7 Prayers That Work

When you experience trauma and grief, you feel hopeless. The future is frightening. But God's promises are powerful.  Pray this prayer, based on Isaiah's prophecies in Isaiah 49 :  God of heaven, You declare great things over me-- help me to believe them! You say, "You have formed me and designed me for your purpose. No matter what I've done,  no thing is too hard for you to redeem ." You say, "You who are overlooked and hated, some day, you will be noticed and accepted. The Lord is faithful ." You say, "In good times, I will pour out my blessing on you; I will covenant to you to set you free from darkness. You will find sustenance on every hill. You will not hunger or thirst. I will make roads for you where there are none. My compassion will lead you." Shout for joy! The Lord remembers his people; he will comfort me in distress. It's not possible for a mother to forget her nursing baby; it is not possible for you to forget me. You have eng...

  "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again." ( John 12:27-28) Oh, God, I'm really sad . I feel overwhelmed . It's not any one thing-- I just feel a heavy weight of so many concerns , fears, and disappointments. I feel lost. Although you always knew your purpose on earth, and you always knew how things would end, you were sad, too. Maybe the knowing is worse than the not-knowing? You knew the enormity of your calling. But what if I'm not sure of mine? What if I've gotten off track? What if I've ruined everything? Please take my sadness away-- I'll try to give it to you. I know you can transform it into something beautiful and worthy, something life-giving. Hear me, Lord. Wipe my tears. Hold my heart . Wrap me in your comforting arms. ...

Dear God of all comfort, You get grief. It sucks, doesn't it? Grief interrupts the joy of living and suffocates you. It's like dying but knowing you will eventually come up for air, and you will not pass out. You will live through it. You get it. You felt grief in the sharpest way possible. You were betrayed and rejected by the object of your love and sacrifice. And then you were rejected by your Father. You bore the weight of the sins of the whole world--the horrific acts of violence, cruelty, and debauchery. You felt them and You wore them as You died. And because You know what grief is, You are the only true comforter. So comfort us. Spread Your peace like a quilt over the shoulders of those who grieve parents, children, and the lives they hoped to live. Give each of us hope and confidence that You have a plan for us--You will prosper and keep us in Your perfect will. Grief is just a part of Your will. It's just not the part we wanted to experience. To und...