By Hal Pickus · · 4 min read
Short prayers for anxiety you can actually pray
Anxiety doesn't wait for a quiet moment. It shows up in the pickup line, at 2 a.m., in the middle of a normal Tuesday. When it does, you usually don't have ten minutes and a candle — you have about thirty seconds and a tight chest. These prayers are for that.
Keep them short on purpose. You can pray any of them under your breath, in the car, with your eyes wide open.
When your thoughts are racing
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19
A prayer
Lord, my mind won't stop. Quiet the noise for a minute. Let your comfort be louder than my thoughts. Amen.
When you're carrying too much
Peter writes one of the most practical sentences in the Bible for an anxious person. It's almost a physical instruction — cast it, throw it, hand it over.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7
A prayer
Father, I'm handing you the thing I keep gripping: ______. I can't hold it and live at the same time. It's yours now. Thank you that you care about it even more than I do. Amen.
When you need to come back to the present
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7
Notice the order: you bring the request, and the peace comes after — and it doesn't always make sense. "Passeth all understanding" means you might feel calm before anything about the situation changes. That's not denial. That's the gift.
A prayer
God, instead of turning this over in my head one more time, I'm telling you about it. Here's what I need: ______. And here's one thing I'm thankful for anyway: ______. Would you guard my heart and my mind right now? Amen.
When you're just worn out
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
A prayer
Jesus, I'm tired. You said to come to you when I'm worn out, so I'm coming. I don't have a speech. I just need rest. Amen.
If the anxiety doesn't lift
Sometimes you pray and the feeling stays. That doesn't mean the prayer didn't work, and it doesn't mean your faith is too small. Anxiety can be a spiritual thing and a body thing at the same time — and God isn't offended when you also talk to a doctor or a counselor. Keep praying the short prayers. Keep breathing. And don't carry it by yourself.
If your thoughts are loud tonight, write down the one that's heaviest and let some real people pray over it with you. You don't have to explain it well. You just have to say it.