The Bible tells us that in this life we will have seasons of trouble but it does not leave us on our own to navigate those times of life. If you are needing encouragement look no further than these verses for strength in hard times. Each verse also …

I get it. Some seasons of life can be so tough to endure. It can be hard even to know what to say to God. That’s why we’re going to look at five prayers for hard times based on five powerful passages of scripture.

I am pretty open on this blog about the challenges I have faced. I went through a season where my marriage almost fell apart. My husband and I had several friendships end badly. We lost two babies to miscarriage.

When I first wrote this post, we were just two months into a move we had made across the country. We are now traveling for work full time with a toddler and little one on the way.

Life is full of seasons of hard times. Today I want to share some verses and how I would turn these verses into prayers for strength in difficult times.

2 Timothy 4:16-18

At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 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. 2 Timothy 4:16-18 ESV

At first there was no one I could count on to faithfully stand with me—they all ran off and abandoned me—but don’t hold this against them. For in spite of this, my Lord himself stood with me, empowering me to complete my ministry of preaching to all the non-Jewish nations so they all could hear the message and be delivered from the mouth of the lion! And my Lord will continue to deliver me from every form of evil and give me life in his heavenly kingdom. May all the glory go to him alone for all the ages of eternity! 2 Timothy 4:16-18 TPT

Father, thank You that even when all others leave and abandon me, You remain.

Thank You that even when the ones I thought would be around forever choose to go, I can trust that you will stand with me.

Father, I come to You with my cares and my worries concerning this trial I am facing.

Would You remind me that I am not alone? Would You tell me that you care about this and its outcome?

Father, I thank You for standing with me, and I receive your strength to stand another day.

Thank you that I can trust you to rescue me from this and every trial I will face in this life. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:9-10

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ESV

Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out. We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity. 2 Corinthians 4:8-19 TPT

Heavenly Father, I am tired, and I am worn. I feel pressure from all of these circumstances surrounding me, but I thank You that I am not, and they will not crush me.

I am unsure of how this can or will work out for my good, but I say no to discouragement and despair in Jesus' name.

I feel like everything, and everyone is coming against me but Father, I thank you that I never stand alone. Thank you for being with me through it all, both as my friend and as my advocate.

Thank you for picking me up every time life, and its hard times knock me down. I will rest in You and Your finished work at the cross. Amen.

Psalm 91:1-4

(The whole Psalm is more than worth a reread.)

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 my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from 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. Psalm 91:1-4 ESV

When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and he will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm. Psalm 91:1-4 TPT

Father, I come to you worn and weary from the hard times I have walked through recently. I come to you seeking your shelter where I know I can find security and rest in your shadow.

Father, you are mighty. I know my circumstances are no match for Your great power. Thank You that You are my safe place.

Thank You that I am always welcome beneath Your wings. Thank You for being a fortress I can trust.

Father, I know you can save me from these trials. I will wait patiently for You to help me work things out for my good.

You have always been faithful to me. I will rest in Your faithfulness. Amen.

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. Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV

Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with you; they confidently trust in you. Yes, trust in the Lord Yahweh forever and ever! For Yah, the Lord God, is your Rock of Ages! Isaiah 26:3-4 TPT

Father, I need Your peace. I have allowed my attention to shift towards the distractions and circumstances I am currently struggling with.

I have exhausted my resources and energy. I am actively placing my thoughts and focus back on You and Your faithfulness.

I thank You that You are continually pursuing me and always drawing my heart back towards You. I thank You for Your kindness and patience towards me.

Thank You for reminding me of our history together. I know that I can trust You. Help me, Father, to learn to rest in Your peace. Amen.

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; my 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. John 14:26-27 ESV

But when the Father sends the Spirit of Holiness, the One like me who sets you free, he will teach you all things in my name. And he will inspire you to remember every word that I’ve told you.

“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous! John 14:26-27 TPT

Thank You, Holy Spirit for being my helper. Thank You for coming alongside me and being a comfort, advocate, and intercessor. I thank You for being my counselor and for strengthening me. Jesus, I receive your peace.

I admit that my heart has been troubled, and I have allowed fear to make my decisions.

I repent of that, and I am choosing to rest in You and to allow Your peace to calm me in my current circumstances and to strengthen me with the courage to face these challenges with Your Spirit by my side. Amen.

We can look to our Father when life gets hard, and we can trust Him. We have to remember to remain faithful in prayer during difficult times because He is our source of strength and hope.

I pray these verses and prayers blessed you and gave you a starting place to re-engage with God and prayer for the hard times you may find yourself in.

Remember, if you are worn or weary, He sees you. You are not alone. You are not forgotten. He is with you there in the circumstances.

He is working and moving on your behalf. You can find help and refuge in Him. He is that high rock that you can always look too when overwhelmed to find your way out.

He loves you, my dear friend. And so do we. We are happy that you are here, and we love that we have had the opportunity to get to encourage you a bit on your journey with the Father.

Lastly, would you consider sharing out this post? It helps us more than you can imagine and I genuinely believe it will also help and bless your friends and followers.

Thank you for reading and sharing!

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