3 Scripture Based Prayers for Times of Stress, Uncertainty, and Trial

Have you ever been in a time of spiritual need, yet felt unsure how to express your deepest thoughts and emotions before God? The Psalms are a wonderful example of how to approach God in prayer in all circumstances, but they are not the only Scripture we can use to guide our prayers. All of God's Word holds power, offers us assurance of his promises, and is filled with the truth we need. Below are three prayers rooted in Scripture for times of stress, uncertainty, and trial. Use them to guide and spur on your own prayers to the Lord as you also anchor your heart back in his Word.

Lord, the cares of my heart are many today. Troubles press in on me and I can no longer hide from the anguish I feel. In moments like these, I know I must turn to you. The promises in your Word have the power to console and cheer my soul.

My flesh and my heart are failing me today, God. I am overwhelmed with various worries and need your strength. Thank you, Lord, for welcoming me to cast these burdens on you. In exchange, you offer me a yoke that is easy and light, where I am free from the need to perform and can walk at your side, upheld by your peace.

Help me to understand the cause of my stress today. Am I concerned with other people? Remind me I am yours and man can do me no harm. Am I worried about tomorrow? Teach me to trust you today and release tomorrow into your hands. Am I fearful of making a mistake or letting you down? Train my eyes upon your perfect love that casts out all my fears.

By faith, Lord, I will obey your command to not only bring every one of my concerns to you in prayer, but to rejoice in you despite every one. You are at hand. Your presence is near. That is reason enough to praise and give thanks.

You invite me to make every request in my heart known to you, but also fill me with hope that, should you not change my circumstance, I can still trust you. You promise to take every trial and every stress I encounter and use it to train me into steadfast faith. Open my eyes to see the gift that is and count it all joy today. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness in my times of stress. Amen.

• When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Psalm 94:19
• Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight. Psalm 119:143
• My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
• Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
• Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
• Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Psalm 118:5-6
• Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
• There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18
• Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice…The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:4-6
• Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:2-3

Heavenly Father, you are above and beyond all things, including time. You alone know the end from the beginning and have willed everything to be beautiful in its perfect time, set by your hand. It is not for me to know the times and seasons you established; it is for me to use the time you give me well.

Teach me to number my days, Lord. Give me a heart of wisdom so I may follow you. I do not wish to make futile plans apart from you, for I know it is you who establishes every one of my steps. Help me to not rush ahead of you in pride or fall behind you out of fear, but to walk with you, secure at your side.

When I grow weary, God, give me the strength I need to not give up. I trust your promise that I will reap reward for the good works you give me to do, even if I will not see some of them until eternity with you.

When trials come upon me, teach me to look to you. Open my understanding to your eternal perspective that knows these troubles are light and momentary and cannot compare to your eternal glory I will one day experience forever.

May I not forget that your patience and timing all serve a purpose - for more to be led to repentance and find salvation in you. Even as I wait for how you will work certain things out in my own life, I can make the most of every moment. As I wait, I can proclaim my hope and faith in you, pointing others to the good news of the gospel.

Above all else, may I never forget that you are exceedingly gracious and patient with me. From before the foundation of the world, you established the right time for your Son to come and die for the ungodly, including me. When I am tempted to complain over your timing, Lord, remind me of this truth. You are ever faithful and I can trust in you. Amen.

Scriptures referenced:

• He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
• He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Acts 1:7-8
• So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
• The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9
• And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
• For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
• But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
• For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

Lord, your Word teaches there is blessing and joy found in your presence. But I must confess I am struggling to find such joy in my current circumstances. I need you every day, Lord, but especially right now. Through this prayer, help me find rest in the peace of trusting you—for I know you do not forsake those who seek you.

Remind me, God, of your faithfulness, even when I do not see or understand how you are working. I commit my way to you, God, because I know you always act in a manner worthy of my trust. You promise to use every trial I face and every difficulty I go through for my sanctification—to make me more like Christ and to strengthen my faith so I may persevere for your glory. Give me eyes to see the great reward that is.

I recognize how easy it is to overlook your past faithfulness in my life. Or to forget your character as trustworthy, steadfast, righteous, and kind. Through my prayers, Lord, help me not forget you still deserve my praise. Your saving grace is my refuge, and your presence is always at hand to guard my heart and mind.

Root me in each of these assurances today, Lord. Refresh my spirit with the overflowing waters of your Spirit. And give me joy in knowing that whatever comes to pass today, it is momentary in light of eternity—when you will wipe every tear from my eyes and I will at last gaze upon your face. Amen.

Scriptures Referenced:

• You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
  
• And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10
• Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:5
  
• In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7
  
• Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
  
• Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12
  
• The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Psalm 28:7-8
  
• The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5b-7
  
• Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8
  
• He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
  
• For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12