Dear brother or sister,

I know you feel stressed and anxious. You feel like the whole world rests on your shoulders, and if you drop one task, the weight will shift and coming crashing down on you. The stress has built up inside of you to where you feel like you cannot even breathe anymore. You feel tired, more like exhausted, but not the kind that sleep can fix (like you’re getting much of that anyways). You feel emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually drained.

Well, I have a few reminders for you, Beloved.

You don’t have to handle all of this on your own. Your Heavenly Father is right there waiting for you to turn to Him, so He can take the overbearing weight off of your shoulders. All you have to do is ask. Ask and you shall receive. God wants to be your stronghold. He wants to be able to calm this immense storm inside of you.

He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed (Psalm 107:29).

Below is a list of Scripture references for my fellow stressed and anxious. Please read these and let the words sink in:

1. I want you to be free from anxieties (1 Corinthians 7:32).

2. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life (Matthew 6:25).

3. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself (Matthew 6:33-34).

4. Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

5. Say to those with an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance with the recompense of God. He will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:4).

6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

7. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

8. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1: 2-4).

9. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27).

10. The God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (Romans 16:20).

11. When the consolations of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul (Psalm 94:19).

12. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established (Proverbs 16:3).

13. Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:5-6)

14. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good (Romans 8:28).

15. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11: 28-30).

16. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

17. Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22).

18. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers. they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you (Isaiah 43:2).

I hope you hold tightly to God’s truth in these trying times.