A Prayer for Renewed Hope in Times of Weariness
By Christine F. Perry
Bible Reading
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 NKJV
Listen or Read Below:
Do you think you could pray and wait for 50+ years for an answer? The thought of doing anything for fifty years can be overwhelming. Sometimes, just thinking about doing something for another year, day, or moment is overwhelming. We may think the following phrases to ourselves: "If I have to cook dinner without getting a thank you, I may walk out," or "If I have to go to one more wedding as a single person, I may scream." But there may be situations that are even harder to face. Like praying for healing from a prolonged illness. Asking God to change the heart of your wayward child or spouse. Petitioning heaven for a spouse, a family, salvation for a loved one, healing, restoration, or simply for guidance.
Sometimes, it seems that the harder and longer we ask, the worse things seem to get. You may be tempted to quit. You may feel like Jeremiah did when he said this in Lamentations 3:7-12:
“He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains. Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer. He has barred my way with blocks of stone; he has made my paths crooked. Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding, he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help. He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrows. He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver.”
Maybe you've been wrestling with God. Perhaps you have been faithfully praying, yet you hear nothing. It can feel as though God is not listening, and it can feel crushing. I want to encourage you to keep pouring everything out to the Lord. Don't hold back. Jeremiah didn't. Later on in this same chapter, in verses 21-26, Jeremiah says this:
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”
Friends, the Lord is good to those who wait for Him, and we will reap a harvest if we don't give up. Just because it has not come yet and we have had to wait longer than we would like, it does not mean the Lord has forgotten you or that He is not listening. I know life can be tiring, and doing good is exhausting at times, but God is with us in the midst of it — even if we don't feel His presence. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is for us.
Let's pray:
Dear Lord,
Your Word says in Isaiah 40:30-31, "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint." Lord, you know exactly what each reader is weary from. You see them, and you see their situation. Lord, I pray that you would help us all to hope in you and you alone. Father, you say in Psalm 46:1 that you are "…our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Later on in this same Psalm, it says, "Be still, and know that I am God." Lord, we are tired and weary. We need You. We are asking for your strength for one more day to face the situations we are dealing with. Lord, we love you. Please help us not to grow weary in doing good. Please infuse us with your peace and joy today. I pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/lmtrochezz
Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website: Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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