When Anxiety Shows Up in the Mind

Anxiety often takes root in the mind. The body may carry tension, but the mind is where the spiral begins. Racing thoughts, endless “what ifs,” and mental rehearsals of conversations or problems are all signs that anxious feelings are shaping your thoughts. It can feel like a loop you cannot shut off.

Maybe you have replayed a conversation, wondering if you said the wrong thing. Or perhaps you lie awake imagining every possible outcome of tomorrow’s meeting, only to end up exhausted before the day even arrives. This is how anxiety works in the mind — it convinces you that worry can somehow prepare you for what comes next.

But God’s Word offers a better promise. Isaiah says that He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast and fixed on Him. Peace does not come from solving every “what if.” It comes from anchoring your thoughts in the trust that God is faithful, no matter the outcome. The truth is, you cannot think your way into peace by running through scenarios or trying to control outcomes. Peace is a gift God gives when you choose to set your mind on Him instead of on the storm. A steadfast mind is not a mind that never has a stray thought, but one that keeps returning to God as the anchor. When the “what ifs” rise, peace comes from reminding yourself, “Even if I do not know what tomorrow holds, I know the One who does.”

Prayer:
Lord, You know how easily my thoughts can spiral into anxious loops. Teach me to fix my mind on You, to trust Your faithfulness, and to receive the peace You have promised.

Daily Challenge:
When “what if” thoughts rise today, stop and replace one of them with a truth from God’s Word. Write it down and speak it aloud, declaring peace over your mind.