5 Uplifting Prayers to Have Faith in Seasons of Hardship
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He was desperate. Having brought his son to the disciples, he thought the boy would be healed. Yet they had done nothing. The demon continued to inflict his son with troubles he had been experiencing for years – convulsing, foaming at the mouth, being thrown into fire and water (Mark 9:17-18, 21-22). If these disciples could not drive away the spirit, who could? This father was losing hope.
The popular saying, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” could have an equivalent among churches: “what doesn’t kill you makes your faith stronger.” But this is often a cliché for a reason. Sometimes seasons of hardship draw us closer to the Lord; other times they do not. Sometimes, they break us.
The good news is that the Savior can still work in those moments, even when we feel that we have hit the lowest point of our lives life and hope has fled. He is the Lord that David described as having pulled him out of a miry pit (Psalm 40:2). This is the same God who promises to be with the brokenhearted and lift those who have fallen (Psalm 34:18). He knows what it is like to feel abandoned to painful circumstances, for He endured the worst pain and separation on the cross (Matthew 27:46).
So, perhaps our immediate response to hardship should not be to pull up our bootstraps and muster up the courage we lack. Instead, we can acknowledge our inability and brokenness, looking to the Lord to supply His strength during times of weakness. Like the man at wit’s end because of his demon-possessed child, we can declare to Jesus: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
The following five prayers help us express this need to our Lord. May we use them to strengthen our faith and cling to hope when life seems dark.
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1. A Prayer of Lament
So much is wrong, O Lord. I hear the reports from afar of destruction and loss, and my heart breaks. How can it get worse after everything that has happened? For the trouble does not stay a report; it impacts families and friends. Even here, in my life, the trouble creeps in and I face other versions of loss and destruction.
It is too painful, God. I offer it to You.
The tears, anger, sleepless nights, fear, and anxiety. I cannot handle these things on my own, as they threaten to overwhelm me. But You are greater than any problem; nothing is too big, or too small, for You to step into and redeem. You are the Savior who led Your people out of slavery through the Red Sea, and You are the One who brought us out of slavery to sin through Your death on the cross.
I turn to You, Lord, and wait for You to act. Though I know suffering and pain will not end until You return, I long for that day and pray for its coming. Until then, shine Your light in this darkness. Remind me again that there is hope even when I don’t see it. My trust is in You.
In Your name, Jesus, I pray.
Amen.
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2. Praying to Want God More Than Any Outcome
God, You made us for Yourself. Nothing compares to knowing You and growing in love for You; that is what eternal life is, knowing You: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet, my prayers often do not reflect this truth, especially during difficult seasons. My sight becomes myopic so that I focus only on the troubles I am facing. Relief becomes my prayer and plea: Help, O Lord. Deliver me from the hardships.
But I am learning that perhaps that is not the best prayer. Yes, You care about every difficulty I face. However, You said that we would have problems in this world. Being Your follower does not exempt me from the consequences of living in a fallen world filled with people who choose to do wrong, including myself. At these times, I can also add to the sins against You by desiring an outcome more than trusting in You. Protect me from this, God, for I do not want to gain everything I ask for and miss opportunities for spending time with You. Those things are temporary in the long-term perspective, but my relationship with You is eternal.
Increase my desire for You, so that I can say alongside David, “my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). May I want You more than any outcome, and recognize that no matter what happens, You remain loving and good. You are the compassionate and faithful God who I trust.
Amen.
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3. A Prayer to Notice Everyday Blessings
When life leaves me drained and weary, the temptation that grips me is to complain; to bemoan the circumstances I am in and of everything that is wrong. Of course, God, there is a time for me to lament and grieve. You do not turn away from the cries of Your children. Yet, developing an ungrateful spirit is different. I lose focus and notice only the negative, forgetting all the whispers of hope that are present each day.
Giver of every good and perfect gift, increase my attention so that I can start to notice the ordinary blessings I am prone to overlook. Especially during this season of pain, help me to notice the little things that point to You: the kind word of a friend, a clear sky, the everyday commodities I tend to overlook, and the privilege of owning a copy of Scripture. Such small things, yet they show me that I am loved. That I am not forgotten.
So, I thank You, Lord, for all that You have given. For provision. For love. For the ability to experience Your goodness. And for the overwhelming wonder of knowing You. Even in seasons of hardship, there is much to be grateful for each day if I am willing to notice the ordinary blessings.
In Your great name, I pray.
Amen.
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4. Praying for Fortitude When I Want to Give Up
Far too easily, I could give up. Pack away the problems from view and decide I won’t deal with them anymore. I won’t deal with any of it anymore: despair wins. There is no hope. Or at least, that’s the lie that keeps being whispered in my ear.
But I know, great Savior, that giving up is a cowardly choice. It is the path of the unfaithful who turn away when life becomes difficult. By far, it is also the easier choice, for choosing despair over hope takes no effort.
Your Word, though, says that we are a people of promise––inheritors of a treasure so great that it cost Your precious blood. The sacrifice You made was for all those who trust in You, including me. My life must matter then; it must be worthwhile to keep going despite the despair I feel.
I pray, therefore, that You would increase my fortitude. Help me to choose the courageous path of hope, to trust that the darkness does not have the final word. You are the Light of the world that has overcome the darkness, and You will prevail.
Your Word is truth that demolishes the lies that urge me to give up. I will trust in You as a sailor trusts the anchor during a storm.
Amen.
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5. A Prayer of Praise Amid the Problems
Old Israel worshiped as he leaned on his staff. David sang You praises as he hid in caves from his enemies. Habakkuk declared Your goodness despite the desolation that surrounded him. Paul and Silas worshiped even though they were in chains inside a prison. These people, recorded within the pages of the Bible, continued to praise You despite painful and challenging situations. This wasn’t because the circumstances automatically changed or that You promised their lives would be easy and carefree. No, they praised Your name amid their problems.
I want to do the same.
Not because doing so is a magical formula to make the pain disappear. Neither do I expect that my circumstances will instantly change. Rather, I lift my voice in praise because of who You are, Lord. The almighty God who did not leave me in my sin. You rescued me and washed me clean, naming me a beloved child. The love You have shown is beyond comprehension; it overflows in me, moving me to worship. As the psalmist said, “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you” (Psalm 63:3).
You are worthy of being praised despite my situation. Thus, I will add my voice to the chorus of heaven and declare that You are holy and righteous. You are my God and Savior. Nothing will ever separate me from You, not even a time of difficulty and pain.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.
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