Have you ever felt so drained and exhausted that you no longer know what to do? Have you ever wallowed in a seemingly infinite sea of despair and hopelessness, unsure if you can ever recover from a dark phase of your life?
Hard work and endurance are prerequisites to success, and without them, we will forever remain in our comfort zone, never testing and growing our capacity. On days when a comfortable life seems impossible, rest for a while in God’s loving embrace. These prayers for resilience will help strengthen our hearts and remind us that the Lord is with us, He will never forsake us as long as we hold on to our faith.
Prayers for resilience
Lord God, my Comfort and Strength,
I open my heart and bare before You everything that troubles and burdens my heart. You’ve seen how I struggled, O Lord, and how hard everything has been crashing down on me. Sometimes, I feel like I’m drowning in fear and problems, and resurfacing seems like an impossible dream. Like a raging storm, my worries are quick to bring chaos into my life, destroying many of the things I’ve built for myself. But despite all that, I am grateful for the strong foundations I have that continue to help me withstand life’s struggles: my loved ones, my own self, and You.
I beg forgiveness for the times I let You down and turned my back on You. I am stained with sin and vulnerable to the devil’s temptations, and many of my mistakes are driven by my own greed, fear, and carelessness. Forgive me for the countless sins I’ve done against You, O Lord. I only ask for mercy; cleanse my soul and do not leave me behind to rot in evil, but lead me to righteousness.
Thank You for the gift of family, friends, and a healthy and loving support system. There are many, many struggles that I’ve never shared with them, but still, I am beyond grateful to know that they are always there for me, that they are one call away whenever I need them. Through them, I feel Your love and care; through their embraces, I feel Your grace and mercy. I cherish them more than I treasure my most valuable material possessions, for they are the greatest treasures of my life, my comforts amidst my storms.
Thank You for making me strong and capable of withstanding countless trials. I apologize for the times when I doubted myself and questioned Your love for me. I’m sorry for the days where I saw myself as lacking, incapable, weak, and failing. To see myself as that is to blaspheme the magnificent work of Your hands.
Lord God, with this prayer for resilience, I humbly ask You to fill my heart with bravery and give my body strength as I face the storms before me. Help me withstand the strong gusts that threaten to knock me out and the rains that pour to flood my life with negativity. When I am down, help me pick myself up and rise to meet every challenge. Remind me of Your presence always. I know that all my worries will pass. One day, I will finally have a breath of fresh air, and I will behold before me the rewards of all my hard work and faithfulness. Until then, keep me strong and inspire me to keep going. Guide me, O Lord, every step of the way.
Amen.
Short prayer for resilience
Heavenly Father, grant me courage and a strong will to overcome the challenges that life throws at me. Help me rise despite the forces that seek to destroy me and Your plans for me. Deliver me from evil and lead me to success. No matter what trials I face, I know in my heart that my faith in You and the mission I have on earth will keep me going. Amen.
The Word of God
Though the fig tree does not blossom and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 NRSVUE
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm. Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness
Ephesians 6:10-14 NRSVUE
Intercessory prayer to Saint Jude Thaddeus
Blessed Saint Jude, loyal apostle of Jesus,
You endured many difficult trials as you went out and preached the Gospel to the world. You tirelessly traveled to many nations and touched the hearts and souls of those yet to meet God and his wondrous plan for all of us. You saved countless souls and enlightened them with the good news of Jesus’ sacrifice and the salvation of humanity. I pray that the Lord has rewarded you with many stars on your crown in heaven, for you have served Him with unquestioned loyalty and resilience.
Grant me resilience and courage in times of hardship and failure. Saint Jude, help me persevere through hardships and trials. Inspire me and ignite my heart with passion and a drive for success, just as the Holy Spirit inspired you to use your voice to preach about God. When my body runs out of strength, and I feel like giving up, please pick me up and remind me that I am capable, strong, brave, and can do it. Let me rest, and then help me stand back up and fight once more. I know in my heart that all my struggles will be worth it.
Saint Jude, hear my humble plea. Pray for me. Amen.
Further reflection
We all go through our own personal struggles, and our individual experiences set us apart from others. What pains us may be different from what troubles others. Always remember to be kind and empathetic to everyone because we are vastly unaware of the struggles behind each face we see each day.
Don’t forget to rest and recharge every now and then. We cannot climb a mountain without sitting down once in a while and enjoying the view. We must remind ourselves that we are human and progress requires effort paired with the right amount of rest. Rest is not about giving up–in fact; it helps us gain momentum so we can propel ourselves even further up the path. Don’t be afraid to dedicate time for self-care and reflect on accomplishments, both big and small.
Most of all, remember God and make time for Him through daily prayer. Count our blessings, for they outnumber our failures. Be grateful for all things, even for hardships–without them, we will never grow stronger, braver, and wiser. Finally, hold on to our faith, for it will be our lifeline and our anchor through the heaviest storms.
