How many times is worry mentioned in the Bible? (What does the Bible say about worry?)

As a born-again Christian, I have always trusted that everything is under God’s control. But even as a pastor, I sometimes worry about life or situations. So if worry is part of life, how should I overcome it? During our weekly Bible study, I sought to answer this question. I suggested that we discuss it but before we got into it, we opened our session with the question, “How many times is worry mentioned in the Bible?”

In this article, I invite you to join me as we dig deeper into what the Bible says about worry. Keep reading to discover how the Bible defines worry, examples of worry in the Bible, and so much more.

How Does the Bible Define Worry?

According to the Bible, worry is a distraction that prevents believers from focusing on God.

In Mathew 6:33 as Jesus talks about not worrying, he says that believers should seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. All other things will be added to them because God will provide. This suggests that worry distracts believers as they concentrate on their problems instead of focusing on God. It prevents them from doing God’s will.

What does the Bible say about worry?

The Bible says that believers should not worry about anything. When they give God their worries, they will receive peace that will guide their minds and hearts. It also encourages believers not to worry about tomorrow and to live in the present. According to the Bible, worry implies a lack of faith.

According to Philippians 4:6-7, Paul encourages the Philippians not to worry about anything. In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, they should make their requests to God. When they do this, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard their hearts and minds in Jesus. This suggests that believers should not worry about anything. God will provide all their needs.

In Mathew 6:25-34, Jesus tells His followers not to worry about life, what they will eat, drink, or wear. Just as God feeds the birds in the air, He will provide for His people. He encourages them not to worry about tomorrow because it will not add even an hour to their life span. In Mathew 6:11, Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer where He says “Give us this day our daily bread”. This suggests that believers should not worry about tomorrow because God will sustain them.

In Mathew 6:25-34, Jesus says that believers should not worry about anything because God will provide. This implies that worry shows a lack of faith in God and His ability to sustain.

Examples of worry in the Bible

1. In 1 Samuel 9:20, Samuel assures Saul not to worry about his father’s donkeys because they had been found. Saul was looking for them when he approached Samuel.
2. According to Mathew 6:28, Jesus wonders why His followers are worried about clothes. If God clothes the grass of the field, would He not clothe His people?
3. In Mathew 6:31, Jesus reassures His followers not to worry about their basic needs.
4. In Mathew 6:34, Jesus tells His followers not to worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself.
5. According to Mathew 10:19, Jesus sent His disciples to drive out impure spirits and heal diseases. He told them not to worry about what to say if they got arrested during their ministry. God’s Spirit would speak through them.
6. In Mark 13:11, Jesus told His disciples to stay on their guard and continue preaching the gospel when they asked about signs of the end times. He told them not to worry about what to say if they got arrested, the Holy Spirit would speak through them.
7. According to Luke 12:11, Jesus told His disciples not to worry about how to defend themselves or what to say before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities. The Holy Spirit would guide them.
8. In Luke 12:22, Jesus tells His disciples not to worry about life, what they would eat, drink or wear.
9. In Luke 12:25, Jesus tells His disciples that they cannot add a single hour to their lives by worrying.
10. In Luke 21:14, Jesus tells His disciples not to worry about how to defend themselves when they get seized and prosecuted. He would give them words and wisdom.

When does worry appear first in the Bible?

Worry first appears in 1 Samuel 9:5. Saul told a servant that Kish, his father, would be worried.

Saul did not want his father Kish to be worried. Kish had sent him out with a servant to look for his lost donkeys. When Saul saw that they had gone very far in the district of Zuph, he told the servant that they should go back before Kish started worrying. He would stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about them. This implies that worry is a distraction. Kish would no longer be able to focus on his donkeys but would be consumed by thoughts about his son and the servant.

How to overcome worry according to the Bible

According to the Bible, we should overcome worry by casting our burdens on God.

In 1 Peter 5:7, Simon Peter tells the believers to cast all their worries on God because He cares for them. This implies that God cares for His people and wants them to overcome worry by giving Him all their problems and concerns. Believers can overcome worry by focusing less on themselves and looking to God. According to Mathew 11:28-30, Jesus tells His believers to go to Him with their worry, He will give them rest. This implies that Jesus can relieve worry.