A Prayer for an Anxious Heart
For three in the morning, when your mind will not sit down. This is encouragement, not treatment — anxiety can be a medical condition, and getting help for it is not a failure of faith.
1 Peter 5:7 is the prayer’s whole shape — “cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” — and Philippians 4:6-7 promises that God’s peace will guard your heart and mind when you bring Him the specific thing.
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
The prayer
Lord, my thoughts are loud and they will not stop circling.
I am naming them instead of rehearsing them. Here — this one, and this one, and the one underneath that I have not wanted to say out loud. I am putting them down in front of You.
You said to throw them, so I am not going to be careful about it.
Guard my heart and my mind while I put them down. Give me today’s portion and let tomorrow stay where it is. Loosen my chest. Let me sleep.
And when I pick these back up again in an hour — because I will — meet me then too, without sighing. Amen.
Praying when you cannot concentrate
An anxious mind does not manage long prayers. It does not have to. Psalm 94:19 is one line: “When anxiety overwhelmed me, Your consolation delighted my soul.” Say the first half, breathe, say the second.
Repetition is not a lack of sincerity. The psalms repeat constantly.
The practical half
Elijah’s recovery under the broom tree began with sleep and food, brought twice by an angel, before God said anything to him at all (1 Kings 19:5-7). Scripture put the nap before the sermon.
Eat something. Sleep if you can. Tell one person. Call your doctor if this has been going on. None of that competes with prayer; in Elijah’s case it was the answer to it.
Where these words come from
1 Peter 5:7 gives the throwing word. Philippians 4:6-7 gives the method and the guard. Matthew 6:34 rations the trouble to one day. Psalm 56:3 is the shortest honest prayer in the Bible — “when I am afraid, I put my trust in You” — which concedes the fear and keeps going anyway.
Praying this for someone specific?
Light a candle for her — and come back to tend it tomorrow.