Christian Pure

Prayers for Hope and Better Days When Life Is Hard

Christian Pure Team

·

Published

·

Updated

Summary

  • Short prayers cover hope itself, strength to keep going, a better tomorrow, the future, long waiting, a decision, loneliness, a fresh start after failure, money worries, peace, thankfulness and someone else who has lost hope.
  • Traditional prayers are quoted from the 1888 Catholic Manual of Prayers (the Act of Hope) and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer (“For Trustfulness” and “For Quiet Confidence”).
  • Julian of Norwich, an English anchoress who received her visions in 1373, recorded the words “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”
  • Jeremiah 29:11 was written to Jews exiled in Babylon and set against “seventy years” of exile; it describes God’s intentions toward his people rather than a quick change of circumstances.
  • Anyone who has lost hope to the point of thinking about suicide is directed to 988 in the US and Samaritans (116 123) in the UK and Ireland.

A prayer for better days can be this short: “Lord, this season is hard. Give me hope for tomorrow, strength for today and eyes to see where you are already at work. Amen.” Psalm 30:5 holds the same hope: “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” If hope has run out and you are thinking about ending your life, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK…

Continue reading with a subscription

Get unlimited access to all our premium content and exclusive features.

Subscribe now

Enjoy unlimited access, cancel anytime.

Bibliography (Click to show)
  • Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (1611), text of Project Gutenberg eBook no. 10 (Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 27:13–14; 30:5; 42:11; Proverbs 3:5–6; Isaiah 30:15; 40:31; Jeremiah 29:1, 7, 10–11, 13; Lamentations 3:21–23; Micah 7:8; Matthew 6:33–34; Romans 5:3–5; 15:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:7; Hebrews 6:19; Revelation 21:4). https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10
  • A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity, prepared and published by order of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore. New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1888. Morning Prayers, “An Act of Hope,” p. 53. https://archive.org/details/AManualOfPrayers1888
  • The Book of Common Prayer (Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.), Standard Book of 1928. Family Prayer, “For Quiet Confidence,” p. 595, and “For Trustfulness,” p. 596. PDF facsimile: https://www.artisticdailyprayers.org/uploads/3/0/1/6/30164961/bcp1928std.pdf
  • Julian of Norwich. Revelations of Divine Love, edited by Grace Warrack. London: Methuen, 1901. Chapter 27. Project Gutenberg eBook no. 52958. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52958
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/
  • Samaritans. “Contact Samaritans.” https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Discover more from Christian Pure

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

RedditWhatsApp
Share to...
CopyLinkedInMastodonPinterestPrintRedditSMSThreadsWhatsAppBlueskyVK