Prayer
Choose whatever is actually true today. You do not have to be calm, sure, or grateful first, and prayer is never offered here in place of medical, therapeutic, legal, or emergency help.
For nights when fear is louder than everything else.
For nights when fear is louder than everything else.
God, I am afraid, and I do not want to pretend otherwise.
Stay close. Slow my breathing. Hold what I cannot hold.
If there is something I need to do to be safe, help me see it clearly, and help me find someone who can help. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Psalm 23:4 · Isaiah 41:10
Open this prayer on its own pageFor the hours when your mind will not stop, and morning feels far away.
Lord, it is late, and I am still awake with everything I cannot fix tonight.
I hand it to you again, and probably will again after that. That is all right.
Quiet the thoughts that keep circling. Let my body rest even if my mind is slow to follow. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Psalm 4:8
Open this prayer on its own pageFor hearings, filings, and days when the outcome is out of your hands.
God, you know exactly what is at stake today, even the parts I cannot explain to anyone else.
Give me a clear head and a steady voice. Give my lawyer, advocate, or support person wisdom.
Let the truth be heard. Whatever the outcome, do not let me face what comes next alone. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Psalm 27:1-3
Open this prayer on its own pageGrief is not a failure of faith.
Grief is not a lack of faith. It is love with nowhere to go.
Lord, I miss them. Some days that is all the prayer I have.
You wept at the grave of your friend, so I know grief does not offend you.
Keep them in your mercy, and keep me from despair. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
John 11:33-35
Open this prayer on its own pageWords for the bedside, when there is nothing left to fix.
Lord Jesus, be with N. now.
Take away fear. Take away pain. Let them know they are not alone.
Mary, Mother of God, pray for them at this hour.
Into your hands, Father, we commend their spirit. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Luke 23:46
Open this prayer on its own pageThe Psalms say this out loud too.
You are allowed to say this out loud. The Psalms do.
God, I am angry with you. Where were you?
I am not going to be polite about this, because you already know.
If you are who they say you are, you can take my anger without leaving. So I am staying here, angry, in front of you. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Psalm 13:1-2 · Psalm 88
Open this prayer on its own pageSometimes one sentence is a whole prayer.
God, I'm here.
That's all I've got today.
Help.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Romans 8:26
Open this prayer on its own pageNothing here asks you to forgive today, or to go back.
Prayer that asks nothing of you except honesty. It does not ask you to forgive today.
God, what happened to me was wrong. It was not your will, and it was not my fault.
I do not have words for most of it. Receive it anyway.
Protect me. Give me people who believe me. Give me safety, and time.
Where I cannot yet pray, let your Spirit pray in me. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Psalm 34:18 · Romans 8:26 · Psalm 13:1-2
Open this prayer on its own pageFor families that are close, complicated, or estranged.
Lord, you know my family exactly as it is.
Bless the ones I am close to, and the ones I cannot be near right now.
Where there is harm, bring it into the light. Where there is love, make it stronger. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Open this prayer on its own pagePrayed alongside medical and clinical care, never instead of it.
For bodies that are struggling, and the fear that comes with that.
Lord, this body is tired, and so am I.
You do not need me to be brave right now. You just need me to let you stay close.
Be with the people caring for me. Steady the people who love me and are frightened for me.
Whatever happens next, do not let me face it alone. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
James 5:14-15 · Psalm 41:3
Open this prayer on its own pageFor the days recovery feels impossible, and the days it feels almost possible.
God, you know what has a hold on me.
I am not asking for it to disappear by tomorrow. I am asking for the next right hour.
Where I am ashamed, meet me without judgment. Where I am tempted today, be louder than the craving.
Give me people who will tell me the truth and stay anyway. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Open this prayer on its own pageFor the hours when your mind will not stop, and morning feels far away.
Lord, it is late, and I am still awake with everything I cannot fix tonight.
I hand it to you again, and probably will again after that. That is all right.
Quiet the thoughts that keep circling. Let my body rest even if my mind is slow to follow. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Psalm 4:8
Open this prayer on its own pageFor the ordinary weight that nobody sees.
For the fear underneath job loss and the wait for something to change.
God, my worth was never supposed to depend on a paycheck, but it is hard to remember that some days.
Provide for what my family and I need. Open a door I cannot yet see.
Keep me from despair while I wait, and keep me from giving up on myself. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Matthew 6:31-33
Open this prayer on its own pageFor the exhaustion and love of raising children without the help you should have had.
Lord, there is no one else on shift with me tonight, and I am tired in a way that sleep does not fix.
Thank you for these children. Help me love them well even on the days I am running on nothing.
Send people who will actually show up. Show me I am not failing just because this is hard. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Open this prayer on its own pageIf this is you right now, please also call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US) or contact local emergency services. This prayer does not replace that call.
If you are in crisis right now, please also call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or contact local emergency services. This prayer does not replace that call.
God, I don't know if I can keep going, and I am not going to pretend otherwise in front of you.
You already see how much pain I am in. I am not asking you to explain it. I am asking you to help me survive the next hour.
If there is a person I can call, put their name in front of me. If there is a number I need to call, give me the will to dial it.
Stay with me in whatever is left of tonight. Amen.
Written for this site, not a traditional prayer of the Church.
Open this prayer on its own pagePraying and asking for help are not competing options. If any of the above describes where you are tonight, these lines are staffed around the clock.
