Dutch 
English 
Arabic 
Spanish 
Portuguese 
Chinese 
Russian 
French 
Italian 
German 
Japanese Category 1: Finding Courage in God’s Abiding Presence
This set of verses grounds our courage not in our own strength, but in the unshakable reality that God is with us. Fear so often whispers that we are alone; these verses shout back that we are not.
Jesaja 41:10
"Vrees dus niet, want Ik ben met u; Wees niet ontsteld, want Ik ben uw God. Ik zal u sterken en u helpen, Ik zal u steunen met mijn rechtvaardige rechterhand.”
Reflectie: This is a profoundly stabilizing promise. Fear and anxiety are often rooted in a sense of personal inadequacy and isolation in the face of overwhelming threats. This verse addresses both. “I am with you” dissolves the lie of isolation. “I am your God” re-establishes our core identity and His covenant faithfulness. The promise to strengthen, help, and uphold speaks directly to our feeling of powerlessness. It’s an invitation to rest our full weight not on our own trembling legs, but on His steady, righteous, and capable grasp.
Jozua 1:9
"Heb ik u niet bevolen? Wees sterk en moedig. Wees niet bang; Wees niet ontmoedigd, want de HEERE, uw God, zal met u zijn, waar gij ook gaat.
Reflectie: The command to be strong and courageous is not a dismissal of our fear, but the foundation for it. It’s rooted in a fact: “the LORD your God will be with you.” Our courage doesn’t come from mustering up an internal feeling, but from a moral and spiritual realignment with the reality of His constant presence. It re-frames fear not as a feeling to be vanquished, but as a disorientation that is corrected by remembering who walks with us into every unknown territory of our lives.
Psalm 23:4
"Hoewel ik door het donkerste dal wandel, zal ik geen kwaad vrezen, want u bent met mij; uw stok en uw staf, zij troosten mij."
Reflectie: This verse offers profound realism. It doesn’t promise a life without “darkest valleys,” but it does promise fearless passage door them. The source of this fearlessness is the intimate presence of the Shepherd. The “rod” (for protection against predators) and “staff” (for guidance) are tangible symbols of His active care. It speaks to our deep need for a protector and a guide when we feel most vulnerable and lost, assuring us that we are never truly defenseless.
Deuteronomium 31:6
“Wees sterk en moedig. Wees niet bevreesd of bang voor hen, want de HEERE, uw God, gaat met u mee. Hij zal u nooit verlaten of in de steek laten.”
Reflectie: This verse directly addresses the fear of abandonment, which is one of our most primal anxieties. The promise is not just that God is with us now, but that His presence is permanent. He will nooit leave. This double promise—never leave, nor forsake—builds a foundation of secure attachment in the soul. It allows us to face external threats (“them”) without terror because our ultimate security is not dependent on circumstances, but on the unchanging character of a God who has bound Himself to us.
Category 2: The Practice of Surrendering Anxiety
Anxiety is an active, churning state. These verses provide an alternative, active process: the conscious act of handing our worries over to God, replacing the cycle of rumination with a rhythm of trust.
Filippenzen 4:6-7
"Wees nergens bezorgd over, maar stel in elke situatie, door gebed en petitie, met dankzegging, uw verzoeken aan God voor. En de vrede van God, die alle begrip te boven gaat, zal uw harten en geesten beschermen in Christus Jezus.”
Reflectie: This is a roadmap out of the vortex of anxiety. It is not a denial of our feelings but a redirection of our anxious energy. The instruction is specific: articulate your needs (prayer and petition), ground them in gratitude for what is already true (with thanksgiving), and then intentionally release them to God. The result is miraculous: a “peace that transcends understanding,” meaning it’s not contingent on our problems being solved. This peace then acts as a divine sentinel, guarding our emotional core (heart) and our thought life (mind) from the siege of anxiety.
1 Petrus 5:7
“Werp al je bezorgdheid op hem omdat hij om je geeft.”
Reflectie: The word “cast” is a vigorous action. It’s not a gentle placement, but a decisive heave. This verse gives us permission to take the full, crushing weight of our worries and hurl it onto the shoulders of One who is strong enough to bear it. The motivation provided is deeply personal and therapeutic: “because he cares for you.” Our anxieties are not a nuisance to God. He is not indifferent. He receives them because of His tender, personal affection for us. This truth disarms the shame that so often accompanies our worries.
Psalm 56:3
“Als ik bang ben, stel ik mijn vertrouwen in u.”
Reflectie: This is a model of honest, moment-by-moment faith. It doesn’t say “I am never afraid.” It says, “Wanneer I am afraid…” a statement that validates the experience of fear as a part of the human condition. The pivot is in the response. It is a conscious, volitional act: “I put my trust in you.” It is the soul’s decision to shift its gaze from the object of fear to the object of faith. It’s a simple, repeatable practice for re-centering our fearful hearts on God’s reliability.
Mattheüs 6:34
“Maak je dus geen zorgen over morgen, want morgen zal zich zorgen maken over zichzelf. Elke dag heeft genoeg eigen problemen.”
Reflectie: Jesus demonstrates a profound understanding of the mechanics of anxiety here. So much of our worry is “time-traveling”—projecting ourselves into a future we cannot control and trying to solve problems that have not yet occurred. He calls us back to the present moment, the only place we can actually live and act. By acknowledging that “each day has enough trouble,” He validates our present struggles. Yet He frees us from the exhausting and fruitless burden of carrying tomorrow’s potential troubles today.
Category 3: Receiving the Gift of Supernatural Peace
This peace, or “Shalom,” is more than the absence of conflict. It is a gift of wholeness, completeness, and tranquility that is actively bestowed by God.
Johannes 14:27
"Vrede ga ik met jullie mee; Mijn vrede geef ik je. Ik geef niet aan jou zoals de wereld geeft. Laat uw hart niet beroerd zijn en wees niet bevreesd.”
Reflectie: Jesus makes a crucial distinction here. The world’s “peace” is conditional—it depends on stable finances, good health, and the absence of conflict. It is fragile. The peace Christ gives is a gift of His own being, an internal state of settled wholeness that is independent of external circumstances. It is a peace that can be experienced in the midst of the storm. The command, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” is an invitation to actively receive and guard this supernatural gift against the encroachments of fear.
Jesaja 26:3
"Gij zult in volmaakte vrede degenen bewaren wier geest standvastig is, omdat zij op u vertrouwen."
Reflectie: This verse links our inner state of peace directly to the focus of our minds. The Hebrew for “perfect peace” is Shalom (stad)—an emphatic repetition signifying absolute wholeness and tranquility. This is promised to the one whose mind is “steadfast,” meaning fixed and anchored. When our minds are stayed on God—on His character, promises, and sovereignty—we are kept in His peace. Anxiety is often the result of a mind unmoored, drifting on a sea of “what-ifs.” Trust is the anchor that holds us steady.
Johannes 16:33
“Ik heb u deze dingen verteld, zodat u in mij vrede kunt hebben. In deze wereld zul je problemen hebben. Maar neem je hart! Ik heb de wereld overwonnen.”
Reflectie: Here, Jesus gives us a framework for resilient hope. He doesn’t gaslight us by denying the reality of pain; He states it plainly: “In this world you will have trouble.” This validation is crucial; it means our struggles are not a sign of God’s absence. But He immediately reframes that reality with a greater one. The peace is found in Hem, and the ultimate victory is already secured. “I have overcome the world” is the final word. It gives us the courage to “take heart,” knowing that our immediate troubles do not have the final say.
Psalm 4:8
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Reflectie: Sleep is often the first casualty of an anxious mind. This verse presents restful sleep as a profound act of faith. To lie down in peace is to consciously relinquish control for the night, entrusting our safety and our unconscious mind to God’s care. It is a declaration that our security does not come from our own vigilance, but from the Lord alone. It is a beautiful picture of the soul finding its true resting place in the safety of God’s watchfulness.
Category 4: Our Identity in Christ: Freedom from Fear
Fear is often tied to a false or wounded identity. These verses remind us that our identity in Christ—as beloved, adopted, and empowered children—fundamentally changes our relationship with fear.
2 Timotheüs 1:7
"Want de Geest die God ons heeft gegeven, maakt ons niet verlegen, maar geeft ons kracht, liefde en zelfdiscipline."
Reflectie: This verse contrasts two opposing internal states. The spirit of timidity or fear is characterized by shrinking back, cowardice, and a sense of being a victim. This, Paul says, is not from God. The Holy Spirit engineers a completely different character within us: “power” (the ability to act), “love” (the other-centered orientation that breaks self-preoccupation), and “self-discipline” (a sound, well-ordered mind that resists chaotic thinking). Freedom from fear is a byproduct of living into this new, Spirit-given nature.
Romeinen 8:15
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”
Reflectie: This passage draws a powerful contrast between the emotional posture of a slave and that of a beloved child. A slave lives in constant fear of the master’s wrath. But through the Spirit, we are given a new relational status: adoption. The cry “Abba, Father” is one of intimate, trusting, childlike dependence. Knowing we belong to a loving Father, not a demanding master, reframes our entire existence. It breaks the shackles of performance-based anxiety and allows us to live with the security of a child who knows they are unconditionally loved and safe at home.
1 Johannes 4:18
“Er is geen angst in de liefde. Maar volmaakte liefde verdrijft angst, want angst heeft te maken met straf. Wie vreest, wordt niet volmaakt in de liefde.”
Reflectie: This is one of the most profound psychological and theological statements in scripture. It identifies the core of much of our fear: a deep dread of judgment, condemnation, and ultimate rejection (“punishment”). The only force powerful enough to expel this deep-seated fear is a greater, opposing force: perfect love. To be “made perfect in love” means to be brought to a place of maturity where we are so convinced of God’s unconditional, accepting love for us that the fear of being cast out simply dissolves. It loses its power over our hearts.
Romeinen 8:38-39
"Want ik ben ervan overtuigd dat noch dood noch leven, noch engelen noch demonen, noch het heden noch de toekomst, noch enige macht, noch hoogte noch diepte, noch iets anders in de hele schepping, ons zal kunnen scheiden van de liefde van God die in Christus Jezus, onze Heer, is."
Reflectie: This is the ultimate security statement. Paul catalogs every conceivable source of human anxiety—death, the supernatural, the relentless passage of time, cosmic forces, every dimension of existence—and declares them all powerless against the tenacious love of God in Christ. This provides an unbreakable anchor for the soul. When we are convinced of this truth in our core, our fears are relativized. They may still exist, but they are dwarfed by the magnificent, all-encompassing reality of a love that will never, ever let us go.
Category 5: God as Our Unshakable Refuge
When the world feels chaotic and threatening, we have a deep human need for a safe place. These verses portray God Himself as that place of refuge and strength.
Psalm 27:1
"De HEER is mijn licht en mijn redding - voor wie zal ik vrezen? De HEER is de vesting van mijn leven, voor wie zal ik bang zijn?
Reflectie: This is a verse of defiant faith. It answers the question of fear before it can even take root. By declaring the Lord as “light,” it dispels the darkness of confusion and the unknown. By naming Him “salvation,” it answers the threat of destruction. By calling Him “stronghold,” it provides a fortress against attack. The rhetorical questions—”whom shall I fear?”—are not born of arrogance, but of a profound confidence in the all-sufficient character of God. It is a reorientation of the heart toward its true source of security.
Psalm 46:1-2
“God is onze toevlucht en kracht, een altijd aanwezige hulp in moeilijkheden. Daarom zullen wij niet vrezen, hoewel de aarde zal wijken en de bergen in het hart van de zee zullen vallen.
Reflectie: This Psalm imagines the most extreme possible chaos: the complete deconstruction of the known world. Even in the face of such cataclysmic upheaval, the psalmist declares, “we will not fear.” This is not a denial of reality, but a declaration of a greater reality. Our stability is not found in the stability of the earth, but in God Himself, who is our refuge, strength, and “ever-present help.” This verse invites us to find our footing on ground that can never be shaken, even when everything around us is giving way.
Psalm 34:4
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
Reflectie: This is a beautiful testimony of lived experience. It outlines a simple, powerful sequence: a seeking heart, a responsive God, and a resulting deliverance. It reminds us that faith is a dynamic relationship, not a static belief system. The deliverance “from all my fears” may not mean the removal of all threatening circumstances, but rather the freeing of the heart from the control of fear. God’s answer to our seeking calms the inner storm and liberates us from the tyranny of our anxieties.
Psalm 118:6
“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Reflectie: This is a verse that recalibrates our perception of threat. So much of our anxiety is relational—fear of what others will think, say, or do to us. The psalmist confronts this head-on by placing God’s presence on one side of the scale and the threat of “mere mortals” on the other. The comparison renders human threats almost insignificant. It is not a call to be reckless, but a call to live with a perspective of divine courage, knowing that our ultimate well-being is in the hands of God, not other people.
Category 6: Honest Acknowledgment and Divine Comfort
These verses are powerful because they don’t shy away from naming the painful reality of anxiety. They meet us in our struggle and offer God’s tangible comfort as the answer.
Psalm 94:19
"Toen de angst in mij groot was, bracht uw troost mij vreugde."
Reflectie: This is a verse for those who feel that their anxiety is not small or fleeting, but “great.” It offers immense validation. The psalmist doesn’t pretend the anxiety isn’t there; he names its magnitude. And into that space of great inner turmoil, God’s “consolation”—His comfort, His solace—enters. The result is not just the removal of anxiety, but its replacement with something far better: joy. It testifies that even in our most anxious moments, God’s presence can bring about a profound and joyful emotional reversal.
Mattheüs 6:25-26
"Daarom zeg ik u: maak u geen zorgen over uw leven, wat u zult eten of drinken; of over je lichaam, wat je zult dragen. Is het leven niet meer dan voedsel en het lichaam meer dan kleding? Kijk naar de vogels in de lucht. Zij zaaien niet, maaien niet en slaan niet op in schuren, en toch voedt uw hemelse Vader hen. Bent u niet veel waardevoller dan zij?”
Reflectie: Jesus addresses the most basic, elemental anxieties of human survival. He doesn’t dismiss them but reframes them. He invites us into a contemplative exercise: “Look at the birds.” He uses the visible, daily care of God for His creation as evidence for His invisible, constant care for us. The argument hinges on the question of value: “Are you not much more valuable?” This strikes at the heart of anxiety, which often whispers that we are forgotten and worthless. Jesus declares our immense worth to the Father as the foundational reason not to worry.
Spreuken 12:25
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word cheers it up.”
Reflectie: This piece of wisdom literature offers a simple but profound insight into the felt experience of anxiety. It is a “weight” on the heart, a heavy, oppressive burden that saps our strength and vitality. The verse beautifully captures this internal heaviness. And its remedy is equally simple and profound: “a kind word.” This can be a word from a friend, but in the context of scripture, it is ultimately the kind and gracious word of God. His promises, his comfort, and his assurances are the kind words that have the power to lift the crushing weight of anxiety from our souls.
Jesaja 43:1-2
“But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.’”
Reflectie: This is one of the most personal and intimate passages in all of Scripture. The basis for not fearing is a cascade of relational truths: God is our Creator, our Redeemer, and He knows us by name. The declaration “you are mine” is the ultimate statement of belonging, a powerful antidote to the fear of being lost or alone. Like Psalm 23, it doesn’t promise a life without trials (“waters” and “rivers”), but it promises God’s protective presence in het midden van hen, ensuring they will not overwhelm or destroy us.
