Experiencing stress about money is a common problem among many people living in America. A 2015 American Psychological Association (APA) Stress in America™: Paying With Our Health report notes results of their survey shows well over 70% of American noted emotional stress due to having money concerns and the percentages are within similar ranges across all regions (“East: 67 percent; Midwest: 63 percent; West: 60 percent; South: 66 percent”). The study highlighted the various sources of stress to include work, family responsibilities, and personal health concerns but money and finances was the highest at 64%. This article notes that stress about money has consistently remained a top concern for Americans since they began the APA surveys in 2007.
According to the report “women are more likely than men to report money (68 percent vs. 61 percent) and family responsibilities (55 percent vs. 39 percent) as very or somewhat significant sources of stress.” The study notes that women consistently report higher stress levels than men,”5.0 vs. 4.3 on a 10-point scale,” noting a significant degree of it is due to worrying about money and finances “68 percent vs. 61 percent” and they are having a very difficult time coping. It noted a high correlation of women reporting high financial stress demonstrated unhealthy coping behaviors (e.g. use of alcohol or limited physical activity) which led to other health problems (e.g. limited to no physical engagement and dependency on alcohol or cigarettes).
What Are Common Signs That You Are Experiencing Stress About Money?
- Frequently feeling overwhelmed, nervous, and fearful
- Constant negative thoughts about your finances and negative outcomes
- Irritability and anger contributing to increased relational conflicts
- Frequent nights of experiencing poor sleep
- Feeling down, depressed, sad
- Lack of motivation of completing necessary tasks
- Concentration issues negatively interfering with other roles
- Increased impatience
- Uncontrollable crying and tearfulness
- Constantly feeling tense, and on-edge with muscle aches
- Increasingly feeling ill (e.g. frequent headaches, colds) or exacerbation of other health problems
Ways To Manage The Stress About Money And Finances?
Whatever is causing you stress will not improve without you actively doing things to improve it. The key is focusing on implementing positive action steps that will improve the situation and have a positive impact in other areas of your life. A lot of the positive action steps for managing stress can also be used to manage worries about money. Keep in mind, it is best to practice strategies that takes care of both your inside and out.
- Openly acknowledge you’re feeling emotional stress
- Use your positive social supports to talk about it and gain healthy perspectives on ways to manage
- Engage in regular physical activity (e.g. going on walks, running, exercise)
- Eat healthy balanced meals to make sure you are consuming necessary nutrients
- Get to bed at a reasonable time to devote enough hours for quality sleep
- Engage in relaxing activities (e.g. getting body massage, bubble baths, listening to music)
- Educate yourself on effective money management skills
- Create or join a financial support group of people who can openly talk about money and learn positive strategies to improve
- Seek professional assistance through a good financial advisor and planner
- Maintain little to no debt
- Read the bible verses to help keep you anchored in God’s Word and effectively manage stress about money
16 Key Bible Verses To Help Manage Stress About Money
As a Christian woman, it is a positive and healthy practice to go to the Bible to meditate on God’s Word to help quiet the worrying, nervousness and negativity; to effectively manage emotional stress. Meditating on Bible scriptures will help calm nervousness and stress, to include whatever is related to money and difficult financial circumstances.
Also, bible verses can be a useful addition to your personal prayers with God. Take time to read the Bible and select key verses that creates positive feelings like hopefulness and peace about your circumstance, then continuously use them as a positive resource to mediate on during stressful moments. In doing so, you will affirm yourself in God’s Word and promises as well as effectively use the bible verses to further express your desires to God. It will grow your faith and confidence that God will listen and give you whatever is for your good and according to His will.
John 15: 7:
“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” (New Living Translation)
Prayer using the Bible verse: God, I believe in you and your Word. As it is written, I am granted permission to ask for anything I want and that it will be given to me. I ask for your help with releasing stress about money.
Jeremiah 33:2-3
“This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’ (Message Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: Heavenly Father, you are my God. I believe you made the universe and everything in it. I am your child, calling to you for help. Help me figure out how to manage my stress about money and the other problems I’m facing.
1 John 5:14-15
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” (New International Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: God, I am confidently coming before Your requesting your help in managing my stress and financial worries. I know that you hear me, that you are already working everything for my good and I will have what I’m asking of You.
Psalm 37:4
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (New International Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: Lord, I will always take delight in you. Thank you in advance for giving me the desires of my heart, effectively managing my money and stress.”
James 2:14-17
“My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show you really do have faith? Can this kind of faith save you? If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, you shouldn’t just say ‘I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.’ What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!” (Contemporary English Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: Lord, I have faith in You. I pray you can help me engage in actions that shows that I truly have faith. Please, help me to do good deeds for myself and others as I am the good and challenging moments of life. With your help, I will take bold actions of faith that will improve my life stressors and money problems, as well as support others in need.
Psalms 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (New Living Translation)
Prayer using the Bible verse: God, I am choosing to use Your Word as a guiding light to show me the right paths and help me take necessary action steps to manage my stress about money.
1 Peter 5:6-7
“Be humble in the presence of God’s might power, and he will honor you when the time comes. God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” (Contemporary English Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: God, I humbly come before you. Thank you for caring for me and taking on all of my stress. I am turning all of my worries over to you.
Isaiah 41:10
“Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories.” (Contemporary English Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: Thank you Lord for being my Father. I am giving you my fear. Thank your for making me strong and giving me your protection. Thank you for helping me be victorious over my stress and financial concerns.
John 14:26-27
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (New International Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: My Father in heave. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that teaches me all things and reminds me of everything that is Your biblical Truth. Thank you for removing my fears and working on my troubles. Thank you for your peace. In Jesus name I pray.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (New Living Translation)
Prayer using the Bible verse: Father, thank you for taking on my heavy burdens and giving me rest. I ask for your guidance and accept your teachings.
Matthew 6:31-34
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (New International Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: God, I will not worry about the mundane day-to-day stuff knowing that You are with me and will give all of my needs. I am remaining present, putting You first in my life and maintaining confident that all of my desires will be given if it is your will.
Philippians 4:6-7
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (New Living Translation)
Prayer using the Bible verse: My Father in heaven, I am coming before you in pray to lay down all of my worries. I thank you for all that you have done for me, what I know of and those I am not aware of. I need your help with managing this stress and improving my finances. Please, guard my heart and mind. Please give me your supernatural peace as I experience life.
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, ‘I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,’ we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?” (Message Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: Thank you Lord for being at the ready to offer your help. Through You, I am fearless no matter what I am experiencing in life. No person or situation can shake me or get to me. I give you all of my worries and stress.
Psalm 56:3
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (New International Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: God, I am feeling afraid. I am putting my trust in you to help me ease this fear, have it be released and blessing me with your peace and provisions. In Jesus name I pray.
Philippians 4:13
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (New Living Translation)
Prayer using the Bible verse: I can do everything through Christ who give me strength. Thank you God for your Holy Spirit and the strength you’re giving me as I’m going through this stressful period.
Galatians 5:22-23
“God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faith, gentle, and self controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” (Contemporary English Version)
Prayer using the Bible verse: God, your word clearly states the Spirit within me helps me be loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. I ask for your guidance and support to help me truly step into the truth of your Holy Spirit within me.
So, ask yourself:
What aspects of my financial life is creating stress?
What bible verses will I use to help me anchor in God’s Word about money and stress?
How will I continue to practice healthy coping behaviors to help manage stress?
