A Prayer in Trying Times...

In trying times—

Are you feeling helpless and hopeless, weary from one difficulty after another that has left you emotionally and physically drained and asking

“God, where are you? 

How much longer will this last? 

Why is this happening?”

You know in your head that God cares-- but it just doesn’t feel like it right now.  So often the intensity of our trials seems to increase to the point where we feel that we just can’t go on before a breakthrough or some kind of relief comes.  No matter how you feel right now, God has not abandoned you!

A Prayer in Desperate Times

O Lord, I want what I know is true about you and your concern and care for me—to sink deep into my heart!  I want to be like the psalmist who ran to you in his desperate time.  So I declare—

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; rescue me and deliver me—turn your ear to me and save me!  Be my rock of refuge while so much all around me feels so shaky.  You are my safe place—my fortress!  Oh God, come quickly, O my God, to help me! 

No matter how I feel right now, I commit to be like the psalmist and say—

As for me, I will always have hope! 

I will praise you more and more! 

I will talk about your mighty acts not my long list of troubles. 

I will talk about your goodness and the great things you have done—not the badness of my circumstances. 

I will keep my eyes fixed on you, Jesus, not on my problems.   

Though it feels impossible to do that, I know that nothing is impossible with you and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!  Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again!  As I wait upon you and put my hope in you, I know that you will renew my strength.   Grant me a willing spirit to sustain me—a willing spirit to endure and keep trusting you and putting my hope in you and not a desired outcome.  Help me to remember to tell others of the great things you have done and of your goodness.  I want to be an overcomer!  You said that overcomers overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.  I want these tests and trials to become my testimony even before I see any breakthrough!  I declare that I am an overcomer!  Thank you, Jesus, that you shed your blood in love for me and that you have given me a testimony!  I praise you, Lord!  I love you, Lord!  You are good—all the time!  Amen and Amen!

Psalm 71

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men. 5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. 6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you. 7 I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. 9 Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. 10 For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. 11 They say, "God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him." 12 Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me. 13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. 14 But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. 16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. 17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. 19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you? 20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. 21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. 22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-- I, whom you have redeemed. 24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.

Luke 1:37 (AMP) 

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.