“Hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair,” Paul wrote, listing off real pressure without pretending it wasn’t real. He didn’t claim the hard times weren’t hard. He claimed they weren’t the end of the story.
These thirty verses are for a genuinely hard season, prayed honestly rather than with forced positivity. If what you need most right now is simple comfort, a prayer for comfort is a good place to start alongside this one.
Pray these one at a time, and let yourself actually sit with each one rather than rushing through the list.
Prayer for Hard Times
1. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (KJV)
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”
Prayer: I’m hard pressed on every side, but let me not be crushed, perplexed, but not in despair.
Let this pressure not have the final word over me.
2. James 1:2-4 (KJV)
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Prayer: Let me consider it pure joy to face this trial, knowing it produces perseverance.
Let perseverance actually grow out of this, not just exhaustion.
3. Romans 5:3-5 (KJV)
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
Prayer: Let this suffering produce perseverance, character, and hope that doesn’t disappoint.
Let something genuinely good come from this hard season.
4. Psalms 34:19 (KJV)
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
Prayer: Many are the afflictions I face, but You deliver me from them all.
Let deliverance be complete, not just partial relief.
5. Isaiah 43:2 (KJV)
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Prayer: When I pass through the waters, You are with me, they will not sweep over me.
Let nothing here overtake me completely.
6. John 16:33 (KJV)
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Prayer: In this world I’ll have trouble, but let me take heart, You have overcome the world.
Let Your victory be bigger than whatever’s hard right now.
7. Psalms 46:1-3 (KJV)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”
Prayer: You are my refuge and strength, so I will not fear, even if the earth gives way.
Let stability come from You when everything else feels unstable.
8. Habakkuk 3:17-19 (KJV)
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”
Prayer: Even if nothing improves, let me still rejoice in You, my strength.
Let joy be rooted in You, not dependent on circumstances improving first.
9. Nahum 1:7 (KJV)
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
Prayer: You are good, a refuge in times of trouble, You care for those who trust in You.
Let being cared for feel real, not distant, right now.
10. Psalms 9:9-10 (KJV)
“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
Prayer: You are a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Let this stronghold hold, even under real pressure.
11. Psalms 27:5 (KJV)
“For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”
Prayer: In the day of trouble, You will keep me safe, hide me in the shelter of Your sacred tent.
Let this shelter be somewhere I actually run to, not just know about.
12. Psalms 91:15 (KJV)
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”
Prayer: When I call, You will answer, You will be with me in trouble.
Let Your presence be as real as Your answer.
13. Psalms 34:17-18 (KJV)
“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Prayer: You are close to the brokenhearted, and You save those crushed in spirit.
Let nearness be real right now, not just a comforting idea.
14. Psalms 55:22 (KJV)
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Prayer: I’m casting this burden on You, trusting You to sustain me.
Let sustaining happen instead of me carrying this alone.
15. 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Prayer: I’m casting this whole anxiety onto You, because You genuinely care what I’m carrying.
Let casting it be a real release, not just words.
16. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Prayer: Don’t let me be dismayed, You are my God, You will strengthen and help me.
Let help come before I feel completely worn down.
17. Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Prayer: Let me be strong and courageous, not afraid, for You go with me.
Let courage show up before the fear fully clears.
18. Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Prayer: I can do this through Christ who strengthens me.
Let strength cover exactly what this hard season requires.
19. 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.”
Prayer: Let me bring this to You instead of carrying it alone, and let peace guard my heart and mind.
Let peace be stronger than the pressure I’m under.
20. Psalms 30:5 (KJV)
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Prayer: Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Let this morning bring at least a little of that joy.
21. Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Prayer: Your mercies are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.
Let today be a fresh start, not a continuation of yesterday’s weight.
22. Romans 8:28 (KJV)
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Prayer: Let me trust that You work all things together for good for those who love You.
Let this promise hold even when I can’t see how yet.
23. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (KJV)
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Prayer: You are the God of all comfort, who comforts me in all my troubles.
Let comfort actually reach me, not just circle around me.
24. Psalms 121:1-2 (KJV)
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
Prayer: I lift my eyes to the hills, my help comes from You, Maker of heaven and earth.
Let my eyes stay lifted, not fixed on the problem alone.
25. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Prayer: Let me hope in You and renew my strength through this.
Let hope keep me steady, not restless or discouraged.
26. Psalms 138:7 (KJV)
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.”
Prayer: Even walking through trouble, You preserve my life, stretch out Your hand and save me.
Let Your hand be visible in how this hard season goes.
27. Joshua 1:9 (KJV)
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Prayer: Let me be strong and courageous, not afraid or discouraged.
Let this command steady me right now.
28. Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Prayer: You know the plans You have for me, plans to prosper me and give me hope and a future.
Let this hard season be a chapter, not the whole story.
29. Romans 8:31 (KJV)
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Prayer: If You are for me, who can be against me?
Let this settle the outcome more than the size of this trouble.
30. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Prayer: Bless me and keep me, make Your face shine on me, and give me peace through this.
Let this old blessing carry me through this whole season.
Conclusion
Paul’s list wasn’t a testimony written after the fact, from safe distance. He wrote it while still in the middle of real, ongoing pressure. Hard times don’t require pretending things are fine to still hold onto hope honestly.
Say out loud what’s actually hard right now, specifically, before praying through this list.
For strength paired with comfort through a hard season, a prayer for strength and comfort is worth praying alongside this one.