Prayer for Trust in Jesus

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.

Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Make Me Brave for Life

God, make me brave for life: oh, braver than this.
Let me straighten after pain, as a tree straightens after the rain,
Shining and lovely again.

God, make me brave for life; much braver than this.
As the blown grass lifts, let me rise
From sorrow with quiet eyes,
Knowing Thy way is wise.

God, make me brave, life brings
Such blinding things.
Help me to keep my sight;
Help me to see aright
That out of dark comes light.

Author Unknown

Prayer for Those Who Are Depressed

Heavenly Father,

When it seems that we are actually, finally at our wits' end...
and we've seen the end of all that we can do,
that is when you are at your nearest,
your most miraculous, your best.

Sometimes, the road we trudge seems destined to be dusty and desolate forever.

And yet, just around the corner, just over the next hill,
we see new life, we see hope. I pray for this hope for those who [are depressed].

May you bring them what they need, that they may once again be dancing on this earth.

Amen.


Beliefnet member Simba590 | Source: Beliefnet prayer circle

Prayer for Lonely People

Loving God,
there are times in each life
when there is no one.

No one with whom to share
a word,
a laugh,
a sad remembrance,
a gentle touch,
a fond embrace,
a kiss of love.

Bless each one who suffers
from such loneliness.

Enrich life with a friend
or gentle stranger
who will spend a moment
noticing and loving.

In those times
your love shines through,
the world is reborn,
and Christ is known.
So be it!

Amen.

Vienna Cobb Anderson | Source: Adapted from "Prayers of Our Hearts" © 1991 Vienna Cobb Anderson. Reprinted with the permission of the author.

Let Me Not Be Destroyed

I have been rejected and despised;
I am hurting and destroyed by the pain.
I am angry with others and with you, O God,
for there is no comfort, none anywhere.

I call your name and you are absent.
I wonder why you let me suffer so.
My cries echo in the universe
and ring in my ears
and I am weary of the taste of my tears.

Hear my plea, O God of love.
Let me not be destroyed
by this agony on the brink of death.
I am like a broken reed,
fragile and crushed.

Hear my plea, O God of love.
Let me not be destroyed.

Amen.

Vienna Cobb Anderson | Source: Adapted from "Prayers of Our Hearts" © 1991 Vienna Cobb Anderson. Reprinted with permission of the author.

Your Love and Your Grace

Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding and my will;
all that I have and possess.

You have given them to me;
to you, O Lord, I restore them.

All things are yours:
Dispose of them according to your will.

Give me your love and your grace;
for this is enough for me.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

I Look to Thee in Every Need

I look to Thee in every need, and never look in vain;
I feel Thy strong and tender love, and all is well again.
The thought of Thee is mightier far than sin and pain and sorrow are.

Discouraged in the work of life, disheartened by its load,
Shamed by its failures or its fears, I sink beside the road.
But let me only think of Thee and then new heart springs up in me.

Thy calmness bends serene above, my restlessness to still;
Around me flows Thy quickening life, to nerve my faltering will.
Thy presence fills my solitude, Thy providence turns all to good.

Enfolded deep in Thy dear love, held in Thy law, I stand;
Thy hand in all things I behold, and all things in Thy hand.
Thou leadest me by unsought ways, and turn my mourning into praise.


Samuel Longfellow | Source: Hymns of the Spirit (1864)

Prayer for Those That Are Alone

Father, I'm praying for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who are feeling very much alone...

Sometimes they must wonder where You are. I know You're with them because You've promised You will never leave us nor forsake us, that You'll be with us always—but sometimes when they can't sense Your presence, they must feel terribly alone. (Psalm 10:1; Hebrews 13:5b; Matthew 28:20b)

When their hearts fail and their spirits fall, help them determine to live in Your presence—praising You, knowing You inhabit the praise of Your people. May they set their hearts to seek You, to be strong and take heart as they wait for You. (Psalm 27:4; 22:3; Colossians 3:1; Psalm 27:8, 14)

Hide them in the shelter of Your presence and show them Your wonderful love. Help them hope in You, and let Your unfailing love rest upon them. Help them to fix their eyes on You, to take refuge in You, to set You before them, constantly thinking about You, confident that You're with them—then they won't be shaken. (Psalm 31:20a, 21b; 33:22; 141:8a; 16:8)

Help them believe that You won't leave them, that You'll come to them no matter how alone they feel. (John 14:18)

In Jesus' name, amen.


Jim & Kaye Johns | Source: "Prayers for the Moment: One-Minute Scripture Prayers" Copyright September 2006. Reprinted with permission of B&H Publishing Group

I Cannot Do This Alone

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.

Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:

I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;

I am lonely,
but you do not leave me;

I am feeble in heart,
but with you there is help;

I am restless,
but with you there is peace.

In me there is bitterness,
but with you there is patience;

I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…

Restore me to liberty, And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.

Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

Amen.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Prayer for the Military Wife

Lord, Grant me the greatness of heart to see,
the difference in duty and his love for me.

Give me the understanding to know,
That when duty calls he must go.

Give me a task to do each day,
to fill the time when he is away,

And Lord, when duty is in the field,
Please protect him and be his shield.


Source: Wonderful Miracles

Prayer in Times of Trouble

Lord, in every need let me come to You with humble trust saying, "Jesus, help me."

In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations, Jesus, help me.

In hours of loneliness, weariness, and trials, Jesus, help me.

In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles, and sorrows, Jesus, help me.

When others fail me and Your grace alone can assist me, help me.

When I throw myself on Your tender love as a father and savior, Jesus, help me.

When my heart is cast down by failure at seeing no good come from my efforts, Jesus, help me.

When I feel impatient and my cross irritates me, Jesus, help me.

When I am ill and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely, Jesus, help me.

Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls, and shortcomings of every kind, Jesus, help me and never forsake me.

Amen.

Source: Adapted from a prayer from the Real Presence Association