Photo by Abbie Bernet on Unsplash

Do you ever struggle with bouts of discouragement or depression?  Are you familiar with the voices in your head or the unsettled, unrelenting emotions deep within, and you just long for some peace?  I want to share with you an honest prayer when you are tired of feeling bad.

Throughout my life, I’ve had plenty of dark days.  Whether those dark times came from grief, crazy hormones, doubt, or pain of some other kind, it was far too easy to want to despair and even give up.

But God has always been calling me to hope, to have a confident expectation in Him and His goodness.  As I’ve been thinking about being a Hope Dweller, I found a wonderful prayer of David’s in Psalm 143. (You can read the Biblical text here.)

While most of us probably don’t have actual flesh-and-blood enemies like King David, I believe we do have much that comes against us from within.  Maybe your enemy is doubt or depression or anxiety or bitterness or pain from a past trauma.

Or you may be experiencing an actual attack from powers or rulers of darkness in the spirit realm.  (Eph. 6:12)

Whatever the negative is that comes against us, I believe we have to fight it to live in hope.  It’s not easy.  Some days it feels impossible.

But it helps to be prepared in advance.  You might want to write something you can read as a reminder to yourself, like I did with my letter to read when I’m discouraged.

Or you might want to pray the following prayer based on Psalm 143.   You can come before God and be real with what you’re experiencing.

An Honest Prayer When You Are Tired of Feeling Bad

Lord, please hear me and answer me because I know You are faithful!

The enemy is following after me again.  He has pursued and harassed my thoughts and emotions and motivations.

He has crushed and bruised my life down to the nub. He’s caused me to sit down and stay in darkness.

My spirit is just overwhelmed, grown weak, and enveloped in darkness.  My heart is devastated and stunned.

So what do I do?

I remember the past and what You have done for me. 

I meditate on all Your works, on all Your deeds.  I ponder and I pray. 

I talk to myself and I declare the works and actions of Your Hands.

(Maybe you can stop here and thank God for all He’s done for you in the past.  Think about specific things He’s done.  Preach the Gospel to yourself, and declare out loud His promises.  Then keep praying…)

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I stretch out my hands to You.

But my soul is tired and thirsts for You like the dry land longs for rain.

Answer me quickly, Lord!  My spirit is spent and used up and is wasting away.

Please don’t hide Your presence, or I’ll become like those who sink down into the pit.

Let me hear Your mercy and kindness in the morning for I trust You.  I place my confidence in You.

Please let me know the direction I should walk for I lift up my thoughts and my emotions and my will to You.

Lord, rescue me from my enemies.  I come to You, and nothing else, for protection.

Teach me to do what delights You and brings You pleasure for you are my God.  Your Spirit is pleasant and agreeable.

Lead me and guide me into a level, stable place.

Revive me from discouragement and restore me to real life for the sake of Your reputation.

In Your rightness, bring my thoughts and emotions and my will out of this anguish and distress.

Please put an end to what is coming against me.

Do away with whoever (or whatever) binds me up and tries to take me back to a narrow place.

(For You have brought me into a wide open space of freedom.)

I am Your servant – listening and waiting and willing to follow You as You lead me out.

Thank You, Lord!  In Jesus name, Amen!

I hope my version of David’s prayer from Psalm 143 will help you the next time you feel you’re on the edge of a slippery slope.  Can I encourage you to pray it aloud and pray it often?

An honest prayer when you are tired of feeling bad will be a great weapon with which to fight because we are not victims!  We are overcomers, using God’s word, the sword of the Spirit, to attack whatever comes against us.

Praying with you and for you,

Trish

In the comments below, please share with us something you do or something you pray when you’re tired of feeling bad.  Let’s encourage each other!  Thanks!