I know what it feels like to lay awake at night lost in thoughts of worry and fear. I have always known this feeling, but when my children came the feeling became so overpowering, that I spent countless hours crying for reasons I could not verbally explain. I want you to know that you are not alone in your thoughts, not because of me or anyone else who is also experiencing this weight and pain, but because of the great sacrifice our Lord made for us long ago.
The Bible teaches us “do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God” Philippians 4:6. This is obviously easier said than done. It takes time and practice. It takes surrendering to our God and truly living your life for him instead of yourself.
I have been so blessed to be surrounded by people who want to help me through times of struggle, but never as blessed as I am to feel Jesus’ presence when I find myself focusing more on the world than on him. It is okay to ask for help, and it is important to not sit with this weight alone.
I hope these prayers help you find sleep when anxiety is attacking. I have added a handful of scriptures at the bottom that have helped me in times of need. I want to encourage you to turn to the Bible when consumed with anxiety, instead of trying to carry this weight alone.
Below you find a handful of helpful bedtime prayers to help you manage your anxiety. Remember, that bedtime prayers are not just for teens and young children and they can be a powerful routine for adults as well.
Please leave any specific bedtime prayer for anxiety requests in the comments below.
Quick Bedtime Prayer for Anxiety:
Lord, I feel as if I am drowning. Father, take away this evil that is consuming me. Strip it from my body and replace it with your presence. Please fill my thoughts with joy and your grace, Lord. Grant me back my breath and my mind so that I can focus on you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Bedtime Prayer to Calm Anxiety:
Dear Lord, my anxiety is out of control. I feel as if there is nothing, I can do about it, Lord. The consumption of fear and angst is taking away my precious time. Father, I come to you begging for help. Please, Lord, grant me calmness instead of angst.
Father I ask that you take away the evil that is filling my mind and replace it with visions of what your love looks like. Your beautiful creation, Lord. Grant me the ability to push away the thoughts that are consuming me. Allow me to fill that space with an image that gives me tranquility.
Lord, I have chosen to live a life of faith in you, and I ask that you give me relief from this never-ending worry. Father, show me that you can grant my mind to be calming and soothing in a way that surrounds me with your love and rest. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Bedtime Prayer for Peace over Anxiety:
Dear Lord, the words that have filled my mind today are hateful and terrifying. What a world we are living in, Lord, where we can only hope for your return to save us.
Father, I need help letting go of these terrifying words and images. I need help letting go of the anger I am feeling over what has surrounded me today. I ask that you bring me peace instead.
Lord, help me remember the peace I feel when I am at church surrounded by your people. Help me remember the never-ending love that comes with that peace, Lord.
As I lay down tonight, Father I ask that you give me verses of peaceful promises. Remind me what is to come when you return instead of what has to happen for us to get there. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Bedtime Prayer for Quiet over Anxiety:
Dear Lord, today my anxiety has been overpoweringly loud. It is shouting at me, Father, to be afraid and overwhelmed in every aspect of my life. Father, I ask that you quiet the noise. I ask that you quiet the voice in my head that lists all of the things I should worry about or be afraid of.
I feel as though my life is surrounded by hateful noise father. It feeds my anxiety in a way I just cannot block out on my own. Lord, I know you are all powerful. I know you are with me and can take it away. Father, turn me to your word when the words in my head are winning. Help me remember that with you the quiet will come.
I ask that you give others this quiet as well, Lord. I ask that you take the devil from their heads and instead fill it with your never-ending promise of love. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Bedtime Prayer for Relief from Anxiety:
Father, I have spent all day taking the smallest of breaths to maintain my life. Lord, I need relief from this pressure. I need saved from the weight of stress and perfection that has built up this anxiety in me.
Lord, I ask that you release this pressure from my body. I ask that you completely empty my body from anything filling me with guilt. The pressure is too much for me on my own, Lord.
Thank you, Father, for granting me relief. Thank you for the tears that release the pressure built up inside of me. Lord, Grant me the ability to let it all go so that I can sleep in the lightness of you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Bedtime Prayer to Release Anxiety to Jesus:
Jesus you are our savior. You came to the earth in order to live a perfect life so we do not have to. You carried all of our sins on your back and died; wiping away our need to carry our own. Jesus, I am on my knees tonight to add to the weight you carry for me already.
Jesus, I need you to take the weight of anxiety I carry with me every day. I need you to bring it out of my life so that I can focus on you. I know this is the devil trying to keep me contained, Lord. I am begging you to free me of this pain. I know you can, and I believe in your great sacrifice that was needed to do so.
Jesus, please walk with me in my day-to-day life. Show me how to see you in everything that causes me anxiety. Teach me to choose your light instead of the fear and the weight. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Bedtime Prayer to Replace Anxiety with Joy:
Father, I am tired. I feel as though I spend my days filled with the anxiety of world, I have brought upon me. I want to block it out, Lord. I ask that you help me block out the negativity and fear that society wants me to be consumed by.
Lord, I ask that instead you fill my head with joy. I ask that you lighten my family as they fill my life. I ask that you help me hear the birds sing instead of the angry bystanders. I want to be happy and please lift the anxiety away.
Lord, your will is so important to me. I wish to tell others of what I am seeing. I pray that I can bring the joy you give me into other’s lives. Father, I know you are capable of anything. I ask that I be blessed by your hand tonight. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Bedtime Prayer to Overcome Panic Attacks:
Father, I know I cannot properly explain the feeling of being overcome by panic. I am still and quiet yet yelling for release on the inside. I find a small amount of grace in knowing that you know what I am feeling, Lord.
You gave us all a promise, Lord, to carry that weight of the world on your shoulders. This weight is too heavy for me to bear. My anxiety is well over the limit I can handle, Lord. Please take it away.
Please release me from this panic attack and grant me the feeling of gentle ease, Father. I need you, Lord, we both know sleep will not come until this ends. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Concluding Thoughts:
I want to fill your thoughts with bible verses we have been given to help us through our times of anxiety. Unfortunately, we are at constant war with the devil and the thoughts he gives us. I want to encourage you to save this page on your phone so that when the evil comes for you, you have a place to turn. Not only can you use the prayers above, but you can also use the following verses to give you strength and guidance:
Isaiah 34:4 “say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.'”
Timothy 1:7 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me”
Psalm 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Often Bible verses will speak to us, if you feel that one gives you more strength than the other, open your bible and read on from that passage. Our Lord did not leave us here alone, you can get through this with his strength!
Don’t forget to leave any specific bedtime prayers for anxiety requests in the comments below.
