'Be Strong and Courageous'—35 Powerful Prayers for Strength

Everyone deals with times of difficulty. You or someone you love may be struggling with an issue causing you confusion, hurt, pain or fear. You don't know which way to turn or what to do. But one thing you do know is that you have to find a way through it. Prayer is a powerful resource that many people use to give them hope and the determination to make it through a challenging situation. Prayers for strength can serve as a catalyst for pushing forward (with resilience) and refusing to give up.

These 35 prayers will help you focus on God's presence and blessings. They will also show you how to lean on Him in your times of weakness. Knowing that you don't have to figure out the answers on your own (and that you can rely on the wisdom and power of God instead) can be a comforting and freeing feeling. 

Calling on God for strength in times of trouble is a reminder that you're not alone; He's ready and willing to help you. You can cast your cares on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Related: 50 Good Night Prayers for Sleep, Protection and Peace When Your Head Hits the Pillow

35 Prayers for Comfort and Strength

1. "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want, I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." — Philippians 4:12-13 NIV

2. "We commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body or estate; [especially those for whom our prayers are desired]; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." — Book of Common Prayer

3. "Heavenly Father, You are my Strong Tower, Deliverer and Shelter. I'm running to You now. Please renew my strength. Please lead me with Your Holy Spirit and guide my day. In Jesus' Name, Amen. — Gwen Smith

4. "Lord, You have shown me that falling is not always failing. You pick me up and rescue me when I am overwhelmed. You are Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts, a tower of strength for me. I have no other place to run to, no other shelter in which to hide. I depend on You, Lord." — Rebecca Barlow Jordan

5. "Breathe in me O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen." — St. Augustine of Hippo

6. "Gracious God, thank You for giving me strength to face life from the position of strength through you. Amen." — Joyce Meyer

7. "Dear God, You are my rock, and I run to You today for help, believing that You will lift my heavy arms, that You will fuel me for the tasks You've given me and that Your joy will completely consume the weakness of my body and make me strong again. I don't want to stay grounded, crippled by limitations and failed attempts. I'm tired of feeble efforts. I ask that You give me strength when I am weak, love when I feel forsaken, courage when I am afraid, wisdom when I feel foolish and hope when I feel rejected. Amen." — Alberta Vadnais

8. "Dear Lord, nothing has worked to set me free from the compulsive way I turn to other things when I could be turning to You. I need more of You and less of the stuff that leaves me hungry. Take all these heavy idols I'm laying down and teach me to lean into Your gentle refining. Take my life as I empty it out and fill me with Yourself. Your Word proclaims: 'It is for freedom that Christ has set you free.' (Galatians 5:1 NIV). I'm choosing to believe that's true. Set me free! In the bondage-breaking, freedom-giving, sweet name of Jesus, Amen." — Wendy Speake

9. "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." — Serenity Prayer

10. "Lord, I need You. Please help me sift through the things in my heart, my mind, and even the things on my calendar. Thank you for being the source of all the strength I ever need. Lead me with Your Spirit today. In Jesus' Name, Amen." — Gwen Smith

Prayers for Strength in Moments of Weakness

11. "I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether. O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you." — Martin Luther

12. "Lord, our God, we are in the shadow of your wings. Protect us and bear us up. You will care for us as if we were little children, even to our old age. When You are our strength, we are strong; but when we are our own strength, we are weak. We now return to you, O Lord, that we may never turn away again. Amen." — St. Augustine of Hippo

13. "Help me be like Nehemiah; help me come to you for guidance, strength, provision and protection. As I face tough choices and hard situations, help me remember my belovedness, help me remember that I am Your child and Your representative to the world around me." — Charlies Stanley

14. "Dear Lord, Your Word says that when we wait on You, You will renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31). Although my strength is depleted, I am choosing to rest and spend time in Your presence, recharging my battery. I refuse to run myself ragged, listening to the voice of the enemy that I should just try harder or work longer. I trust in Your infinite capacity of strength. It will never run out. Thank You for working in my weakness and pouring Your strength into me.In Jesus' name, amen." — Alberta Vadnais

15. "I pray for any and every person...who is feeling tempted to give up, who's feeling tempted to quit, who's feeling tempted to walk out, to walk away, to lay it down, to lay it aside, to turn around, that you would remind them there are many reasons not to, there are many reasons to stay steady and calm as Paul would say to Timothy and to keep moving on and trusting you moment by moment." — Charles Stanley

Related: 35 Back-To-School Prayers for Peace, Protection and Encouragement

Prayers for Strength and Encouragement During Trials

16. "Lord—Give me humility I can't see and intense love; Give me wise courage and a single eye for your glory—and then let people or devils do their worst. Amen." — Tim Keller

17. "God has armed you with strength for every battle. He said no weapon formed against you will ever prosper. You haven't seen, heard or imagined the amazing things God has in store. Believe today that things are changing in your favor. God's done it in the past, and He will do it again in the future." — Joel Osteen

18. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." — Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV

19. "Help me to keep my eyes fixed upon You. Lord, be my richest treasure always. Help me to never make an idol out of anyone or anything or to allow possessions or the distractions of this world to get in front of You in any way. You are my Healer, my Hope and my Strength. When I need freedom, You are my Deliverer. You are my Shield from the enemy, my Counselor when I need guidance and my Stronghold in the day of trouble. Truly, You are the God of miracles. Work Your miracles in my life today and keep changing me into Your likeness. Amen." — Bishop T. D. Jakes

20. "May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." — 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

21. "Help us see the ways you are shaping us into your beloved disciples who take delight in being with you with all we are and all we have. Thank you for your enormous love that accepts human weakness in every form and longs to transform it. Amen." — Lynne Baab

22. "Father, thank You that I can take pleasure in the weaknesses that I sometimes feel, knowing that You come with power to give me special strength. Thank You for the reminders to always be asking for Your help. I believe that You are supplying me with all I need. In Jesus' Name, Amen." — Joel Osteen

23. "God, give us eyes to see the wideness of your world, shimmering with beauty and holiness. Stimulate our imaginations, infusing us with courage and hope. Surround us with friendship. Plant us as seeds of resurrection." — The Eugene Peterson Center

24. "Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen." — "Compline," Book of Common Prayer

25. "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference." — Reinhold Niebuhr

Related: 'I Will Fear No Evil'—20 Prayers for Protection During Life's Difficult Circumstances

Prayers for Guidance and Protection

26. "Lord, in seasons of weakness, I will turn to Your Word, Your joy and Your community as sources of strength. In Jesus' Name, Amen." — Amy Carroll

27. "I will trust You always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone." — Thomas Merton

28. "Dear Lord, I praise You for being with me in good times and bad. You are the God who saves. Your Word says You delight in me and rejoice over me with singing. I invite You to fill me with Your joy, which is my strength. Amen." — Arlene Pellicane

29. "Forgive us for what we could have been but failed to be. Give us the intelligence to know your will. Give us the courage to do your will. Give us the devotion to love your will. In the name and spirit of Jesus, we pray. Amen." — Martin Luther King, Jr.

30. "Mighty Creator, help me to serve You in Your strength today—to be strong and courageous according to Your word, being careful to obey Your word. Help me to not turn from it to the right or to the left. I want to act in the strength of wisdom wherever I go. Grant me the strength that comes from knowing Your word. May it be the source of wisdom and success in my life each day. Encouraged by Your strength, I will not be afraid or discouraged. Thank You for being with me wherever I go. Amen." — Ken Boa

31. "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but when I hope in You, O, Lord, my strength will be renewed. I will soar on wings like eagles; I will run and not grow weary, I will walk and not faint. (Isa. 40:28–31)." — Beth Moore

32. "Father, I'm so grateful for my relationship with You, and for Your strength and ability. When life seems overwhelming, please help me trust You to enable me to do whatever I need to do. You are my strength! In Jesus' Name, Amen." — Joyce Meyer

33. "As I begin my day, I turn to You, Lord, and ask for strength. Be my rock whenever the day shakes me. Guide me through the day as I navigate choppy waters that might come my way. Empower me to speak up when I need to, even if my voice shakes. Help me to feel tall in situations that make me small. Be the light that empowers me in darkness. Most of all, help me feel Your loving embrace this day and all days. Amen." — Stephen Spiewak

34. "Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these, our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." — Book of Common Prayer

35. "I pray that out of His glorious riches, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." — Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV

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