By Melissa McLaughlin
Ever had one of those days? Whether you are taking your first few steps to follow Christ or you have traveled myriad miles in your walk with Him, there are days when it feels we simply cannot take one more step. Days when it seems impossible to put one foot in front of the other. These are the days we need prayers of hope. Days we need others to lift us in prayer.
When sorrow looms like a heavy gray cloud, blocking my vision of God, I try to seek God’s Word, the Bible, to pierce through the darkness with the Light of Jesus Christ. This anchors my flailing thoughts and prayers to The Word, Jesus, who can calm the fiercest storms.
Adding to my own prayers, what a gift when others reach out to pray with me! When my faith and hope are but a flicker, through the prayers of others, a fresh wind of Jesus’ Spirit breathes through my lungs. Like a lifeline thrown to my weary soul, raising me up from oceans deep where I can barely tread water. For where two or three are gathered, Jesus is in our midst. Matthew 18:20
If you are having one of those bleak days, here are three prayers of hope to encourage and revive your soul. Many have carried me in their prayers over the years and helped sustain my fading heart. May God use these words of mine to carry you in prayer today. Please join me in prayer.
1. Prayer of Hope in the Storms
Scripture – Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. ~Isaiah 43:1-3
Prayer – Heavenly Father, you made me, you know me and you love me like no other. You have called me by name and I am yours. Help me sense your Presence amidst the stormy waters and blazing fires. Help me rest in your everlasting arms of love, remembering that when everything falls, your love and truth will stand forever. For you are God and there is no other. You are my Redeemer, my Savior, my Rock and the Restorer of my soul. May the peace that Jesus won for me on the cross, cover my heart, soul, mind and body. In His Name. Amen.
2. Prayer of Hope When All Seems Lost
Scripture – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ~Romans 15:13
Prayer – Almighty God, you are the source of life and the source of eternal life through Jesus Christ. You spoke, and out of nothing, all things came to be. Give me a fresh vision of you, your power and your powerful love today. Stir my memory of Jesus on the cross, when all seemed lost, yet your eternal hope was waiting to be revealed just three days later. Help me place my hope, joy and trust in you and your power to save, heal and bring new life from things that appear dead and gone. Breathe new life into my soul, mind and spirit, by the power of your Holy Spirit, that I may sense your hand at work, even when my eyes can’t see. For you are the Living God, the Mighty One and your heart is for me. Guard my heart and mind with your peace that passes all understanding as I still myself in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
3. Prayer of Hope for Refuge and Help from God
Scripture – Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. ~Psalm 61:1-5
Prayer – Oh God, how I need you. You are the God who sees. You are the God who knows and the God who loves. Hear my cry, Abba Father. Help me be still and know in the depths of my soul, that you are God. Send a mighty wave of your Holy Spirit to lift my thoughts toward Christ, for you are the Rock of my salvation. Renew my heart with memories of the many ways you have protected me and sustained me in the past. Let me sense your Presence in this very moment. May I be enveloped in your peace. Comfort me, hold me close under your wings of love and shelter me with your mercy and grace. Help me see through the fog and dust of this life, to the glorious heavenly home you have prepared for all who believe in Jesus as their Savior. Be my hope. Be my joy. Be my peace. Be my treasure. Be my all in all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Some days, there are no words left in us to pray. This is when we need to pray for one another with prayers of hope. May these prayers strengthen you, as the prayers of others have strengthened me. Do you have a memory or prayer of hope to share?
Additional Resources:
Powerful Prayer Tool – Praising Over Pleading By Melissa McLaughlin
He Restores My Soul ~ Psalm 23 By Melissa McLaughlin
The Joy of Brokenhearted Praise By Melissa McLaughlin
Want to learn more about the power of scripture-based prayers? Check out my book, available on Amazon: In Dark of Night When Words Fail, Voice of Jesus Pray For Me
This is a beautiful message. Thank you.
Thank you, Melissa! My faith has often been carried on the wings of prayer offered up by others on my behalf. Of course God is the One who sustains us, but He works through the prayers of His people. I pray God will allow me to bless others as I have been blessed with prayers of hope.
Amen ðŸ™ðŸ™Œ. They are Powerful Prayers. I love them. â¤â¤â¤ðŸ™ŒðŸ™ŒðŸ™ŒðŸ™Œ
Thank you, Mary! All glory to God! He is our hope and strength. Now and forever. God bless you!
Oh thank you for these beautiful Scriptures and prayers Dear Melissa! I am so grateful that He does meet us with His hope, His living hope, Himself, when we cry out to Him! I love that last Scripture that you shared especially, it is so full of blessing. But I am thinking of that old song, “Lead me to the Rock, the Rock that’s higher.” I’m going to try to find it tonight. What a gift. Thank you Dear Friend.
Dear Bettie, thank you for reading and sharing your heart! You offer hope to me every week, through your vibrant faith in Christ. I thank God if one of these prayers was a blessing of hope to you. I will have to look up that song. God bless you, dear sister!
Thank for posting these prayers. I’m going to have to bookmark this article.
Brian, thank you for taking the time to read and comment. The prayers of others have truly anchored my faith and encouraged my heart. I pray these words will do the same for anyone who reads. God bless you with the unending hope of Christ!
Powerful words of hope! Thank you for sharing these prayers and scripture verses! God bless you Melissa…you are a blessing to all of us.
Thank you, Linda! Glory to our God of all hope! Whether you are in need of prayer or know someone who is… may we remain steadfast in our prayers for one another. A prayer of hope is nothing less than a lifeline to our Savior!
These are beautiful, Melissa! I love the concept of praying Scripture back to God. It holds so much power!
Thank you, Emily! I agree, praying Scripture back to God fills our words with His eternal power and truth. It goes far beyond anything we could articulate, even on our best days. I must also say, having others pray for me, is a gift like no other. May we cover each other with this heavenly gift!
Much needed! Thank you for sharing these prayers. I’ve been working for the past month attempting to get a new pain med to the right dosage, so that it actually works. I’m gotten no where, and the pain has increased. It’s been a time of great discouragement, shortness with ones I love, and difficulty in getting through normal life. Bless you, sister, for sharing the prayers of your own struggles.
Oh Melinda, my heart goes out to you. It has been a difficult week for me and the prayers of others truly helped lift and carry me. It was from that place of weakness that I share these prayers. Sometimes you just need someone else to pray for you, to cover you in prayer. I’m lifting you in prayer right now.
Heavenly Father, we praise you from the mountain tops and from the valleys. For you are God and you are good. Please send a special touch of your Presence and peace that Melinda may know your closeness in this very moment. Holy Spirit, we ask you to make a way, where there seems no way with the medications. Give the doctors insights that go beyond their knowing to give Melinda successful treatment. I ask for a supernatural lifting of this pain, washing over her whole body, that she may breathe again and move through her days with ease. Refresh, renew and rebuild her in every way, that the gifts you have given her may be put to fullest use. Overflow her heart with your love, that she will have an abundance to share with her loved ones. Touch her with new hope, new strength, new joy. May Jesus shine through the darkest pain to light her heart, mind and soul. In His name. Amen. Blessings and love to you, dear sister!
Pray for me as I enter a new phase of life. I am now retired and would like to pray more but my wife is so beautiful it distracts me.
Oh Tom, you are a blessing! You might consider a time of thanksgiving and offering up prayers of gratitude for the many blessings God has given you. I’m praying for you, even now.
Heavenly Father, how we praise you for you light up our days with hope in Christ and light up our souls with forgiveness and love. Stir up a fire in Tom’s heart, mind and soul with a passion to connect, commune and enjoy your Presence through prayer. Let him desire the time with you above all else. Renew his strength, reinvigorate his spirit and draw his mind back to you. Help him grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, that he may reflect your glory and be used mightily for your kingdom. May your Holy Spirit fire burn brightly within. For your glory, oh Lord! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
We all do experience times of discouragement so we all need to hear these beautiful words. Thanks for sharing. They really blessed me.
Yes, we do all have times of discouragement. Sometimes I am overwhelmed at how God reaches toward me and comforts me through the prayers of others. May we continue to lift and carry each other, until we make it all the way home. Bless you, dear sister!
💕💕ðŸ™ðŸ™
Oh, sweet Melissa. I needed this today, and will need all 3 of these prayers often for the dark valley I’m still crawling through. He is our hope, our help, our strength, our refuge…our everything! Thanks sister, many blessings!
Dear Karen, you are a precious sister and a beacon of Christ’s light to all. My heart aches for you and your family as you crawl through this dark valley. One of God’s sweetest gifts to me during my lowest places, has been the prayers of others. I praise God that these prayers helped cover, comfort and carry you, even for a moment. Our Savior is with you and He is mighty to save! Continuing to pray for you and yours. Blessings, love and hugs!
Thank you Melissa. Feeling kinda washed up today🌷
Dear Lisa, I’m lifting you in prayer right now. May God’s love wash over you, sending waves of refreshment and renewal! Blessings and love to you!
Thank you Melissa reminds me of my time in Viet Nam when we were under attack. My prayer of hope and protection was with the Rock higher than I, my Lord and Sheperd. It reminds me of raising my son and being married for 38 years to a wonderful gift from God. It reminds of the grief and becoming anemic and becoming seriously ill that my Father brought me out of healing me Then God gave me another Christian wife of 11 years. God has been with me since diapers each and every minute guiding me through a wonderful life. Now
I have a wonderful sister in Melissa, thank you for being my sister in Christ.
Thank you for reading and sharing your experiences, N.E. You have been through some very stressful, painful and difficult times. But you are right, God is with us and He is showering us with the blessings of His love. The greatest love He has shown us is through Christ on the cross. Thank you, brother. May the Lord bless you and keep you and your family.