If you are reading this, you are most likely struggling with anxiety and depression on a regular basis. You might be battling against mental illness. You might be battling against substance abuse. It is crippling, debilitating, and it seems to never end. It feels like there is never a light to the end of the tunnel. You feel alone, and you just want to give up. Some days, you just want to hide under your blankets and disappear. It seems like the panic attacks never come to an end. We cannot battle depression and anxiety on our own strength.
I'm glad to tell you that there is hope. If you are a child of God, you will always be taken care of. He loves you more than you ever know and wants only the best for you. He is using this period of darkness to help you appreciate the light. Here are some of God's promises:
John 14:27 KJV
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Matthew 11:28 KJV
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Psalms 51:12 KJV
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
God never fails to deliver on His promises. Use that as your light in a dark place. Lean upon it to sustain you. When you finally experience God’s work, it will be an answered prayer to lift you out of the darkness.
We've created a list of 6 powerful prayers for anxiety and depression that have helped many people out of dark places. Use these short prayers during your prayer time to bring calm and inner peace to your situation:
6 Prayers for Battling Anxiety and Depression
1. The Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the Serenity, to accept the things I can not change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.
This is one of the popular prayers used in substance abuse programs. It helps you pay attention to the things you can change while giving control to your Heavenly Father for discernment and guidance.
2. St. Francis Prayer for Peace
Dear Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
This prayer was heavily used during World War I and World War II. It's a powerful prayer used to bring hope during challenging times.
3. The Lord's Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
The Lord's prayer is one of the most famous prayers in the world. Jesus gave us this prayer for anxiety and depression because he knows that we must trust in God in all circumstances. He tells us to have forgiveness for people and to avoid the devil.
4. A Prayer of David
Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
David was a servant after God's own heart. He had the strength and courage himself to defeat Goliath, but He trusted God with his whole soul. He also trusted that there would be a way through the darkness.
5. The Prayer of Jabez
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.
If you've ever felt like you caused pain or trust in God to do more than you can ask or imagine, this prayer is for you.
6. Jonah's Prayer
In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.
You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.
I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’
The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.
“When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.
“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’
You might not be swallowed by a big fish, but you may still experience regret as Jonah did. Remember, God heard and answered Jonah's humble prayer.
Here at Testimonio, we offer tools and resources to help you handle anxiety and depression. If you are looking for prayers for hope, prayers for healing, or prayers for guidance, we are here to help. We are committed to creating an online community to bring mental health awareness to the forefront and provide inspiring prayers for your lives.
If you have any prayer requests, please let us know at prayers@testimon.io to let us know how to pray for you today.
May the Holy Spirit watch and guide you today, and every day. In Jesus’ name, AMEN. God bless you, and we love you.
