No matter what might be happening in your life or the world around you, when you align with God’s Word in prayer, you can experience His joy, love, peace, and victory! Jesus modeled an intentional life of prayer for us by praying for every need, every trial, every day. When you feel lost, afraid, or stuck, the written prayers in When Life Happens—31 Prayers for Strength, Guidance, and Peace will serve as starting points for you as you walk through life this side of heaven.

All through Scripture Jesus made time to pray. He prayed before choosing His disciples. He prayed when He was undergoing great temptation in the wilderness. He prayed when He was threatened by the Pharisees. He prayed through tears as He contemplated the agony of the cross ahead. He prayed as He died. Like Jesus, prayer must not be just something we do, it must be who we are.

You see, there is no guarantee you will have a trouble-free life. In fact, Jesus says in this world you will have trouble (see John 16:33). But the good news is you have a God who has overcome the world and who cares for every single hair on your head. He listens when you call to Him—you can be confident God hears your prayers and is faithful to act on them (see 1 John 5:14–15).

When you pray with Scripture and proclaim God’s Word over your life and circumstances, no matter how dire, something supernatural happens. Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). God’s Word in prayer releases His life-giving power on earth and draws you closer to Him. He can calm all anxiety, give you strength, move you forward, carry your burdens, and release His joy over your life. This all happens through prayer. 

Here is a prayer for when you feel hopeless:

Lord, thank You for this reminder that You are the God of hope! You are the anchor for my soul, sure and steadfast, and I can rest assured knowing all is well. When the tempests of life do their best to throw me into a tailspin, I can have hope in the truth that You are with me and You aren’t going anywhere. I pray, as Your promise states, that You will fill me now with joy and peace as I trust in You.

Remind me through the power of Your Holy Spirit there is always hope. Even when circumstances seem out of control, You are never out of control. I believe in Your promises, and I have confidence You will carry me through the present difficulty and make everything work together for my good. 

Thank You that You don’t just give me a little hope, but You cause me to abound in hope! Great, plentiful, overflowing! I pray Your hope removes and replaces the doubt, fear, and discouragement in my heart and mind. I look to You, the God of hope, and I trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As you pray and read the Scriptures below, allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and give you a greater awareness of His presence. See Hebrews 6:19; 13:5; Mark 9:24; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 31:24; 39:7; 42:5. Read your favorite Scriptures aloud as a prayer to your heavenly Father.

Whenever you’re overwhelmed or unsure, you may not have the words to pray or a Scripture to hold on to. When you’re worried, when you’re distracted, when you need wisdom, or when you need to be reminded that God hears you, open When Life Happens—31 Prayers for Strength, Guidance, and Peace, and speak aloud the prayer you need.

Copyright © 2024 Gateway Publishing