When we think about anxiety, lots of big questions present themselves—like why we worry, where anxiety comes from, and why anxiety lingers.

Anxiety is one of the most studied phenomena in human history. Ancient Greek philosophers like Epicurious and Zeno of Citium thought deeply about how to reach worry-free states of mind. And thousands of years later, we’re still thinking about the same topic.

Although humans continually theorize, study, write, re-study, and re-write about how to deal with anxiety, the world is no less anxious now than it has historically been. In fact, we’re more anxious than ever; the data on average Americans confirms this.

A 2024 study conducted by the American Psychiatric Association found that 43% of American adults reported feeling more anxious than they had the year prior, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022.¹ The National Institutes of Health’s $271 million investment in anxiety research in 2024 marks another step in a funding trend that has risen each year since 2015.²

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for mental health counselors is expected to rise 17% by 2034, well above the average pace of job growth.³ Yet, as government subsidies put anxiety in their crosshairs and the number of professional counselors grows, the problem won’t go away; America’s anxiety isn’t budging. And nobody seems to know why.

In this piece, we’ll explore a few schools of thought, particularly how the culture perceives and responds to anxiety. We’ll then construct a concise theology of worry, using Scripture, and provide a biblical remedy for overcoming—not merely coping with—anxious thoughts.

What Does Secular Culture Say About Anxiety?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), often referred to as the clinician’s Bible, defines anxiety as “An emotion characterized by tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.” ⁴ Agreeing that anxiety is, in fact, an emotion, the American Psychological Association (APA) clarifies that anxiety is characterized by, “. . . apprehension and somatic symptoms of tension in which an individual anticipates impending danger, catastrophe, or misfortune.” ⁵

At the heart of the culture’s thinking about anxiety is the word disorder. Disorder is a term used broadly by the DSM and professional counselors to describe persistent or severe mental health abnormalities, including cases of anxiety.⁴

The DSM outlines several diagnosable anxiety disorders, including:

  • Separation anxiety disorder
  • Social anxiety disorder
  • Panic disorder
  • Phobias (like agoraphobia)
  • Generalized anxiety disorder

The first edition of the DSM (DSM-I), published in 1952, identified a total of 106 mental health disorders. When the DSM-III was published in 1980, the number of disorders had jumped to 265. In the DSM’s most recent volume (DSM-5), there are 298 diagnoses. ⁶ Just as the number of disorder diagnoses has changed, so has the way people talk about anxiety and mental health.

For example, lines like “Stop being anxious” or “She’s really anxious about this” are slowly being replaced with quips like “She has anxiety” or “That’s just her anxiety disorder talking.” Notice the difference? Our cultural language is quietly shifting from everyday expression to the clinical vocabulary of the DSM and APA. As Christians, we need to consider the implications of that shift—especially what it can coach us to believe about our worries.

Because anxiety is now viewed less as a matter of the soul and more as a medical condition, it’s worth examining the criteria that define it. So, what exactly is an anxiety disorder?

What Does it Mean to Have an Anxiety Disorder?

There’s no lab test for anxiety—no bacteria to culture and no infection to detect. Unless a medical condition (like postpartum depression or a thyroid imbalance) is involved, anxiety is fundamentally an immaterial problem. While it can manifest in physical symptoms like sweaty palms, increased heart rate, and neurological fluctuations in dopamine and serotonin, anxiety is not an issue of the body—but the soul.

With this in mind, we can take a closer look at how the DSM describes anxiety, since its classification of anxiety as a “disorder” assumes a medical origin.

The point at which ordinary worry shifts into a diagnosable disorder can be difficult to identify. Clinicians often draw that line differently depending on their training, philosophy of care, worldview, and interpretation of the situation. Even the way a client tells their story can tip the scales one way or another—one person could visit two clinicians and receive two different diagnoses.

Here’s an example of how that can play out:

A Case Study: Emily, a 32-year-old woman.

Emily visits two counseling offices in the same month. She reports several months of worry about her job and finances, feels “on edge” most days, and struggles to fall asleep. She also mentions headaches and loss of appetite during stressful weeks. Despite it all, Emily continues to work full-time, maintain relationships, and care for her children.

Therapist A: After a structured interview, Therapist A determines Emily meets the DSM’s criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)—citing the duration of Emily’s anxiety and her physical symptoms. The diagnosis allows for insurance billing and leads to a treatment plan with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medication for several months.

Therapist B: After a more open-ended discussion, Therapist B views Emily’s anxiety as natural. Emily’s anxiety, says Therapist B, is real—but it’s not “excessive anxiety,” which the DSM requires for a formal GAD diagnosis.⁷ Instead of diagnosing Emily with GAD, the therapist documents “situational anxiety” and recommends lifestyle adjustments, coping strategies, and mindfulness practices.

In Emily’s case, one clinician saw an anxiety disorder; the other did not. The two therapists also offered two different solutions, which are also worth examining.

How Secular Culture Deals with Anxiety

In most counseling settings, the goal is to help people reduce their anxiety to a livable, non-debilitating level. Methods vary, but common strategies include:

  • Breathing exercises
  • Grounding techniques—like focusing on objects or counting backwards from 100
  • Meditation and mindfulness
  • Practicing affirmations
  • Psychotropic medication
  • Talk therapy

While these methods can ease anxiety’s grip, many focus on managing symptoms rather than addressing their deeper causes. To explore the thoughts that drive anxious behavior, many counselors turn to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a widely used talk therapy model.

CBT operates on the idea that our thoughts influence our behaviors—and by improving our thinking (cognition), our behavior will also change. Making adjustments in these areas, CBT theorizes, will improve the counselee’s quality of life. Clinicians call the process of thought change “cognitive restructuring,” and it works like this:

A CBT Case Study: Joe, a 26-year-old man.

Joe comes to counseling because he’s struggling with social anxiety. Discouraged by past rejections, he now avoids group settings altogether. Whenever he does go out, thoughts like “Everyone thinks I’m weird” or “They all hate me” flood his mind—and the more he avoids people, the more anxious he feels.

His therapist begins by challenging Joe’s assumptions:

“Joe, is there any real evidence that people hate you or think you’re weird? What proof do you have?”

Over time, Joe learns that many of his thoughts aren’t backed by objective evidence. With his counselor’s help, he begins to identify his distorted thought patterns, correctly interpret social cues, and replace false beliefs with more realistic ones. As his thinking shifts, his behavior follows. Joe starts going out again—and to his surprise, most people don’t dislike him.

In everyday terms, Joe learned to see people and situations more accurately. In clinical terms, he underwent cognitive restructuring and built emotional resilience through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Joe is now less weighed down by his social anxiety, but he might not have even touched the root of the real issue. And that’s what secular culture misses.

To find the heart issue behind his anxiety, he needs to know what the Bible says about it.

What the Bible Says About Anxiety

The Bible speaks frequently about anxiety and fear. In the English Standard Version (ESV), words like “anxious,” “fearful,” and “fear” appear 77 times.

Throughout Scripture, direct encounters with God almost always evoke a holy fear. When Moses met God in the burning bush, for example, he hid his face because he was afraid (Exodus 3:6). When Isaiah saw the Lord in His glory, he cried, “Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:3). And when the Angel of the Lord appeared to Daniel, he collapsed in fear (Daniel 10). These reactions are neither sinful nor excessive. They are proper responses to standing in the presence of almighty God.

Fear can also be appropriate in times of real danger. A husband who hears an intruder in his home will naturally feel fear that spurs him into action; that fight-or-flight response is part of how God designed our bodies to respond to threats. His fear for his family is also appropriate because part of his role as husband is to protect (Ephesians 5:22-23).

There’s also such a thing as Godly concern, which Paul felt for the early church. Writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle described feeling “daily pressure” and “anxiety for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). This pressure—Godly concern—motivated Paul to take God-honoring risks and care for the churches. A genuine love for the well-being of others and an accompanying sense of felt responsibility are inherently good things. Still, if not properly exercised, they become dominating—and when that happens, it turns into the kind of anxiety Scripture warns against.

Sinful Fear, Concern, and Anxiety

Scripture identifies two primary forms of sinful fear and anxiety: fear of others (Proverbs 29:25) and fear of the future.

Fear of Man

The fear of man can refer to being afraid of the harm others might cause. Scripture repeatedly tells us not to fear frightening circumstances, such as persecution, because God is with us (Matthew 10:28; Philippians 1:28; 1 Peter 3:14). Peter succumbed to this kind of fear by denying Jesus in Luke 22:54-62 but overcame his fear of man by Acts 5—when he boldly declared “We must obey God rather than men” to the Jerusalem council, even under threat of imprisonment and death.

Fear of man often manifests as an obsession over what others think of us. It’s the reason we hesitate to share the Gospel with others, avoid hard but necessary conversations, and struggle to say “no” to people. Fear of man is also the reason behind many lies, especially when they’re told to enhance or preserve a reputation.

People-pleasing tendencies, codependency, and social anxiety are all manifestations of a fear of man—things that say, “People are my refuge,” not, “The Lord is my refuge.” The fear of man is a battle for many Christians and must be dealt with before it becomes life-dominating. Thankfully, by God’s grace, we can overcome fear of man by cultivating a fear of God.

A second form of sinful fear is the fear of what will happen in the future.

Fear of What Will Happen

“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?” – Matthew 6:25.

Notice how future-pointing this passage is? Jesus presses the word “will”—what we will eat, what we will drink, what we will wear. While many interpret this passage as simple words of consolation, the context of verses 25-31 reveals that Jesus’ teaching to “be anxious for nothing” is actually a command, not just an encouragement.

In Matthew 6, Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount. Before verses 25-31, Jesus laid out several other commands—about giving to be praised by others (6:1-4), praying to be seen (v. 5-6) and praying with “empty phrases” (7-13), fasting (v. 16-18), and laying up treasures in heaven (v. 19-21). Matthew 7, which follows Jesus’ teaching on worry, begins with yet another “do not” directive. It wouldn’t make sense for Jesus to interrupt commands with a tidbit of encouragement. That would be like inserting a pep talk into a list of marching orders.

Though we often fail to obey Jesus’ command not to be anxious, God doesn’t abandon us in our weakness. Far from it—He delights to forgive, and He lovingly comforts our anxious souls as He brings us into deeper, steadier faith. We alluded to it earlier, but the realization that anxiety is a sin makes us responsible for it.

This begs a question: if we’re responsible for our anxiety, are we the source of it?

Where Does Anxiety Come From?

Scripture consistently teaches that our emotions, thoughts, and fears arise from the heart—the inner person, not external forces. Jesus taught that sin comes from within us (Matthew 15:10-20), and that includes the sin of anxiety. External pressures can trigger our response, but those pressures expose what’s already taking place within us. If there’s an organic issue causing anxiety—like thyroid flare-ups or excessive caffeine consumption—that’s another story. But when the issue isn’t physiological, our anxiety is something we have to own.

It’s very tempting—and common—for us to reject the truth that anxiety comes from within us. After all, it’s the rude coworker who triggers our anxiety, right? Or the volatile political climate in which we live—our unstable economy, or the unexpected bill that hits an already-tight budget. As real and difficult as these things are, they cannot make us anxious—they only uncover the fears and doubts that sit beneath the surface.

In other words, such circumstances uncover anxiety’s root cause: a lack of faith. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 6:28–30:

“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (emphasis added).”

Two chapters later, Jesus makes the same point again—this time, when His disciples panic during a storm that threatens to sink their boat. He responds to their fear by asking, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26). Christ was completely in control of the frightening circumstances—and the disciples felt anxious because they struggled to believe that.

It can be hard for us to accept that anxiety is rooted in unbelief, and it might even seem discouraging. However, once we can see the problem clearly, the cure becomes clear as well—and that is encouraging. What’s more encouraging is that Jesus doesn’t condemn his anxious followers or lash out in frustration. Instead, He’s gentle, patient, and kind as He nudges us toward a deeper, more unshakeable trust in Him.

Christ, then, is the cure for anxiety.

How to Overcome Anxiety Biblically

Sometimes, by God’s grace, we’re able to overcome specific fears quickly; at other times, we battle them for years. It’s also quite common to think we’ve conquered a particular fear, only for it to resurface later. Battling anxiety is not usually easy, but with Christ’s help, we can overcome sinful fear and cultivate deeper faith. Here’s how we do that:

1. Identify What You’re Anxious About. Get Specific.

This step may seem simple, but it requires some self-examination and honesty. Start by asking three questions:

  • Why am I afraid?
  • What am I afraid of?
  • How have I been responding to my fears?

As you answer these questions, you may get a head start on step two and dial in on the things your anxiety reveals.

2. Identify and Examine Your Worries in Light of Scripture.

After we’ve pinpointed our fears, we search the Scriptures for what God says about them and Himself.

If you’ve been told you have social anxiety, for example, you’re probably dealing with a fear of man—something Solomon calls a “snare” (ESV, KJV, NIV), or a “trap” (NLT) that’s paralyzing and dangerous. But Solomon also gives the antidote to fear of man: trust in the Lord.

“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

— Proverbs 29:25 (ESV).

If you’re in Christ, view the supposed hatred shown to you by strangers in light of how God views you (see Psalm 139:13-14, 1 Peter 2:9-10). Given who God is and the fact that He is for you, who can be against you (Romans 8:31-32)? What can man do to you that God doesn’t permit for your good (Luke 21:17-19, Romans 8:28). Scripture doesn’t stop at these verses; many other passages of Scripture speak to the fear of man.

For fear of the future, consider a young teacher consumed by worry for her students and their careers. If she doesn’t teach well, she won’t just lose her job—she could jeopardize the future of her kids. The teacher finds herself waking up at odd hours of the night, unable to calm the racing thoughts that cloud her mind. While her concern might seem noble, the truth is she’s failing to entrust her job and the future of her students to the Lord.

Her responsibility is to be faithful in performing her duties, which include planting and watering through diligent care and teaching (1 Cor. 3:6-7). The growth of the students—how well they learn, how they develop with age, and how their futures unfold—is ultimately in God’s hands, not hers.

In addition, Jesus compassionately offers us a tour of how creation demonstrates God’s caring provision for things of lesser value than humans—such as the lilies and grass, the birds, and other animals (Matthew 6:25-33). Then, Jesus reasons with us: if things of far less value than humans are cared for by God, won’t God “much more” care for people—including the teacher’s students (Matthew 6:30)?

3. Recognize and Confess Your Fear as Sin.

This might be the hardest step. It requires that we humbly come before the Lord to take full responsibility for our anxiety. While our natural inclination is to blame-shift and cover up our sins, the Lord wants us to take responsibility for them.

Confession and repentance form a continual pattern in a Christian’s life. When we first came to Christ, we recognized our sin for what it was, confessed it, and asked Him to forgive and change us—and He did. He made us into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), and as we continue confessing and turning from sin—including anxiety—we “put off the old self” and “put on the new” (Ephesians 4:22-25). Confessing sinful anxiety is part of us walking in “newness of life” (Romans 6:4). And the more we do it, the more the Lord works in us.

4. Entrust Yourself to Christ’s Promises of Mercy, Forgiveness, and Change

Once we’ve recognized our sinful anxiety for what it is and confessed it to God, we can rest in the assurance that we are fully and freely forgiven (1 John 1:9). Our failure to trust the Lord is not held against us! Even when anxious feelings linger or resurface, believers can cling to this promise—a promise made by a God who lavishes mercy on us (Ephesians 2:4) and whose word never fails. But God doesn’t stop at forgiveness—He also promises transformation.

Paul reminded the Philippian believers, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). God has saved us by grace (Ephesians 2:8–9) and given us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26-27). His ultimate purpose in doing so is that we become “conformed to the image of His Son” and “glorified with Him (Romans 8:29).

God doesn’t leave His anxious people unfinished (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24). He changes us “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18) and gradually shapes us to increasingly reflect His Son until the day we are fully glorified (Romans 8:30; 1 John 3:2). He is faithful when we are faithless (2 Timothy 2:11-13).

You can entrust yourself to God—His promises stand firm, and His work in you will not fail.

Closing

The world may have never been more anxious than it is today—and the problem seems to be getting worse, not better.

That’s certainly not for lack of trying. Every day, scientists, academics, and clinicians sift through data and theories as they search for the causes of anxiety and its solutions. But almost none view the real problem for what it really is: a spiritual problem that Christ offers freedom from, if we will only come to Him.

At its core, anxiety is an internal issue with roots in our hearts, which, because of our fallen and sinful nature, struggle to believe in God and have faith in His promises. When we can pinpoint our anxieties, view them in light of Scripture, confess our sinful fear for what it is, and entrust ourselves to the Lord for forgiveness and change, we change.

Some fears—like fear of the Lord, concern for others, and fight-or-flight in times of imminent danger—are permissible. But the kind of worry that lingers for months without end is one of two things: fear of man or fear of the future. And the Scriptures teach us not to do either. And as we grow in Christ and learn to battle our anxieties biblically, we can begin experience the truth of Isaiah 26:3-4:

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Bibliography

  1. American Psychiatric Association. “APA Healthy Minds Monthly Poll: Anxious Americans.” American Psychiatric Association, May 2024. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/healthy-minds-monthly.
  2. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association, 2013, 189.
  3. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association, 2013, 222.
  4. American Psychological Association. “Anxiety.” APA Dictionary of Psychology, https://dictionary.apa.org/anxiety.
  5. Mackie, Clay. “Battling Anxiety.” Sermon series, Timberlake Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA, June 18 and 24, 2023.
  6. National Institutes of Health. “NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools: Anxiety Research Funding, 2015–2024.” National Institutes of Health. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://report.nih.gov/funding/categorical-spending.
  7. Surís, R. Holliday, and C. S. North, “The Evolution of the Classification of Psychiatric Disorders,” Behavioral Sciences 6, no. 1 (2016): e8, https://doi.org/10.3390/bs6010008.
  8. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Outlook “Handbook: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors,” U.S. Department of Labor, 2025, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm

Author’s Note: This article draws structural and thematic influence from Clay Mackie’s two-part sermon series “Battling Anxiety,” delivered at Timberlake Baptist Church (Lynchburg, VA) on June 18 and 24, 2023. Several applications reflect his insights, while others represent the author’s own reflections and analysis.

All Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.