Bible Verses About Worry

Barnes explains that "thought" originally meant "anxiety" and warns against anxiety that becomes "supreme concern," distinguishing between proper thinking about future needs and harmful anxiety: "See the fowls of the air... They have no anxiety about the supply of their wants... yet how few die with hunger!"

Matthew Henry warns against "disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life" and recommends: "Thoughtfulness for our souls is the best cure of thoughtfulness for the world." Gill forbids not "labour to maintain" life but warns against "anxious, immoderate, perplexing, and distressing thoughts" that are "dishonourable to God" and "uncomfortable to men."

Benson clarifies that Jesus distinguishes between prudent planning and "anxious solicitude" that "prevents our receiving or... increasing in the love of God" (BibleHub Commentaries).

Barnes urges believers to "Be not anxious about worldly matters" but maintain "such confidence in God as to free the mind from anxiety." Regarding the peace, he notes it "surpasses all that people had conceived or imagined" - a peace "nowhere else known" with believers "guarded as a camp or castle" from anxious fears.

Matthew Henry distinguishes between "a care of diligence" which is good, and "a care of fear and distrust, which is sin and folly" that only "perplexes and distracts the mind." Gill warns against "an anxious solicitude for worldly things" arising from "diffidence... of the power, providence, and faithfulness of God."

MacLaren provides profound context noting Paul, writing as a prisoner facing potential death, encourages believers to "be careful for nothing." Bengel offers the memorable metaphor: "Care and prayer are more opposed to one another than fire and water" (BibleHub Commentaries).

Barnes emphasizes "We are to commit our whole cause to him" during trials, loss, and challenges, assuring believers God will "enable us to sustain what is laid upon us." Matthew Henry describes anxieties as "burdensome" and potentially "sinful," recommending "cast[ing] our care upon God" and leaving "every event to his wise and gracious disposal," suggesting firm belief in God's will "calms the spirit of a man."

Gill encourages casting both "care of the body" and "care of the soul" onto God, emphasizing God "will not suffer them to want, nor withhold any good thing," highlighting God's comprehensive care for believers' physical and spiritual needs. Poole describes care as a burden that can "cut and divide your hearts" and affirms that "God concerns himself in the affairs of his servants" with diligent care to ensure "no good thing be wanting" (BibleHub Commentaries).

Matthew Henry warns against "disquieting, perplexing cares" and encourages "cast[ing] our care upon God," suggesting "an eager, anxious pursuit of worldly things... ill becomes the disciples of Christ." Gill notes ravens are "fowls of very little worth, and disregarded by men" yet God provides for them, quoting a Jewish notion that young ravens "cry to God" when abandoned.

Matthew Poole distinguishes between "moderate, prudent thoughtfulness" and harmful anxiety, identifying forbidden thoughtfulness as distrustful thinking, distracting cares, and thoughtfulness inconsistent with "seeking first the kingdom of God." MacLaren describes anxiety as "self-consuming care" that "disables from exercising" prudent foresight, observing "How lovingly Jesus looked on all creatures, and how clearly He saw everywhere God's hand at work!"

Luther famously noted: "God spends every year in feeding sparrows more than the revenues of the King of France" (BibleHub Commentaries).

Barnes advises "Commit your way to God. The evil, the trouble, the anxiety of each day as it comes, is sufficient without perplexing the mind with restless cares about another day."

Matthew Henry counsels "Take no thought for your life... not about the length of it; but refer it to God to lengthen or shorten it as he pleases." Gill wisely notes "Do not distress thyself with tomorrow's affliction, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

Benson observes "Every time has abundant necessary troubles of its own; so that it is foolish to increase present distresses by anticipating those that are to come." This verse teaches the principle of living one day at a time, recognizing that borrowing tomorrow's troubles only doubles today's burden without providing any solution (BibleHub Commentaries).

Barnes explains "Cast thy burden upon Jehovah... what he has assigned to thee as thy portion... receive the allotment as coming from him." Matthew Henry notes "The burden of afflictions is very heavy...

The only relief under it is to look to Christ, who bore it." Gill instructs to "acknowledge them as coming from him; wait the removal of them in his time; desire a sanctified use of them."

Benson encourages "Whatever affliction God sendeth to thee... lay upon the shoulders of the Almighty by faith and prayer, with a confident expectation of a good issue." This psalm teaches the active practice of transferring our burdens to God, not as escapism but as an act of faith in His sovereign care (BibleHub Commentaries).

Barnes notes trusting in God means rising "out of all our anxieties and plans and fears when we think of ourselves as the arbiters of our own fortunes." On acknowledging God, he emphasizes "Not in acts of solemn worship or great crises only, but 'in all thy ways.'"

Matthew Henry states we must "trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to do what is best." Those who know themselves find their "own understandings a broken reed."

Gill explains trust should be "cordial and sincere" - not just surface-level profession, and acknowledging means to "Set him before thee; have him always in view," consulting Scripture and seeking God's advice. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown calls this the "center and marrow of true wisdom" with a positive duty of trust and warning against self-confidence (BibleHub Commentaries).

Barnes indicates "the mind that has confidence in God shall not be agitated by the trials to which it shall be subject" - emphasizing peace amid life's challenges. Matthew Henry highlights that this peace is "peace with God and peace of conscience" and encourages trusting God for "peace at all times, in all events."

Gill describes the peace as "peace with God in Christ" and notes the Hebrew repetition of "peace, peace" (shalom shalom) signifies "the certainty of it, the enjoyment of it, and the constancy and continuance of it." MacLaren offers a profound metaphor: Trust is like "leaning upon some strong staff" where one can find stability by placing "the whole weight of ourselves upon the loving strength of Jehovah."

This verse promises supernatural peace as the reward for fixed trust in God (BibleHub Commentaries).