Worship: An Antidote to Anxiety

I don’t know about you, but when I’m struggling with feelings of anxiety or fear, worship is the last thing on my mind. Anxiety is something God’s people have struggled with for a long time with God’s Word on the topics of fear, worry and anxiety going back nearly as far as fear itself. One way that God draws our wandering hearts back to himself is through the gift of musical worship. Sometimes, when I feel too anxious, fearful or worried to read my Bible or find the words to pray, listening to God’s life-giving, truth-speaking, peace-giving Word that stands up against the lies of the fear-inducing Enemy, is the blessing of peace and calm my soul needs. My circumstances may not change, a loss may still exist, uncertainty from a human perspective may still be present, but the Word of the Prince of Peace who loves me, is for me, and ever eager to fill me with His peace gives rest to my soul (Isaiah 26:3). Click here for Scripture passages on anxiety.

Below is a list of songs that speak to the worried, fearful and anxious hearts. These are songs inspired by the Word, meant to help us set our eyes on Him, not on our circumstances. Let us put on our helmet of salvation and let God’s Word through song transform our minds so that we are not overcome by our anxieties. Below that is a YouTube playlist, a single link where all the songs will play one after the other. What songs has God used to minister to your soul in the depths of anxiety? What would you add to this list?

What a Beautiful Name It Is, Hillsong United

Wait/Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, By the Tree

Lord I Need You, Lauren Daigle

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Lauren Chandler

-This Is Amazing Grace, Phil Wickam

In Christ Alone, Passion Conference

Your Great Name, Natalie Grant

It Is Well, Audrey Assad

Glorious Day, Passion featuring Kristian Stanfill

 

Worship Songs for When I Am Anxious

4 Comments
  • Joy Gould
    February 2, 2018

    Here’s the songs that speak to me:
    Jesus Loves Me, This I know
    Amazing Grace (especially Judy Collins’ solo, acapella version)
    Isn’t He Wonderful
    Precious Name
    Jesus Saves
    Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
    All things Bright and Beautiful
    Great is Thy Faithfulness
    Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine
    Me and Jesus, We’ve Got Our Own Thing Goin’ (a country style song way outside my usual preferred music style)

    • RobinBarnes
      February 2, 2018

      Thanks for sharing your list! Here’s another hymn that has been a “life song” for me, especially during my childhood and teen years.
      A Mighty Fortress is our God, especially Sheila Walsh’s version, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_9eWkS19kc

  • Melissa
    February 2, 2018

    Audrey Assad, Lead Me On and pretty much ANYTHING else by her
    Matt Maher, Your Love Defends Me and Rest

    • RobinBarnes
      February 16, 2018

      Great choices! Thanks for sharing Melissa.