No matter the challenge you’re facing, you can always turn to God with your troubled heart. These Scripture-based prayers will shift your focus toward truth, restore your hope, and fill your soul with peace.
Harvest House Publishers
Day 1
Scriptures: Hebrews 13:8, Deuteronomy 31:8
How immensely encouraging and comforting it is to know that God Himself personally goes before us. That absolutely nothing takes Him by surprise. That when we’re uncertain or confused He is consistently steady and near, ever aware of the specifics of our lives. When our closest friend moves out of state, when our job description extensively changes, and on days when tears sting our eyes more than once, we don’t have to allow anxiety to get the best of us.
When uneasiness clatters against our hearts, how reassuring it is to know that the Lord is with us and for us, clearing the way ahead. He knows every turn and all the details ahead of us, and in His kindness and goodness He orchestrates the specifics that deeply concern our hearts. Through each disappointment or setback, He never fails us or abandons us.
Nothing in life remains constant and course changes inevitably happen. Yet “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He is the solid Rock our hearts lean on when the unexpected occurs. We never have to fret or yield to apprehension, because whatever each day holds, He is with us. His beautiful presence leading, calming, and reassuring us every step of the way.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Lord, I’m grateful that You see the big picture in my life, and yet still You oversee even the smallest of details. When unexpected changes happen, help me to remember that You go before me in all that I do, orchestrating all that concerns my heart, planning my way today and every day. You are ever aware of all the specifics, overseeing everything, never failing me or abandoning me, so I can choose to resist apprehension and rest in your faithfulness. I love that Your awesome, mighty presence leads me, reassures me, and calms my heart. You are the solid Rock stabilizing my heart, and I am grateful. In Jesus’s precious name, amen.
Day 2
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:12, John 4:24, 2 Corinthians 4:18
We get it so wrong. What we see, the issues right in front of us, are typically what we think about and consider most. Yet the things upon which we fixate—the real matters causing angst and discouragement in our souls—are only temporary. This is why we must, by God’s grace, begin to develop eternal perspective.
As 1 Corinthians 13:12 tells us, we see through a glass darkly. This means that, like looking into a foggy mirror, our perception is distorted and incomplete. God sees the complete picture, we don’t. Our understanding this side of heaven is limited and what we do see isn’t always an accurate reflection.
Yet we do not have to stumble about in dark anxiety of soul. Instead we must learn to fix our eyes on unseen things, such as faith, hope and love, and even God Himself, who is Spirit (John 4:24). This is how we begin to focus on what is eternal. For instance, through faith we believe that God is at work behind the scenes, in spite of how things appear. Through hope we resist discouragement and stand with persevering hearts. Through love our hearts are softened and we are transformed into His image.
May God give us grace to live with an eternal perspective, living every day like truly wise people who see beyond what is in front of us.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV)
Lord, sometimes I get so caught up in the issues in front of me and so busy with the things of life that I forget to keep an eternal perspective. Help me to remember that everything around me is temporary—but You, God, are eternal. Help me to develop an eternal perspective, not by ignoring what concerns me, but by remembering that what I see is temporary.
Help me to fix my eyes on what is unseen, and in so doing remain focused on You, because everything else on this earth and all that I see is foggy and distorted. Help me to concern myself with the things that matter most to You. Captivate my heart, Lord, and help me to live like a wise person who sees beyond what is in front of me. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Day 3
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7
Why do we persist in tightly holding onto everything that upsets us, makes us edgy, or stirs up anxious feelings in our hearts? Could it be that relinquishing is so tough for us because we struggle to completely trust God?
Our heavenly Father loves us, affectionately caring for us and watching over us, and He invites us to toss every worry—actually throwing them hard and strong—straight into His hands. Just like hurling a rock from the lake shore far out into the deep, we throw it where we are not in danger of retrieving it once again.
When releasing our worries to God feels arduous, remembering His character will absolutely help us. The Lord is gracious and compassionate. He is kind and holy and all powerful. And in His great love for us He desires that we live life without an 80 pound rucksack of worries on our back. We can entrust everything to Him and experience freedom from all that troubles us.
Instead of holding on to all that troubles us, let’s cling tightly to His goodness, His love, His hope, His joy, and His peace.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Lord, please teach me not to hold on to all that frustrates me, makes me uneasy, or stirs up anxiety in my heart. Right now, I choose to throw each concern toward You, entrusting them into Your sovereign care once and for all. When I struggle to release my cares to You, please give me grace to trust You.
Help me not to take them back but entrust everything that concerns me to You, knowing You are good and kind and all powerful. Prompt me by Your Spirit the moment I am tempted to retrieve any worry or concern. Thank you for carrying all I cannot. Thank you for loving me, caring for me, and watching over me. Thank you for enabling me to live in Your very real peace. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Day 4
Scripture: Psalms 62:8
God wants us to rely on Him at all times: every time we receive bad news, every time things look uncertain, and every time we’re this close to a meltdown. This is how trusting Him becomes a holy instinct, our automatic response to adversity and hardships. It means we learn to rely on Him more than our spouse, and more than our closest friend. It means we habitually turn to Him first.
The Lord invites us to pour out our hearts to Him, and we must take advantage of this invitation.
One of the ways we do this is through honest prayers. Raw prayers. Tear-filled prayers that hold nothing back. David, the author of the Psalm below (and many others), prayed this way. He understood that our good heavenly Father is a safe place—the fortress and high tower we can go to vent all that has piled up deep inside.
God understands us and wants us to feel confident in His love for us. Those anxious feelings that threaten to overwhelm us? They’re no match for the Lord. He is our awesome high tower, and our hearts are secure, protected, and filled with His peace when we run to Him.
Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). (Psalm 62:8 AMPC)
Lord, please teach me to be consistent in running to You when I need to vent. May trusting and relying on You become a holy instinct for me. Help me to be honest and regularly pour out my heart to You, knowing that You are my safe place. You completely understand me and I can feel confident in Your love for me.
Help me to trust You, lean on You, and rely on You, since You are my fortress, faithful and utterly trustworthy. Thank you for loving me, soothing my heart, and for being the secure place of refuge my heart so desperately needs. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Day 5
Scriptures: Matthew 14:28-33, Mark 5:36
Jesus knows that we struggle with fears and worries and anxiousness. He knows our hearts. He knows we are frail humans, often subject to our own rogue emotions and to circumstances beyond our control. He understands when our over-stimulated brains won’t shut down. He perceives when our minds rotate an upsetting incident over and over. He knows that fear and anxiety crash into our faith, making it hard to believe Him.
When the apostle Peter dared to step out of the boat (see Matthew 14: 28-33), he began to sink because he feared the waves. Aren’t we the same? We attempt to be brave and then surges of angst knock us off balance, and we sink. And yet, with deliberate brevity, Jesus gives us two simple instructions: “Don’t be afraid. Just believe.”
This is exactly what our anxious hearts need to hear. The Lord invites us to resist fear and believe Him over all the anxiety-producing events we’re experiencing. It’s an irresistible invitation that lovingly reminds us who He is: a steadfast anchor who is greater than our storms. He is our unwavering, water-walking help, and He is right there in the wind and waves with us. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. He beckons us to leave fear behind and trust Him, choosing to say in faith, Lord, I will not be afraid. I will believe.
Don’t be afraid; just believe. (Mark 5:36 NIV)
Lord, when fear and anxiety crash into my faith and I am afraid, help me to trust You and follow Your two simple instructions. Teach me to remember that You are greater than all my fears. Thank you that when my emotions go crazy You are the stabilizing force right beside me, greater than every storm, and You are good.
I believe, Jesus, that You are greater than all the upheaval in my heart. I believe that You are able to deal with all that concerns me. I believe that You are the Prince of Peace. Thank you for calming my heart and helping me to always accept Your loving invitation. Help me not to be afraid, but to believe. In Your name, amen.