Bible Verses for Anxious Mamas

Hi Mamas,

I don’t know about you, but there are times when my anxiety skyrockets when I think about my daughter, and that’s saying something because I don’t consider myself a particularly anxious person. That definitely changed when I found out I was pregnant with her. At first, I was anxious about the pregnancy itself and her development. I was afraid of miscarrying. I worried we’d have complications before reaching week 24. I feared she wouldn’t develop properly in mind or body. The fears just kept stacking. Suddenly, I was carrying so much worry on my shoulders. All I wanted was for my daughter to be happy, healthy, and fully developed.

I think I prayed more during those nine months than I had in my entire life up until that point. And I was raised in a Christian home where prayer was part of everyday life. I went to a private Christian school and later a Christian university. But even with all that spiritual foundation, I can say with certainty that I prayed more during my pregnancy than I ever had before.

I had never prayed such structured prayers until then. Now I find myself continuing that pattern when I pray over my daughter each night as she sleeps in her crib. Sometimes the structure feels a little formal, but it is mine, and it helps me feel grounded. I do not believe for a second that God would ever say, “That prayer is too repetitive, too structured, so it’s not sincere.” Can you imagine God saying anything like that? I can’t.

Here is what my prayer sounded like while I was pregnant:

Heavenly Father,
Please watch over my daughter. Send Your guardian angels to guard and protect her, and me, as I carry her. Help her to grow according to Your will and design. Let her grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Give her ten beautiful little fingers and toes, two perfect little eyes, a perfect little nose. Let her internal organs develop correctly and her heart grow and beat strongly and surely. Let her mind be sharp and vibrant. Fill her with curiosity, intelligence, adventure, and a deep love for You.
Father, please calm my stress and anxiety. Help me make the right choices for my health. Guide me to the right vitamins and nutrients to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Help me to get enough sleep and stay active throughout the pregnancy. And please, Lord, give me a safe and healthy labor and delivery. Guide the doctors and nurses who are caring for me, both during my labor and delivery, and throughout the months leading up to it.
Thank You for another day of growth, health, and life. Thank You for the love and support that surrounds me. Thank You for the ability to learn and make informed decisions. And thank You for being my constant source of love, guidance, and protection.
Amen.

I prayed that prayer, or something similar to it, almost every single day of my pregnancy. My husband and I would pray together before bed, although there were many nights when I felt so overwhelmed that I would ask him to pray over me instead. Then, our daughter was born. She was everything I had prayed for. Healthy. Beautiful. Whole. I could not praise or thank God enough.

Naturally, the fears I had during my pregnancy followed me into motherhood. Although now those fears looked a little different. I was afraid of sleeping through some terrible emergency. I was afraid something might happen to her while I wasn't watching. I was afraid of everything and anything that might harm her. My stress and anxiety only seemed to grow. So I did the one thing that helped before. I created another structured prayer.

Each night, I lean over her crib or pray quietly while nursing her to sleep, and I pray these words:

Heavenly Father,
Please send Your guardian angels to guard and protect my daughter. Keep her safe, healthy, and strong. Protect her from all sickness, illness, and disease. Keep her safe from all disaster, whether natural, manmade, or otherwise. Protect her from all evil influence. Help my husband and I to become clear and convicted on what evil influence looks like, so we can help guard against bringing it into our home, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
Please fill her life with love and laughter, joy and happiness, kindness and gratitude, empathy and compassion, purpose and passion, adventure and excitement. Let her wear the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and the shoes of the gospel. Let her carry the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith. Fill her with honor, integrity, wisdom, and grace.
Please guide her in every step she takes. Let her turn to You first in all things, and then to her father and me. And when she comes to us, let us always point her back to You. Let her fall in love with You and seek You with her whole heart. Give her a life that is big and bold and beautiful. Bless her with financial abundance, a meaningful career, and a family that is rooted in Your truth. Let her husband love You and walk closely with You. Let him love and cherish my daughter. Please bless their marriage. Guide them always. Let them have a joyful, long, and meaningful life together.
Please help her sleep soundly through the night. Keep her airways clear and functioning. Keep her lungs, kidneys, intestines, liver, and all her internal organs healthy and strong. Keep her heart beating stong and steady. Let her continue to grow according to Your design and purpose for her life.
Father, please take away my fear, stress, anxiety, and worry. Replace them with peace, calm, trust, and faith. Help me to rest in the knowledge that You love her even more than I do, and You will always be watching over her.
Thank You, Lord, for the greatest gift I’ve ever received: the gift of being her mama. Thank You for trusting me with this sacred role. Thank You for all the time I have had with her. Thank You for her smiles, her laughs, her little voice, and her sweet cuddles. Thank You that she feels secure enough to speak her mind and share her heart. Thank You for her curiosity, her intelligence, and her zest for life.
Amen.

Praying this prayer over my daughter each night has brought me comfort again and again. It helps. But there are also times when speaking a verse of Scripture out loud brings me even more peace. There is something about reading the Bible that feels like God is speaking directly to me. These verses in particular have helped me in this season of motherhood. I hope they offer the same encouragement to you.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Matthew 11:28 – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
Romans 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you found these verses helpful, I created a list of 20 Bible verses to encourage your heart as a mother. You can download it here for free.

Even though I’m still very new to motherhood, my daughter is barely a year old, I can say with confidence that these prayers and verses have been powerful tools for my heart. I even had the boldness to ask God to assign not just one, but two guardian angels to watch over her. I have no idea if that’s even a thing, but I figured it didn’t hurt to ask. Sometimes I feel like the same rule that applies to life, applies to prayer. You miss one hundred percent of the prayers you don’t pray. So I’m going to ask boldly. I’d rather be told no than not ask at all and miss a blessing meant for my daughter.

A few other things have helped me lower my stress and anxiety levels as a mom. One of the biggest is getting outside, even if it’s just for a short walk. Whether I go alone or with my daughter, I find that fresh air and sunshine make a big difference. It’s part of the reason I make time to hike at least once a week and aim for three hours outside every day. Not only does it help regulate my mood and calm my nerves, but it also keeps the house from getting messy while we’re out. Less mess means less cleanup, which helps my evenings feel more peaceful.

Speaking of a peaceful house, I’m someone who has a hard time relaxing if the space around me is cluttered. Most nights, I pick up the house before I unwind with a book, a bath, or a little writing. That evening clean-up helps set the tone for the next day. I’ve even started involving my daughter. I know she’s young, but she’s already beginning to help me clean up her toys at the end of the day. She loves music, so I sing a “cleaning song” while we pick things up. I try to smile and make it fun. She usually jumps in to help. Someone once referred to this as the “Blessing Hour,” a time when the whole family works together to bless the home. I love that idea. It may not take us a full hour, but I am trying to carry that spirit into our rhythm.

Another thing that makes a difference is writing in my Gratitude Journal. I used to write down three things I was grateful for at the beginning of each day. It helped shift my mindset and grounded me in positivity before the day even started. I am working to get back into that habit because I noticed a huge change when I did it consistently. It really is true that what you focus on grows. If I focus on gratitude, gratitude grows. If I focus on stress and anxiety, those things grow too. I know which one I want more of.

Mama, I would love to hear what has helped you in your motherhood journey. How do you manage stress and anxiety? I am always learning and growing, and I believe the more we share with one another, the stronger we become.

You are not alone in this. You are doing an incredible job. You are seen, loved, and supported. And most importantly, you have a Heavenly Father who cares deeply about both you and your child. Keep turning to Him. Keep praying those bold prayers. Keep showing up with love. You were chosen to be your child’s mama for a reason. You can do this.

And remember, even in the messy moments, even in the tired tears, you are still enough. You are still doing holy work. So breathe deep, say a prayer, and take it one moment at a time.

You’ve got this, Mama!