Hard times can wear you down. They can drain your energy, your peace, and even your desire to pray. In those moments, many believers look for prayers for strength during difficult times because they need God to hold them up.
Difficult times can mean a lot of things. It might be grief. It might be fear. It might be sickness, money stress, family trouble, or long waiting that never seems to end. Sometimes nothing “big” even happens, but you still feel tired inside. If that is where you are right now, this is for you.
This post is not about acting strong. It is about coming to God when you feel weak. You will find short Bible-based encouragement, simple guidance for praying when you are tired, and a set of prayers you can use one at a time.
What the Bible means by strength in difficult times
When the Bible talks about strength, it does not always mean having a bold personality or feeling confident. A lot of the time, it means God giving you what you need to keep going.
Strength is God helping you, not you forcing yourself
Some people think strength means you should not struggle. That is not true. Many faithful people in the Bible struggled, cried, and felt afraid. They still went to God. And God helped them.
When you pray for strength during difficult times, you are not asking to become “tough.” You are asking God to carry you and steady you when you cannot do it on your own.
Strength can look like peace, patience, and steady faith
Sometimes strength looks like courage. Other times it looks like peace in your heart when nothing around you feels peaceful. It can also look like patience while you wait, or wisdom when you don’t know what to do next.
God’s strength is not always loud. Sometimes it is quiet. It helps you take the next step, even when you feel worn out.
Weakness can be a place where God meets you
God does not wait for you to “get it together” before He helps you. He meets you in the middle of your weakness. If you feel like you have nothing left, you are not too far gone for God to strengthen you.
21 powerful prayers for strength during difficult times
If you are here because life feels heavy, take a slow breath. You don’t need to rush this. These prayers are not meant to be skimmed like a list. They are meant to help you speak to God when you feel weak.
Here we go with the list of 21 Prayers for Strength During Difficult Times, with a comforting Scripture.
1. Prayer for Strength During Difficult Times
Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Lord Jesus,
I feel tired and worn down by everything I’m facing.
My heart is heavy, and some days it’s hard to even lift my head.
Please be my strength today—my solid ground when I feel like I’m sinking.
Fill the empty spaces with Your presence and hold me steady when I can’t hold myself.
Remind me that You are near, even when life feels too much to bear.
Amen.
2. A Prayer for Strength to Keep Going When You Want to Quit
Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Mighty God,
I want to give up. I’m tired of trying and not seeing change.
But somewhere inside, I know You haven’t left me.
Give me the strength to keep moving forward, even when the road feels long.
Remind me why I started. Hold my heart when I feel like quitting.
Help me believe that what I’m going through isn’t the end of my story.
Amen.
3. A Prayer for Strength During a Family Crisis
Joshua 1:9 – “Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Dear Lord,
My family is hurting. Tension is high, emotions are raw, and everything feels fragile.
Please step in with Your peace, Your wisdom, and Your healing.
Give me the strength to speak life, stay calm, and love well—even when it’s hard.
Be the glue that holds us together when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
I trust You to walk with us through this storm.
Amen.
4. A Prayer for Strength to Endure Physical Pain or Illness
Isaiah 40:29 – “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
Heavenly Father,
My body feels broken, my energy low, and some days are harder than others.
I don’t always understand why, but I believe You’re still with me.
Please give me the strength to keep going through the pain.
Renew my body, restore my mind, and remind me that You are still my healer.
Even in this, I choose to trust You.
Amen.
5. A Prayer for Strength During Financial Hardship
📖 Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
God,
The pressure feels overwhelming. Bills, responsibilities, uncertainty—it’s a lot.
I need Your help. Not just for money, but for peace in the middle of this struggle.
Give me wisdom to make the right decisions, and strength to keep trusting You.
You promised to provide—I’m holding on to that today.
Help me to be faithful, even when the numbers don’t add up.
Amen.
6. A Prayer for Strength to Overcome Anxiety
📖 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Lord Jesus,
My mind won’t stop racing, and my heart feels heavy with fear.
Anxiety grips me, and I feel powerless to stop it.
But You are not far—you are the God who calms the storm.
Give me strength to face today and peace to silence the what-ifs.
Help me hand over what I can’t control and rest in Your care.
Amen.
7. A Prayer for Strength When Grieving a Loss
📖 Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Faithful Father,
Grief feels like waves crashing over me when I least expect it.
Some days, I miss them so much I can hardly breathe.
Please give me strength to carry this loss and not shut down.
Help me remember them with love, not just pain.
Be my comfort in the sadness and my hope in the dark.
Amen.
8. A Prayer for Strength to Forgive and Move On
📖 Ephesians 4:31–32 – “Be kind and compassionate… forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
God Almighty,
I’ve been hurt, and I don’t know how to let go.
The weight of it lingers, and forgiveness feels impossible.
But I know bitterness will only keep me stuck.
Give me strength to forgive—not because they deserve it, but because You forgave me.
Help me release the hurt and find healing in Your grace.
Amen.
9. A Prayer for Strength in a Broken Relationship
📖 Romans 12:18 – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Lord Jesus,
This relationship feels strained, and I’m not sure how to fix it.
The pain, the silence, the misunderstandings—they’re all too much.
Give me the strength to speak with wisdom and love, even if the other person won’t.
Show me what’s mine to repair and what I need to release.
Above all, let peace—not pride—guide my steps.
Amen.
10. A Prayer for Strength During Depression or Darkness
📖 Psalm 34:17–18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Faithful God,
I feel numb. Lost. Like I’m walking through a fog with no end in sight.
Depression is real, and it’s heavy—but so are You.
Please be close when I can’t feel You, and speak hope when I can’t find it.
Give me strength to hold on for one more day.
Surround me with light, even if it’s just a flicker.
Amen.
11. A Prayer for Strength to Resist Temptation
📖 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear…”
Merciful Lord,
I’m wrestling with things I know aren’t good for me.
The pull is strong, and some days I feel like giving in.
Please give me strength to choose what’s right—even when it’s hard.
Remind me that I’m not alone in this fight, and You always offer a way out.
I want to walk in freedom, not regret.
Amen.
12. A Prayer for Strength When Facing the Unknown
📖 Proverbs 3:5–6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”
Gracious God,
The future feels uncertain, and that makes me anxious.
I like having a plan, but right now, I don’t even know the next step.
Help me trust You when the path isn’t clear.
Give me strength to move forward without having all the answers.
Let my faith be bigger than my fear.
Amen.
13. A Prayer for Strength When You Feel Spiritually Empty
📖 Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him…”
Father,
Lately, I feel dry inside—disconnected, worn down, even distant from You.
I want to feel Your presence again, but I don’t know how.
Please meet me in the silence and fill me with new strength.
Restore the joy of my faith and remind me why I still believe.
I may be empty, but You are never out of grace.
Amen.
14. A Prayer for Strength in Parenting Through Chaos
📖 Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you.”
King of kings,
Parenting is beautiful—but right now, it’s hard and messy and loud.
I feel like I’m failing, like I’m always behind or not enough.
Give me strength for one more conversation, one more deep breath, one more moment of grace.
Help me lead with love, not just rules.
And remind me: You love my kids even more than I do.
Amen.
15. A Prayer for Strength to Trust God’s Timing
📖 Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Heavenly Father,
I don’t understand why things aren’t happening yet.
I’ve prayed, waited, and hoped—and I’m still in the waiting.
Please give me strength not to rush ahead or give up too soon.
Help me trust that Your timing is perfect, even when mine feels urgent.
I know You’re working, even when I can’t see it.
Amen.
16. A Prayer for Strength at Work or in Your Career
📖 Colossians 3:23–24 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”
Gracious God,
Work has been draining—so many tasks, pressures, and expectations.
Some days I wonder if what I do even matters.
Give me the strength to work with integrity and purpose, even in small things.
Let me find joy in my efforts, and peace when the results are out of my hands.
I’m doing this for you, not for applause.
Amen.
17. A Prayer for Strength in Your Marriage
📖 1 Corinthians 13:7 – “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Dear Lord,
Marriage isn’t easy. We’re human—we clash, we drift, we hurt.
But I believe you can still heal, restore, and reconnect what feels strained.
Give me the strength to love with patience and humility, not just emotion.
Help us fight for each other, not against each other.
Let Your love guide ours when ours runs low.
Amen.
18. A Prayer for Strength When You’re Battling Fear
📖 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
O Father,
Fear creeps in, and whispers lies—telling me I’m not safe, not enough, not capable.
But I know those lies don’t come from You.
Give me the strength to push back the fear with truth.
Remind me who I am and whose I am.
Let Your perfect love cast out every shadow.
Amen.
19. A Prayer for Strength in a Season of Waiting
📖 Lamentations 3:25–26 – “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”
Lord Jesus,
Waiting is hard. I want answers, change, progress—but all I hear is “not yet.”
Give me strength not to rush ahead of You.
Teach me to wait with hope, not anxiety.
Even in the delay, let me trust that You are doing something good.
And when I grow restless, speak peace over my spirit.
Amen.
20. A Prayer for Strength When You Feel Alone
📖 Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Do not be afraid… the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Mighty Father,
Loneliness is loud. It echoes in the empty spaces and quiet nights.
But you promised I’m never truly alone.
Be near to me now—not in theory, but in ways I can feel.
Give me the strength to believe You’re with me, even when no one else is.
Hold me close until the silence starts to feel sacred.
Amen.
21. A Prayer for Strength to Praise Through the Pain
📖 Habakkuk 3:17–18 – “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
God Almighty,
Right now, praising You feels hard. Nothing looks how I hoped it would.
But I know You are still worthy—still good, even here.
Give me the strength to worship You in the middle of the mess.
To lift my hands even with tear-stained eyes.
Let my praise be an anchor when pain tries to pull me under.
Amen.
Signs you may need strength right now
Sometimes we keep going for a long time without noticing how tired we have become. These are a few signs you may need to slow down and ask God for strength again.
You feel overwhelmed or emotionally drained
If your mind will not rest, or you feel close to tears often, you may be carrying too much. That does not make you a bad Christian. It just means you need help.
You feel spiritually dry or tired of waiting
Waiting can feel heavy. There are seasons when prayer feels quiet, and nothing seems to change. If you feel worn out from waiting, you can bring that to God.
You feel like you must be strong for everyone
Some people are always the helper in the family or in church. They carry the worries of others and hide their own. If that is you, God cares about your heart, too. You are allowed to ask for strength.
You feel like giving up
Discouragement can slowly take the life out of you. If you are at that point, you do not have to pretend. You can be honest with God. He is not angry at your weakness.
How to pray for strength during difficult times when you don’t have the words
There are days when you want to pray but you don’t know what to say. God understands that.
Start small and be honest
A short prayer is still a real prayer. You can say, “Lord, help me.” You can say, “God, give me strength today.” That is enough to begin.
Ask for strength for today
Sometimes we feel crushed because we are thinking about everything at once. Try asking God for strength just for today. Tomorrow can wait.
Use Bible verses to help you pray
When your words feel empty, Scripture can guide you. Read one verse slowly. Then turn it into a simple prayer.
Keep a simple prayer rhythm
You don’t need a perfect routine. A quiet moment in the morning, a short pause in the day, or a prayer before sleep can help your heart stay steady.
Don’t carry it alone
If you can, ask someone you trust to pray with you. This is not a weakness. God often uses other believers to support us.
What can block your strength, and how to bring it to God
Sometimes the problem is not that God is far away. Sometimes we are weighed down in ways we don’t notice. These things can slowly drain strength.
Fear and overthinking
Shame and self-blame
Bitterness and old pain
Burnout and tiredness
Isolation and silence
You do not have to fix these things before you pray. Bring them to God as they are.
In the next part, we will move into the prayer section. Before the first prayer, there will be a short introduction to help you slow down and use the prayers in a calm, steady way.
Encouragement for the reader who feels like they’re failing
There may be days when you pray and still feel weak. That does not mean your prayers are useless or that your faith is broken.
You can be weak and still be faithful
Faith is not measured by how strong you feel. It is shown in your willingness to keep turning to God, even when your heart is tired.
God is near to the brokenhearted
God does not pull away when you struggle. He draws near. If you feel worn down or discouraged, His presence has not left you.
Strength often grows quietly
Not all growth is visible right away. Sometimes God is strengthening you in ways you will only understand later. Trust that He is at work, even when progress feels slow.
ConclusionÂ
You don’t have to pretend to be strong all the time. Real strength is found in surrender—in placing your weakness in God’s hands and trusting Him to carry you through it. That’s where prayer for strength during difficult times becomes more than just words. It becomes your lifeline.
These 21 prayers are not magic formulas, but faith declarations. They remind you that even when everything feels uncertain, God is still sure. He is still faithful. And He is still strong when you are not.
So keep praying. Keep hoping.
Even when it’s hard—especially when it’s hard—God is with you.
FAQs about prayers for strength during difficult times
What is a good short prayer for strength during difficult times?
A simple prayer is enough. You can say, “Dear Lord, please give me strength for today. Help me trust You and keep going.”
How do I pray when I feel emotionally exhausted?
Pray honestly and briefly. You don’t need long prayers. Even a few words spoken with sincerity matter to God.
Which Bible verse is best for strength in hard times?
Many people turn to Isaiah 41:10 because it reminds us that God strengthens and upholds us when we feel weak.
How often should I pray for strength?
You can pray for strength as often as you need. Some people pray in the morning, others throughout the day. There is no wrong time.
Why do I still feel weak after praying?
Feeling weak does not mean prayer failed. Strength often comes slowly. God may be steadying you even when your feelings haven’t caught up yet.
Can I pray for strength for someone else?
Yes. You can pray for strength for family members, friends, or anyone going through a hard season.
What should I do if my faith feels low during trials?
Bring that to God honestly. Low faith does not disqualify you. God meets you where you are and helps you grow, one step at a time.
