, he had marital issues and more. Many of David's thoughts and prayers to God are in the many Psalms. He talks about being worn out from crying all night while showing serious signs of depression. He often sounds like he believes that God is deserting him, though that wasn't the case. This is a similar type of anxiety that many people face every day, even if it seems that everything is going well. Everyone deals with stress at some point, even billionaires who seem to have everything going on. A great way to relieve that stress is to write out your feelings in a journal. That's what David did in the Psalms. If you're feeling down, then sit down before bed and write out your thoughts. That way, you won't dwell on them during the night. Follow this practice whenever you feel upset.

Even people who haven't read the Bible have likely heard of Jonah. God told him to preach to people and he walked the other way. So he was swallowed by a whale. Once he was released, he preached as he was told to do. However, even after the people stopped their wrongdoing and repented, Jonah still wasn't happy. He was upset that God forgave the people of their sins. Jonah was so mad that he talked about taking his own life. He says things like how it would be better to die instead of live and that he's so angry that he wishes he was dead. Jonah prayed and felt better. The point is that even going back thousands of years, people have always been so angry that they wanted to end it all. However, you and your kids must not think that way. Teach your kids that if suicide ever reaches their thoughts they should speak to you or a mental health professional.

Finally, one of the best Bible stories about anxiety resolves around Jesus Christ. Jesus was essentially perfect, but even he had a bit of anxiety from time to time. This was especially true when he was nearing the time when he would have to be crucified and die on the cross so that those who believed in him could have eternal life. Though Jesus was God in person, he still worried a bit about what was to come. His worry came to a peak when he was praying in the garden while distressed and troubled. He was even sweating. Of course, he knew what he had to do, and he did it, but he was still concerned. The main lesson here is that if the Son of God worries even once, it's natural for you to feel stressed and worried from time to time. Take a moment to relax, take a deep breath, and think about how it could be worse. Journal your thoughts or pray, and then go on with your day. You'll feel better.