“If it be so, our God is able to deliver us,” the three men told the king, staring at a furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, “but if not, we will still not serve your gods.” They walked in not knowing how it would end, and found a fourth figure already standing in the fire with them.
These thirty verses are for that same posture through difficulty, trusting God is present in it, whether or not the outcome looks the way you’re hoping for yet. If what you’re facing feels less like refining and more like sheer pressure, a prayer for hard times speaks to that directly.
Pray these expecting God’s presence in the difficulty itself, not just rescue from it.
Prayer for Difficult Times
1. 1 Peter 1:6-7 (KJV)
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
Prayer: Let this trial prove my faith genuine, more precious than gold refined by fire.
Let something real come out of this difficulty, not just relief when it ends.
2. Daniel 3:17-18 (KJV)
“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
Prayer: You are able to deliver me from this, but even if You don’t, let my trust in You not waver.
Let this trust be real, not conditional on the outcome I want.
3. Daniel 3:25 (KJV)
“He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Prayer: Let me find You already present in this fire, not waiting for me on the other side of it.
Let Your presence in this difficulty be as real as it was in that furnace.
4. 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.
5. Romans 8:18 (KJV)
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Prayer: Let this present difficulty not compare to the glory that will be revealed.
Let this perspective steady me even while the difficulty is still real.
6. 2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV)
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
Prayer: This light and momentary affliction is achieving for me an eternal glory that far outweighs it.
Let this hard season be temporary, not a permanent state.
7. 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.
8. 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 walk through the fire, I will not be burned, the flames will not set me ablaze.
Let this fire refine me rather than consume me.
9. Job 23:10 (KJV)
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
Prayer: You know the way that I take, when You have tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Let this testing produce something valuable, not just prove exhausting.
10. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Prayer: Let this trial not be beyond what I can bear, and let You provide a way through.
Let this way through become clear, even if I can’t see it yet.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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 difficulty I’m facing.
16. 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 difficult right now.
17. 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 difficult season.
18. 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.
19. 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 difficulty alone.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
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 difficult season be a chapter, not the whole story.
29. Hebrews 12:11 (KJV)
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
Prayer: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but later it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.
Let this difficulty produce that harvest, not just leave me depleted.
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
The king who threw those three men into the fire looked in and counted a fourth figure walking around unharmed alongside them. Their difficulty didn’t disappear, the fire was still real, but they weren’t facing it alone, and it didn’t have the final say over them.
Name what’s actually difficult right now, specifically, and ask God to meet you in it rather than just to remove it.
For comfort and strength together through this, a prayer for strength and comfort is worth praying alongside this one.