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Key Gospel Themes for 2026
• Philippians 4:6-7: Combat anxiety with prayer, thanksgiving, and trust in God’s peace.
Combat anxiety
ANXIETY : The Bible has a lot to say about anxiety, but the word itself may not be found all that often. In the English Standard Version, it is used 8 times. In the New International Version, it is found 7 times. The King James Version does not use the word at all. Synonyms like trouble, heaviness, distress, and cares are used in its place.
The specific causes of anxiety are probably more than can be enumerated, but a few examples from the Bible point to some general causes. In Genesis 32, Jacob is returning home after many years away. One of the reasons he had left home was to escape the anger of his brother, Esau, from whom Jacob had stolen the birthright and blessing from their father. Now, as Jacob nears his homeland, he hears that Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob is immediately anxious, expecting a horrible battle with his brother. In this case, the anxiety is caused by a broken relationship and a guilty conscience.
In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah is distressed because she was unable to conceive children and she was being taunted by Peninnah, her husband’s other wife. Her distress is caused by unfulfilled desires and the harassment of a rival.
In Esther 4, the Jewish people are anxious because of a royal decree allowing them to be massacred. Queen Esther is anxious because she was planning to risk her life on behalf of her people. Fear of death and the unknown is a key element of anxiety.
Not all anxiety is sinful. In 1 Corinthians 7:32, Paul states that an unmarried man is “anxious” about pleasing the Lord, while a married man is “anxious” about pleasing his wife (ESV). In this case, the anxiety isn’t a sinful fear but a deep, proper concern.
Probably the best-known passage on anxiety comes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. Our Lord warns us against being anxious about the various cares of this life. For the child of God, even necessities like food and clothing are nothing to worry about. Using examples from God’s creation, Jesus teaches that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and cares about them. If God takes care of simple things like grass, flowers, and birds, won’t He also care for people who are created in His image? Rather than worry over things we cannot control, we should “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [the necessities of life] will be added to you” (verse 33). Putting God first is a cure for anxiety.
Many times, anxiety or concern is a result of sin, and the cure is to deal with the sin. Psalm 32:1-5 says that the person whose sin is forgiven is blessed, and the heavy weight of guilt is taken away when sins are confessed. Is a broken relationship creating anxiety? Try to make peace (2 Corinthians 13:11). Is fear of the unknown leading to anxiety? Turn the situation over to the God who knows everything and is in control of it all (Psalm 68:20). Are overwhelming circumstances causing anxiety? Have faith in God. When the disciples became distressed in a storm, Jesus first rebuked their lack of faith, then rebuked the wind and the waves (Matthew 8:23-27). As long as we are with Jesus, there is nothing to fear.
We can count on the Lord to provide for our needs, protect us from evil, guide us, and keep our souls secure for eternity. We may not be able to prevent anxious thoughts from entering our minds, but we can practice the right response. Philippians 4:6, 7 instructs us to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Bible Verse and Prayer for Today
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes his steps.
—Proverbs 16:9
We’re now a week and a half into the new year. How are you doing with those changes, commitments, and resolutions you made for this year? Don’t give up or quit on them, even if you’re having trouble staying on track. Remember that only one commitment is essential for this year: Asking the Lord where he wants us to go and what he wants us to do, then we go there and do it. Let’s ask the Lord to lead us by his Holy Spirit and establish our steps!
Prayer
Holy God, almighty Lord, my Abba Father, thank you for being wondrous, holy, and mighty. Thank you for tenderly caring about me, my life, my decisions, and my struggles. Please guide me by your Holy Spirit as I seek to understand your Scriptures and discern your will for my life. I want to have you fully establish my steps. In Jesus’ name, I ask for this guidance. Amen and Amen
Bible Teaching of the Day
Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad” (NKJV). While there are different causes for depression, Solomon identifies an important one, anxiety. “Anxiety weighs down the heart” (NIV).
Proverbs 12 teaches the differences between wisdom and foolishness and goodness and evil in a series of contrastive statements. These proverbs touch many areas of life, including loving discipline vs. hating reproof (Proverbs 12:1), good vs. evil (Proverbs 12:2), wickedness vs. righteousness (Proverbs 12:3), an excellent vs. a shameful wife (Proverbs 12:4), righteous thoughts vs. wicked counsels (Proverbs 12:5), wicked words vs. the mouth of the upright (Proverbs 12:6), the longevity of the righteous vs. the brevity of the wicked (Proverbs 12:7), insight vs. perverse thinking (Proverbs 12:8), humility vs. self-honor (Proverbs 12:9), righteous treatment of animals vs. cruelty (Proverbs 12:10), diligence vs. idleness (Proverbs 12:11), wicked desires vs. righteous fruit (Proverbs 12:12), and sinful vs. righteous lips (Proverbs 12:13). Proverbs 12:14 is a capstone to the contrasts in verses 1–13, summarizing that words and deeds bear fruit.
Proverbs 12:15–27 offers another list of contrasts, with Proverbs 12:28 summarizing that the way of righteousness promotes life and not death. It is in this section of contrasts that the Bible tells us that anxiety causes depression (Proverbs 12:25). The contrasts illustrating the benefits of righteousness over evil include a fool’s quickness to anger vs. a prudent person’s concealing dishonor (Proverbs 12:16), speaking truth vs. bearing false witness (Proverbs 12:17), speaking rashly vs. the healing tongue of the wise (Proverbs 12:18), truthful lips are established forever vs. the temporality of lying lips (Proverbs 12:19), the deceitful devising of evil vs. peaceful and joyful counsel (Proverbs 12:20), the trouble of the wicked vs. the protection of the righteous (Proverbs 12:21), lying lips vs. faithful dealing (Proverbs 12:22), prudent concealing of knowledge vs. foolish proclaiming of folly (Proverbs 12:23), diligence vs. slackness (laziness) (Proverbs 12:24), anxiety causing depression vs. good words causing gladness (Proverbs 12:25), the righteous guiding of a neighbor vs. the wicked leading astray (Proverbs 12:26), and laziness vs. diligence (Proverbs 12:27). All these contrasts show that righteousness is of practical good (Proverbs 12:28).
The context helps us understand why the Bible tells us that anxiety causes depression. The path of righteousness is not just the right path to take, but it also offers many practical benefits. For example, anxiety causes depression, but good words make the heart glad (Proverbs 12:25). Anxiety is worry, a lack of trusting in God and taking on too much responsibility for circumstances. When we are anxious, we tell ourselves (or listen to others who tell us) words that put on us responsibilities that are not ours.
The psalmists dealt with anxiety and the depression it can bring. When the psalmist anxiously says that his foot has slipped, he recalls that God’s lovingkindness will hold him up and God’s encouragements are a delight (Psalm 94:19–20). Elsewhere, David entreats God to search and discover anxious thoughts within him (Psalm 139:23). At the same time, he asks God to “see if there is any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:24, NASB). These psalmists recognize that anxiety is fixing one’s attention on trouble rather than on the promises of God, and they look to God to relieve the depression that results.
The Bible tells us that anxiety causes depression, but, in finishing Proverbs 12:25, it also reminds us that a good word can bring gladness. When encouraging the descendants of Abraham, God reminds them that they should not anxiously look about them, but they should focus on God—“I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). Paul reminds us that we should be anxious for nothing but rather be prayerful—the result will be that we will enjoy God’s incredible peace in our lives (Philippians 4:6–7), no matter how painful or difficult our circumstances. Instead of bearing the weight of those difficulties ourselves and becoming anxious and depressed, we can cast our anxiety on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Today’s Devotional
First Peter 5:7, speaking to the humble child of God, relates a wonderful truth: “Casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you” (CSB). This completes a thought begun in the previous verses: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5–6). We are commanded to humble ourselves in light of who God is. He is God, and we are not. And we trust that God will take care of us. Part of humbling ourselves includes “casting all your cares upon Him.”
Humans often overestimate their ability and underestimate their inability. Yet the humble recognize that they are not God. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and able to handle all our cares. As a humble person, you can cast all your cares on Him because you know He cares for you. To “cast” literally means to “throw.” It is from the same Greek word used to describe how the people threw their coats on the colt before Jesus rode it into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Luke 19:35). We should not hold onto our cares. Instead, we should throw them to our Father God who cares for us. He has big shoulders; He can handle our burdens.
Cares refers to worries, difficulties and needs of this world, and anxieties. The NLT says to “give all your worries and cares to God,” and the NIV says to “cast all your anxiety on him.” Everything that worries us or weighs us down is to be given to the God who cares so deeply for us. These verses do not promise that God will remove the source of our anxiety—although He certainly can and often has (see Isaiah 37:36 and Mark 4:39). Instead, the assurance is in knowing that He cares for us, which is why we can cast our cares on Him. God is trustworthy to handle our cares in the best way. Romans 8:28 tells us that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We trust that God is able and willing to deal with our cares.
Jesus also invited people to cast their cares on Him: “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.” (Matthew 11:28–30). Jesus calls us to come to Him and cast our cares or burdens on Him. When we do, the promise is that we will find rest for our souls. The assurance is based on who He is. We can come to Him with any of our concerns in prayer, and, while the burden may still exist, our souls will find rest as we trust in Him to help us carry it and to sustain us through the trial.
Peter’s exhortation to humble ourselves and to cast all our cares on the Lord is a command, not a suggestion. We are commanded to trust in the Lord and not in ourselves (Proverbs 3:5) and to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6). God does not want us to be weighed down by the difficulties and worries of this life. Instead, He cares for us and promises rest for all who come to Him. If you trust that God is in control and able to handle your concerns, cast all your cares on Him, regularly giving Him your concerns in prayer and living in the rest He gives.
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