5 Prayers for a Sudden Moment of Anxiety

Anxiety is not a stranger to many. But perhaps this year in 2020, more people than ever are growing reluctantly familiar with this unpleasant companion.

Anxiety hits people in different ways. Sometimes, a panic attack flares up and is entirely visceral in nature—bringing a pounding heart, flowing adrenaline, paralyzing fear, chest pain, heavy limbs, and the inability to catch one’s breath. Other times, anxiety is more mental than physical, and can consume thoughts and pour gasoline on fear until the entire mind is ablaze in a relentless inferno.

There’s been times in my life when anxiety struck due to circumstances. The phone rang with bad news, or my husband woke up in the middle of the night with strange pains, or my daughter ran a high fever for days straight with the flu. Those were the times that anxiety jumped in with both feet and rang a gong in my heart that took weeks to stop ringing. Other times, anxiety flared due simply to days on end of overwhelming stress. Too much on the to-do list, too little funds in the account, too many tasks on my plate…

While anxiety can certainly be circumstantial, it also can strike one completely unaware. It might nudge during the middle of the night, rousing you from sleep for no obvious reason at all. Or tap you on the shoulder in the center of a crowd, pressing in and squeezing like a vice and whispering lies of entrapment and fear.

Regardless of the different forms that anxiety takes, it always leaves one common, detrimental side effect in its wake—the absence of joy.

Here are five prayers to combat sudden moments of anxiety and restore your joy this holiday season.

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1. Prayer for Peace

Dear Lord,

You alone are able to bring peace to my fearful heart! All my cares and fears fade when I gaze into Your face. I ask You to enable me to look at You, and You alone—not at my problems. I ask with full faith for peace that surpasses all understanding to flood my heart and drown out the fears and anxiety attempting to take root. I surrender my heart to You today. Thank You for being bigger than my fears. Help me to find my satisfaction in You and not search elsewhere for relief. Remind me of Your calming presence and the joy that comes from time with You. Hold me up today, Lord.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

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2. Prayer for Reminders of Provision

Dear Heavenly Father,

Your Word tells us that You provide for Your Children and take joy in giving them gifts—even more so than an earthly parent does for their child. I need that today. So please, help me to trust in that truth from Your Word. Enable me to see Your provision over the years. Remind me of Your faithfulness in my life. You have never failed me, and You won’t start to do so today. Just like children trust their earthly parents to protect them, provide for them, and keep them safe, I trust you with my life. Even when things don’t go my way and I’m not entirely understanding of Your plan, Your provision remains constant. Help me to have eyes to see the windows You’re opening in my dark hallway. Help me to trust You with my whole heart and remember Your goodness all the days of my life.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (Matthew 6:25-27)

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3. Prayer for Truth and Wisdom to Prevail

Dear Jesus,

We know You and You are alone are the Way, the Truth and the Life. I ask You to reveal truth to me in the middle of this storm. Take this anxiety from me and replace it with wisdom from Your Word. Overwhelm these lies with the Truth of Who You are. Remind my heart that You are a safe resting place. The lies are false—You and Your promises are true. Let Your still small whisper overcome the raging wind, earthquake, and fire in my heart. Help me to listen to You alone and have ears for Your Word over and above all the other voices of defeat and despair.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

"And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper." (1 Kings 19:11b-12)

"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." (Proverbs 12:25)

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

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4. Prayer for Perspective

Dear Father God,

The cares of my heart today seem large and impossibly overwhelming. Sometimes I feel like giving up. In those moments, Lord, help me to have proper perspective. My fears are real, but when I gaze on You, my perspective shifts. Help me to have eyes to see Your significance and my insignificance. You are large, and I am small. You are in control, and I am not. Remind me, as Solomon wrote, that there is nothing new under the sun and I am not alone in my anxiety. You are with me. Show me Your greatness today. Show me Your love. Give me an opportunity to assist someone else with their burden and in doing so, relieve my own. Help me to focus more on eternal kingdom building and less on my own material gain and prosperity. Adjust the perspective of my heart and bring me joy, for Your glory. Thank You that You care for me. Help me to remember that when everything else seems so hard.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7)

A young man praying, prayers for moment of anxiety

5. Prayer to Experience His Presence

Dear God,

I need you. I’m overwhelmed and fearful, and constantly reminded at every turn how little control I have over all the things I care so much about. Help me to remember that is actually a good thing. You are sovereign, and I can trust You so much more than my own limited, flawed capabilities. Today, my anxiety is great within me—so Lord, like the Scriptures say, bring me joy. Comfort me in my fears with Your Presence as only You can! I need to experience You. I have the head knowledge of Your Truth, but I need my feelings to follow. I need my emotions to jump on board and catch up with Your Word. I ask you to calm my heart with Yourself. You are the only Source of true comfort, true peace, and true joy. I come before You, needy like a child—Your child. Thank You for being there, even when I can’t feel it. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy." (Psalm 94:19)

Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of over twenty romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two daughters, an impressive stash of coffee mugs, and one furry Schnauzer-toddler. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored to truth. When she’s not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can be found somewhere in the vicinity of an iced coffee. She is a regular contributor to iBelieve.com and offers author coaching and editorial services via Storyside LLC.