5 Encouraging Prayers for Hard Times

Life is full of seasons of hard times. Today, I want to share some prayers for hard times if you ask God to give you strength, comfort, and peace.

You always plan your life. We always save up for that dream vacation destination. We do well in school for that dream career. We build relationships with our ideal partners. We envision a successful business venture. But no matter how perfectly laid our plans are, sometimes things go sideways. And the worst part is that sometimes these seasons are the most difficult to endure.

Through all the seasons, the sunny and stormy days, God and His steadfast love are the only things constant. He is there for us no matter the situation. Whether you are in the middle of a hard time emotionally or physically in life, this article aims to help you weather the storm using prayer.

We hope you find inspiration for strength and courage to carry on during hard times with the prayers in this article.

What are Prayers for Hard Times

Prayer for hard times is a way to enforce positive change in our perspective during challenging times. It is usual for us to experience fear of uncertainty when our lives take an unexpected turn.

Prayers for hard times help us escape unfortunate circumstances during these dark days. This will allow us to fully trust the Lord God when things do not favor us. God’s holy word is the only source of true strength and perfect peace when we need help. Prayers for hard times also help us find serenity even when put to the test.

How to Pray when Times Are Hard

You might struggle to find the right words to include in your prayer when put in a difficult position. Sometimes, you would even be unsure about what to pray for.

We summarized five essential things below that might inspire you to complete your prayers during hard times.

Ask for strength

During these heavy times, fear, anxiousness, and weakness take a toll on you physically and emotionally. This is because you have human and worldly limitations. But you must not grow weary, for you have an all-powerful God that is the source of our strength. In difficult times, it is important to ask the Heavenly Father and Jesus for strength to fight the battle and carry on in life.

Appeal for guidance

Things get complicated because sometimes you are in a position to make a hard decision to choose between and among alternatives. When doubts assail you about the right road to take, remember that you can always appeal for the Lord’s guidance.

The perfect source of enlightenment is God’s word. Also, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to be guided before choosing which decision to take.

Petition for resilience

There are times when it seems like the world is falling around you. Sometimes, some problems come your way at the same time. And you will feel afraid and might think that there is no end to your sufferings. But like everything in your life, God is always there to help you.

Including a petition for resilience in your prayers will give you the power to toughen in weathering the storm. Remember that God has your life before you, with plans to prosper and not harm you. So when despair numbs your vision, have faith in the prayer for resilience. It will help you find peace until the skies are clear again.

Prayer for absolute protection

When feeling defeated by worldly things and circumstances, we still have the power to pray. Prayer for absolute protection from your enemies or the event itself will help you find refuge in God’s mercy, peace, and grace.

Remember that the enemy is no match for the Lord’s protection power. With a single word from his mouth, all things and all names tremble before the Lord’s feet, and you will soon be spared when evil darkens the world.

Nurture your trust and faith in God.

In our lives, difficult times often call for hopelessness. But do not cower in fear! Remember that you have God’s loving kindness and protection. We always put our trust and faith in God day in and day out. And especially during hard times, we must strengthen our trust and faith in the Lord by constantly praying. Nothing beats a follower of the Lord who is constant in hope and prayer for peace, rest, and God’s grace.

5 Powerful Prayers for Hard Times

Prayer for strength in hard times

Heavenly Father, all the praise and honor are due only to you. Since day one, I put my complete trust in you, O Lord. You taught me that there would be difficult paths in life, and you used your own Son to show me how to live it.

Following in your word and the footsteps of our Lord Jesus, I shall pick up this cross and obey this path. I ask only of you for strength to carry this, Lord, and a friend to help me ease the weight of it, too.

Although these long, difficult times are taxing, I know that at the end of the road, you will be there for me, my Lord. And after all the hardships, it’s you who won the victory. I offer this prayer in the mighty name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayer for help when in pain

Dear Father God, you are ever-present all the days of my life. I know you have seen my suffering and feel my pain. I pray for comfort, Heavenly Father. My hope and trust are in you, for you are the only God Almighty.

I pray you fill my world on earth with your mercy, Lord. In your holy name, cast away my pain with divine darkness and deliver me towards your unrelenting light.

You are my safe place, Almighty Father. In your goodness, my soul and body will rest secure. I pray all these in the mighty Lord Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer to weather life after a loss

Dear Lord, you alone are my refuge. I am drowning in the sorrow of the loved one I recently lost. Although I do not understand it now, I believe they received eternal life through your mercy.

I trust your plans and put my full faith in your hands, my Lord. I pray for understanding, which your loving grace enfolds. Help me to walk again in joy and bless me with a new perspective.

Ever since you have been there for me for all my problems, and this season is no different from all of the hard times, Lord. May you bless me with the will to re-engage in the world. Lord, I pray that the pain of the loss will somehow subside one day.

Lastly, I pray and hope for your grace, O Lord. To grant me peace with their passing. I pray all these together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer for the courage to overcome the hard times

Father God, you are the same loving Father throughout the times. As you rescued the Israelites from their enemies by parting the Red Sea, I know you will move mountains for my peace, too.

You were there to save me from everything when things seemed impossible. For the past year, you have won several victories for me, and I am overcome with joy, O Lord!

As you were there for me before, I trust you to be with me now. I pray for courage to overcome all the hard times’ Lord. Cast out fear and doubt in my heart, for you hear even my slightest doubt. When my human ideals fade, Father, help me regain my vision.

Envelope me with the power of the Holy Spirit, Lord our Father. By your grace and peace, help me walk in life confidently, and all the good things you planned for me will not be undone. These I ask in your Son our Lord Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer for guidance when making a difficult decision

Dear Lord, you are a maker of all things in heaven and earth. I am currently at a crossroads, and I need your wisdom. Lord, I offer this prayer for enlightenment on which path to take. Sacrificing one over the other has consequences with additional costs. I pray for wisdom to make sound decisions during these challenging times.

Father, grant me the grace and peace to overcome indecision and choose one without regret. Remove my irrational fear of dwelling on my past mistakes, Father. Grace me with peace to walk in your light of wisdom. By giving Jesus Christ as a good shepherd for us, I rest my faith in Him to look over me as part of His flock.

Please help me to make excellent and brave decisions and not be afraid. My faith in your grace and peace will see me through the hard times. In the mighty name of Jesus, I offer this prayer: Amen.

5 Bible Verses to Inspire Your Prayers in Hard Times

2 Timothy 4:18

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

This Bible verse puts your prayer in a position of complete trust. It will help you remember how God worked in your life and hope that He will also save you from your current distress. It also mentions praise for God, reminding you of the Lord’s power.

2 Corinthians 4:9-10

“Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”

Even when the world is against you, this scripture comforts you that you are not alone in the battle—the apostle Paul was persecuted for his continued support and preaching of the works of Jesus.

But it is apparent in his letter to the Corinthians: persecuted, but not forsaken, and struck down, but not destroyed. Mirroring the death and resurrection of Jesus, it gives inspiration that in difficult times, the Lord Jesus is there with you in spirit.

Psalm 91:1-4

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, my God, whom I trust.” He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.”

The whole of Psalm 91 is a perfect prayer for hard times. This chapter of the book of Psalms describes how God rewards and protects those who put trust their complete trust in Him. This verse helps you envision how great the power of God is. It will also offer you solace so that you will find refuge in God and make Him your strong fortress.

Isaiah 26:3-4

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

Although short, this Bible verse holds a true promise. God is everlasting. He is the same throughout eternity. He is the only one constant in the heavens and on earth. So, in God, you shall put your complete trust and ask for rest. He will deliver you from evil and guide you to the best path in life.

John 14:26-27

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; the peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

In the words of the Lord Jesus Himself, He also introduces the Holy Ghost as a helper. He describes it as a teacher and a reminder of everything He taught us. We must also seek the Holy Ghost’s guidance in everything we pray for, especially in hard times.

Importance of Saying Prayers for Hard Times

Praying during hard times is essential in our life. It comforts us that somebody loves us unconditionally and will save us no matter what. This type of prayer also builds a better life relationship with God by spending intimate moments with Him.

Prayer for hard times also helps us trust God’s word and reflect on His promises. By strengthening our faith during hard times, this prayer also gives us hope that it will be over soon. Even under pressure and fear, we can rest in the grace and peace of God. We can trust that the Lord will save us at the end of the day.

In Summary

We often turn to a close friend for advice when things go awry. But sometimes, they can only do so much. Some things need divine power and intercession to help us heal. We must turn to God with faith and hope in these challenging times.

Just as He gave His only Son, Lord Jesus, to redeem us from our sins, He will also deliver us from this difficult season with peace and grace. So whenever you’re drowning in pain or sorrow or contemplating which path to take, remember that a loving and protective God will hear your petitions under challenging times.

The Lord always fulfills His promises to make a better life for us, His children. By praying during hard times, we can take on the word of God that He will walk us through the storm unscathed.