Prayers for Strength: When You Are Worn Out, Afraid or Tempted

An Anglican collect

The Book of Common Prayer appoints this collect for the First Sunday after Trinity. It confesses that we can do nothing good without God’s help, and it asks for the grace to do his will.

O GOD, the strength of all those who put their trust in thee; Mercifully accept our prayers; and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer (1928), The First Sunday after Trinity, pp. 188–189

When problems pile up and life gets really hard, it is easy to feel weak and alone, and that is when we most need to turn to God for strength. He has promised to be with us and to help us through any storm, so we can ask him for the courage and hope to face it.

Heavenly Father,

I come to You today because I am facing troubles that feel too big for me to handle on my own. I feel tired and overwhelmed, Lord, and I need Your divine strength to get through this. Your Word says that You are my rock and my fortress, a very present help in times of trouble. I hold onto that promise now.

Please, God, fill me with Your power. Help me to stand firm and not be shaken by the difficulties around me. Give me the courage to face each challenge with the assurance that You are by my side. Remind me that even when I can’t see the way, You are making a path for me. Help me to trust in Your plan and to feel Your peace that passes all understanding. Lift my spirits, Lord, and renew my hope. Help me to see Your hand at work, even in the midst of these trials. I need Your wisdom to make good decisions and Your strength to keep going when I want to give up.

Thank You for being a loving God who hears my prayers. Thank You for never leaving me nor forsaking me. I place all my worries and fears at Your feet and ask for Your mighty strength to carry on.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Every one of us is tempted, pulled toward things we know are not right or good for us. Some temptations are small and some are big, but all of them draw us away from God’s best, and when we pray for strength against them, we are asking God to help us choose rightly and stand firm.

Dear Lord,

I come before You today acknowledging that I face temptations that try to lead me astray. Sometimes the desire to do what is wrong feels so strong, and I know that in my own power, I am weak. Your Word teaches that You will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, and that with the temptation, You will also provide a way out. I am asking for that way out now, Lord, and for the strength to take it.

Please, God, strengthen my resolve. Help me to recognize temptation when it comes and give me the wisdom to turn away from it immediately. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I have the power to say “no” to sin and “yes” to You. Help me to keep my thoughts pure and my actions aligned with Your will. Remind me of Your love and the sacrifice Jesus made for me, so that I will want to honor You in all that I do. When I feel weak, Lord, be my strength. Guard my heart and my mind.

Thank You for Your forgiveness when I do fall, and thank You for the strength You give me to get back up and try again. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Of all that God asks of us, forgiving the people who have hurt us is one of the hardest. It often feels unfair, and the pain makes us want to hold on to our anger, yet God knows that refusing to forgive keeps us trapped. So we ask him for the strength to let the hurt go and to show the grace he has shown us.

Gracious Father,

I come to You today with a heavy heart, struggling to forgive those who have wronged me. The pain they caused feels deep, and part of me wants to hold onto the anger and resentment. But Your Word calls me to forgive, just as You have forgiven me. Lord, I confess that I cannot do this on my own. I need Your divine strength.

Please, soften my heart. Help me to see the person who hurt me through Your eyes. Give me the courage to let go of the desire for revenge and the need to hold onto this pain. Fill me with Your love, a love that is powerful enough to overcome any hurt. Help me to release the bitterness that binds me and to find freedom in forgiveness. Remind me of the immense forgiveness You extended to me through Jesus Christ, and inspire me to show that same mercy to others. Grant me the strength not just to say the words “I forgive,” but to truly mean them from my heart and to live them out.

Thank You for Your patience with me as I learn to forgive. Thank You for the peace that comes from obedience to Your command.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives, and we call it his will. Sometimes it is clear, and sometimes it is hard to understand or to follow, especially when it means doing something difficult or unpopular. So we ask him for the courage, the ability and the desire to follow where he leads, in everything.

Lord God Almighty,

I desire to live a life that pleases You and fulfills the purpose You have for me. But I confess that sometimes I don’t know what Your will is, or I lack the courage and strength to follow it when I do. My own desires and fears can get in the way. Today, I ask for Your divine strength to know Your will and to carry it out with a joyful and obedient heart.

Please, Holy Spirit, guide me. Give me wisdom to understand Your direction and discernment to recognize Your voice above all others. Strengthen me to step out in faith, even when the path is unclear or requires sacrifice. Help me to trust that Your plans are always for my good and Your glory, even if I don’t understand them fully. Remove any hesitation or fear from my heart and replace it with a bold confidence in You. Give me the perseverance to continue in Your will, even when it becomes challenging. Let my actions speak of Your love and truth.

Thank You for inviting me to partner with You in Your work. Thank You for the strength that You provide, which is made perfect in my weakness.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sometimes it is our bodies that feel weak, from sickness, from tiredness or from growing old. God gives strength to our bodies as well as to our spirits, and when we are frail we can ask him to touch us with healing, with endurance, or with peace.

Compassionate Father,

I come before You today feeling physically weak. My body is tired, and I lack the energy I need. Whether this weakness is from illness, fatigue, or the natural trials of life, I ask for Your renewing strength. You are the Great Physician, and You understand every part of my being.

Lord, if it is Your will, I pray for healing and restoration. Please touch my body and bring relief from what ails me. Give wisdom to those who are providing care. But even more than physical healing, I pray for Your strength to endure this time of weakness with grace and patience. Help me to find rest in You and to not become discouraged. Remind me that my true strength comes from You, and that even when my body is weak, my spirit can be strong in Christ. Help me to use this time to draw closer to You, to learn what You want to teach me, and to find contentment in Your presence. May Your peace guard my heart and mind.

Thank You that You care for every aspect of my life, including my physical well-being. Thank You for being my strength when I am weak.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The life of faith is not always easy, and it is more like a long race than a short one, with times of doubt, discouragement and spiritual dryness along the way. So we ask God for the strength to keep trusting him, keep following him and keep growing closer to him, whatever comes.

Faithful God,

I thank You for the gift of faith, but I admit that sometimes it is hard to keep going. Doubts can creep in, my passion can fade, and the challenges of life can make me want to give up on what I believe. Today, I ask You for the strength to persevere. I want my faith to be strong and unwavering, rooted deeply in You.

Please, Lord, renew my spirit. Remind me of all the reasons I first came to believe in You – Your love, Your grace, Your power. Help me to see Your faithfulness in my past and to trust in Your promises for my future. When I feel my faith weakening, send Your Holy Spirit to encourage me and lift me up. Give me a hunger for Your Word and a desire to spend time in prayer, so that my faith can be nourished and grow. Surround me with fellow believers who can support me and help me stay on the right path. Help me to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith, and to run with endurance the race set before me.

Thank You for being a God who never gives up on me. Thank You for the strength You provide to keep believing, even when it’s hard.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God calls us to love others as he has loved us, without conditions, even when they are difficult, when they do not deserve it, or when they do not love us back. None of us can love like that on our own. It takes a strength only God can give, and so we ask him to help us love as Jesus loved.

Most Loving Father,

Your greatest commandment is to love You and to love others as ourselves. I desire to obey this command, but I find it so hard to love unconditionally. My patience runs thin, I get frustrated, and sometimes I want to love only those who are easy to love or who love me in return. I need Your strength, Lord, to love like Jesus.

Please, pour Your perfect love into my heart through the Holy Spirit. Help me to see others through Your eyes – to see their worth and their needs. Give me the strength to be patient, kind, and compassionate, even with those who are unkind to me or who have hurt me. Help me to forgive quickly and to not hold grudges. Give me the grace to love my enemies and to pray for those who persecute me, just as You instructed. Remove any selfishness or pride that prevents me from loving generously. Make me a channel of Your love to a world that so desperately needs it. May my actions and words consistently show Your unconditional love.

Thank You for first loving me, even when I was unlovable. Thank You for the example of Jesus, whose entire life was an act of love. Give me the strength to follow His example.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As followers of Christ we are called to share our faith and tell others about the hope we have in Jesus, and that is what it means to be a witness. It can be frightening to talk about what we believe, and we may worry what others will think, so we ask God for the courage, the wisdom and the right words to share his love.

Lord Jesus,

You have called us to be Your witnesses and to share the Good News of Your salvation with everyone. I want to obey this command, but I confess that I often feel afraid or unsure of how to speak about my faith. I worry about saying the wrong thing, or about people rejecting me or Your message. I need Your strength and boldness.

Please, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, who gives power and courage. Help me to see opportunities to share Your love and truth in my daily life. Give me the right words to say, words that are gentle and respectful, yet clear and compelling. Help me to live a life that backs up my testimony, so that others can see Your goodness in me. Remove my fear of what others might think, and replace it with a deep love for them and a desire for them to know You. Give me wisdom to know when to speak and when to simply listen and show Your love through my actions. May I be a clear reflection of Your light in the world.

Thank You for the privilege of being Your ambassador. Thank You for promising to be with me as I go. Give me the strength to faithfully represent You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Bible tells us that we are in a spiritual battle against forces of darkness that want to pull us away from God and his truth. The battle can come as temptation, discouragement or doubt, or as an attack on our faith. So we ask God to arm us, protect us and give us his power to stand firm and overcome the enemy.

Almighty God, our Warrior King,

Your Word reminds us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. I know that I cannot fight these battles in my own strength. I need Your power, Your armor, and Your wisdom to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy.

Lord, please equip me with the full armor of God that You have provided: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. Help me to put on this armor every day and to use it effectively. Give me discernment to recognize the enemy’s schemes and lies. Strengthen my faith so that I can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me courage to resist temptation and to stand strong in the face of spiritual opposition. Remind me that Jesus has already won the ultimate victory, and that in Him, I am more than a conqueror.

Thank You for Your protection and for the power that is available to me through Christ. Help me to always rely on Your strength and not my own.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Every day brings its burdens: work, the needs of our families, money worries and the many small stresses that add up until we feel tired and overwhelmed. We can ask God to help us carry them with his grace and power, so that they do not crush our spirits.

Gracious Lord,

Each day brings its own set of tasks, responsibilities, and sometimes, unexpected burdens. I often feel the weight of these things, and I can become weary and stressed. Jesus, You invited those who are weary and burdened to come to You for rest. I come to You now, asking for Your strength to carry what this day holds.

Please give me the physical energy, mental clarity, and emotional stability I need to face my responsibilities. Help me to prioritize what is truly important and to not become overwhelmed by a long list of tasks. Grant me patience when things don’t go as planned and wisdom to handle challenging situations. Help me to do my work with diligence and a good attitude, as if I am serving You directly. Most of all, Lord, help me to cast all my anxieties on You, because You care for me. Lighten my load by sharing it with me. Remind me that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light when I walk with You.

Thank You for Your promise to sustain me and to give strength to the weary. Help me to walk through this day with Your power upholding me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sometimes we have to speak the truth even when it is hard or uncomfortable, whether we are correcting someone, sharing an unpopular view that comes from our faith, or dealing with a problem. We need to do it with grace and love rather than harshly or judgmentally, and so we ask God for the wisdom and courage to speak well and lovingly.

Lord of Truth and Love,

You have called us to speak the truth in love. I know there will be times when I need to share something that might be difficult for others to hear, or when I must stand up for what is right. In these moments, Lord, I pray for Your strength and wisdom. I don’t want to speak out of anger, pride, or frustration.

Please give me the courage to speak when I should, and the wisdom to know what to say and how to say it. Help me to choose my words carefully, so that they are both truthful and full of grace, seasoned with salt. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that Your love flows through my words and actions. Help me to be gentle and patient, even if the truth is met with resistance. Guard my heart from self-righteousness, and help me to remember that I too am in need of Your grace. May my aim always be to build others up and to bring glory to Your name, not to win an argument or tear someone down.

Thank You for the example of Jesus, who always spoke truth with perfect love and compassion. Give me the strength to follow His lead.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Life can feel chaotic, with busy schedules, unexpected problems and a world full of noise and turmoil. In the middle of it God offers us his peace, which is different from the world’s because it does not depend on everything going well. We can ask him for the strength to hold on to his calming presence whatever is happening around us.

Prince of Peace,

My world often feels chaotic and overwhelming. There is so much noise, so many demands, and so many things that cause anxiety and stress. In the midst of all this turmoil, Lord, I desperately need Your peace. Your Word says that You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on You, because they trust in You. I ask for the strength to fix my mind on You.

Please calm the storm within my heart, even if the storms around me continue to rage. Help me to trust in Your sovereignty and Your goodness, knowing that You are in control even when everything feels out of control. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, who brings comfort and tranquility. Guard my heart and mind from fear and worry. Help me to find quiet moments with You, to be still and know that You are God. Give me the strength to let go of the things I cannot control and to rest in Your loving care. May Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, rule in my heart today.

Thank You for being my anchor in the storms of life. Thank You for the gift of Your unshakeable peace. Help me to live in that peace today and every day.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.