17 Good Prayers for Discouragement

Discouragement can crush your dreams and aspirations, but if you take a deep breath and look to God, He will give you the right words to release this heaviness. Here are 17 good prayers for discouragement.

A Prayer in Times of Joblessness
My Heavenly Father, without a job, I feel I have no purpose. I know that there is a purpose You have given to me and I desire a job where I can fulfill this purpose. Just as You look after the sparrows and lilies, I know that You will look after me so much more. Help me remember not to worry or stress about finding work but instead to trust You. As You have taught me, let me ask for my daily bread and have the faith that You will provide it. May I look expectantly to a new day tomorrow with its possibilities. Amen.

A Prayer in Sporting Failure
Lord God, I acknowledge that all my athletic ability comes from You. Everything that I am and all that I do is ultimately for You. It is hard for me to bear when others see me fail. Let me use this loss to increase my dependence on You and to not give up. Strengthen my body and sharpen my skills so that I achieve my goals. While I did not get the result I wanted, the success I long for cannot be found in my performance alone. I will continue to find my satisfaction in You. Amen.

A Prayer in Times of Unexpected Financial Troubles
God Most High, I need You. Your Word says not to worry about tomorrow, but I cannot help but feel anxious about finances. Remind me that You are my provider. Remind me that everything in the world belongs to You. Remind me that my true treasure is in heaven and cannot be taken away from me. In this time, teach me contentment and help me to trust that You know what I need and that You can provide. As the psalmist states, give me neither poverty nor riches; I ask this for myself. In You only do I trust. Amen.

A Prayer in Times of Loneliness
Father God, help me to undeniably experience Your love. Your Word states that Your love is beyond comprehension. I feel so alone, Lord – help me to hold onto the truth that You are near to me. I want to overcome these feelings of loneliness. Give me a love and an understanding for others. Let me find a community of Your people where I can belong. Jesus, You understand what it is like to feel lonely, but You also knew that You were never alone because the Father was with You. Thank You that You are with me, just as the Father was with You. Amen.

A Prayer after Rejection
Dear God, I know that nothing in all creation could ever separate me from the love of Christ. In the face of rejection, help me to take joy in that truth; You have not rejected me. You have accepted me; my worth comes from my identity as Your child which came through believing in Your Son, not from anything or anyone else. You loved me and chose me in Christ to be holy and without fault in Your eyes. Let me be grounded in my heavenly citizenship, accepted by You. I take joy in You, the God who loves me. Amen.

A Prayer in Times of Disappointment with Personal Fitness
My God, I am struggling with motivation and feel like I have failed again at trying to get fit. You say in Your Word that physical training is of value, however, my actions have not reflected that instruction. Let me remember to first train in godliness, which is far more valuable, so that I may also train my body well. Even so, help me seek to do all things knowing that I am already accepted just as I am through the cross of Christ. I am not defined by what I do, but by what You have done. Thank You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Prayer When There Is a Difficult Relationship
Father, I am having a difficult time with someone, and I do not know how to navigate my relationship with them. Please help me to be patient and value him/her as You do. Help me make the effort to grow in my relationships with this person. Open my ears and mind so I can understand this person better. Help us mend our differences and grow closer together. I know how good and pleasant it is when Your people live together in unity. Lord, I love You. Amen.

A Prayer When Receiving Criticism
Holy God, I confess that my pride is hurt. I am tempted to take this criticism as an attack on my worth. I need Your help to imitate Paul in the way he received criticism and respond with grace. Keep me from my pride. My worth is from You and not from others. Strengthen my security in that truth. Let me not resort to harsh words but reply with meekness and grace. Grant me the wisdom to respond well and in a way that honors the life to which You have called me. Help me to know that nothing said to me changes my status with You. Amen.

A Prayer When Plans Are Canceled
Sovereign God, You are the God who knows the beginning from the end. You know that I have organized and made plans, which have now come to nothing. In my disappointment with these canceled plans, I need to be reminded of Your goodness already present in my life. I will meditate on Your Word, which reminds me that the steps of a good man are directed by the Lord. You are my comfort and hope. Amen.

A Prayer to Remind Me
Father God, You are my rock in uncertainty, my hope in discouragement. This uncertainty will not last, and I trust that even now, You are sure of what the future holds for me. As You reminded the prophet Habakkuk, so remind me that even though the fig tree does not blossom, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. Make my feet like a deer and let them tread in high places. It is hard to trust in hard times, but grant me the faith to do so. You are my steadfast rock. My certainty is in Jesus, the cornerstone. Amen.

A Prayer When Passed over for a Promotion
Lord God, I have invested so much at my workplace, only for me to be passed over for this promotion. In the face of dismay, let me take joy in You, the God of my salvation. I know there is still good work that You have prepared for me to do. Grant me grace and humility towards my boss and colleagues that I might demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit in how I respond to this situation. Keep me from being envious of how You bless others, but instead to trust in Your goodness already given to me. I trust in the name of the Lord, my God. Amen.

A Prayer When Misunderstood
Heavenly Father, You know every thought that is on my mind. You are the God who infinitely understands me. When others misunderstand me, I feel frustrated. More than that, I feel discouraged. Keep feelings of discouragement and frustration away from my mind. Let me remember how often people misunderstood Your servants and maligned them, and yet You sustained them – sustain me, Lord! Most of all, remind me of how much Your Son, Jesus, endured even unto death. Let me imitate His humility. Amen.

A Prayer in Poor Health
God, my Deliverer, I am tired. I am tired of being sick and resentful of my health issues. Lord, I long for healing, and I ask that You do so if it’s according to Your will. But, above all, give me patience in the way Paul had patience with his health conditions – make me more aware of Your grace and its sufficiency for me. I am sure of Your promise of one day receiving a new body and to enjoy the glorification awaiting those who believe. Thank You for Your comfort. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Prayer When Lacking Confidence with Personal Appearance
Father in Heaven, I feel like I am not the way I am supposed to be, and I struggle to be comfortable in my own skin. But You have created me just as I am. You have knit me together in my mother’s womb. I have been fearfully and wonderfully made. You have instilled me with Your very image, Lord God. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, You have demonstrated how incredibly valuable I am in Your eyes. My value does not come from how I appear to myself or others but how I appear to You. I choose to cling to my worth in You. Amen.

A Prayer When Discouraged in Parenting
Father God, I need Your help. I love my child(ren), but I am at a loss as to how best to be a parent to them, and I doubt my abilities. Only by Your power can I do Your will and honor You by the way I parent the children You have given me. Lord, when I am tempted to despair, let me remember how patient You are towards me. Help me to rely on Your Spirit to produce the fruit of patience within me. I need it to come from You. I have run out of my own patience. Thank You for adopting me as Your own child. Amen.

A Prayer When Wrestling with Guilt
Merciful God, I am weighed down with feelings of guilt and shame. I take comfort that You know my every action, and yet You still love me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Thank You that through the blood that Jesus has shed on the cross, You have paid for every sin – past, present, and future. I confess my wrongdoing before You and I hold onto Your promise of forgiveness. Help me now to see myself as You see me – bearing the righteousness of Christ. Let me live according to Your truth. I pray this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

A Prayer When Lacking Motivation in Study
My Father in Heaven, I am unmotivated and easily distracted in my academic pursuits. I often feel like I am not doing as well as I should. Grant me an increase in the fruit of patience and self-control by Your Spirit. Assist me in walking by Your Spirit so that I may focus on my study and honor You by studying to the best of my ability. Change my perspective on study so that I see it as a way I glorify You in this aspect of my life. Keep me from procrastination and lack of motivation. Give me the energy to tackle the subjects I have before me. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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