Bible verses about stress
Exodus 18:17-18, Psalm 61:2 and 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 are good Bible verses about stress, written by people under real pressure. They cover a leader carrying too much, a man calling out from far away, and Paul describing being squeezed on every side. All of them are below in full.
Free to read, no account. Last updated November 9, 2026. Scripture: King James Version and World English Bible (public domain).
1.Exodus 18:17-18
And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
In the World English Bible
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.
Moses's father in law watched him work from morning to night and said it wasn't sustainable. Stress has a practical side.
2.Psalm 61:2
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
In the World English Bible
From the end of the earth, I will call to you when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Written by someone who felt far from home and close to the end of himself. He asks to be led somewhere higher and safer.
3.2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
In the World English Bible
We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;
Paul lists the pressure he lived under, and next to each one a limit on what it could do to him.
4.Psalm 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
In the World English Bible
Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
Written by a man who had been betrayed. Hand the weight to the Lord, and he will hold you up.
5.Psalm 18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
In the World English Bible
In my distress I called on the LORD, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears.
David called out in distress and says his voice reached God's ear. The prayer didn't need to be polished.
6.Psalm 142:3
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
In the World English Bible
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
This one admits being overwhelmed and says God knew the path anyway. Honest about being at the end of your rope.
7.Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
In the World English Bible
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.
God is good, a safe place on a bad day, and aware of who runs to him. Short enough to remember in a rush.
8.Psalm 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
In the World English Bible
Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
God invites people to call him on a day of trouble. It makes asking for help the first step.
9.Psalm 25:17
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
In the World English Bible
The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.
The writer says his troubles keep growing, then asks to be brought out of them. A plain prayer for a crowded head.
10.Psalm 120:1
In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
In the World English Bible
In my distress, I cried to the LORD. He answered me.
The opening line of a song for travelers. When distress hits, the writer's first move is to cry out to the Lord.
11.Psalm 118:5
I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
In the World English Bible
Out of my distress, I called on the LORD. The LORD answered me with freedom.
A man looked back on a tight spot and remembered calling on God. The answer came in the form of open space.
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Read today's verseQuestions
What is a good Bible verse about stress?
Exodus 18:17-18 is a good place to start. Moses's father in law watched him work from morning to night and said it wasn't sustainable. Stress has a practical side.
What does the Bible say about being overwhelmed?
Psalm 142:3 and Psalm 61:2 are both prayers from people who were overwhelmed, and neither one cleans it up. Psalm 55:22 is a man handing a heavy load to God. The Bible makes plenty of room for saying out loud that it's too much.
Is there a Bible verse for a stressful day at work?
Exodus 18:17-18 is about a leader doing too much, and the fix there was sharing the load. Psalm 50:15 and Psalm 118:5 are short enough to say between tasks. Psalm 55:22 is a good one to read when the weight feels like yours alone.
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Made by Lamplight, a small Sarvixo product. Notes on each verse are ours, written with AI tools and checked against the passage. The verses are printed exactly as published.