5 Verses to Pray When You are Confused by Life
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been confused by life…
Well, you know the saying!
And I’m sure you know the feeling too!
Those times when you don’t understand God’s plan. When you’ve prayed and prayed and waited and waited and nothing changes.
It’s hard to understand…
- Infertility
- Infidelity
- Rejection
- Terrorism
- Hatred
- Sex Trafficking
- Illness
- Disabilities
And the list goes on and on.
You and I live in a sinful world and sometimes the consequences of that truth feel overwhelming and confusing.
It’s easy to see why it can feel like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling or that God just isn’t listening.
Yet, there is a greater truth! God is on the throne no matter how we feel.
The other day, I was reading My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers and a section really hit my heart.
Self-awareness continually produces a sesnse of struggling and turmoil in our lives … it is rectified only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it until we fully learn to abide in Him.
Jesus told us how to abide in Him.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens…”
Matthew 11:28
Why? Because He…
“… will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
So, that’s what we’re doing today. We’re taking our confusion and disappointments to the One who has promised to help us carry them. The One who wants us to be so very aware of His presence that we can rest knowing whatever our burden … He will help us carry it.
5 Verses to Pray When You are Confused by Life
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8–9
Father, please forgive me. I’ve been intent on my own plans … thinking I know what’s best for everyone around me, believing my desires are the way things should be. I know now that I’m only seeing a very small part of a much larger picture. A picture You see in perfect technicolor.
Please help me trust Your plans for me. Help me trust and obey You today and again tomorrow. And Father, please give me eyes to see the ways You are working in my life. Make me less self-aware and more Jesus-aware. By Your grace and for Your glory.
I will bless the Lord who guides me;
Psalm 16:7–8
even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.
Father, when I’m lying awake staring at the ceiling, feeling alone and confused … please help me remember that I’m not alone. Jesus promised to “be with [me] always.” (Matthew 28) He promised the presence of “the Spirit of truth” to guide me in Your truth. (John 16)
Please help me rest in Your truth and trust every promise … promises that have always proven true.
When I don’t understand and I’m confused by life … I will praise You for the countless ways You have guided me in the past and remember that whatever is happening in and around me, I can always find strength and peace in Your presence.
Have you never heard?
Isaiah 40:28–29
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths
of His understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Father, forgive me. When I don’t understand … when disappointments and problems overwhelm me I can make You too small and fail to remember that You are everlasting God, Creator, Redeemer, who never tires.
You are the One who gives me strength when I am weak and peace when I am confused and upset. You see and understand the whole of my life from beginning through forever. Please help me run to You when my heart is overwhelmed. Help me trust Your plans and purposes. Help me follow where You lead. Help me, Father. In Jesus name.
He heals the brokenhearted
Psalm 147:3–5
and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars
and calls them all by name.
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
Father, You have held my tears when my heart is broken. You have healed my wounds and allowed me to share the victorious stories of my scars. Your tenderness and love are evident in everything You do.
You are the King of kings, Lord of lords, the Lion of Judah, the Great I AM! You are all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present. You are my strength. You lift my head when I am discouraged and give me hope when the wait seems long. You are the answer to my prayers, my Lord, my God, my Redeemer, and my all!
Remember the things I have done in the past.
Isaiah 46:9–10
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
Father, You are God! Nothing I desire compares with You. When I remember all You have done and continue to do for me, I am humbled and filled with gratitude. Your grace, mercy, and love cover me. You give me hope for the future and I know I can trust Your plans for me. Whatever You allow in my life, I believe You will give me the strength and courage I need. You are Lord of my life … I will trust in You. Amen.
Friend, when you and I are confused by life, we can trust the One who is never confused. We can rely on the truth that He is in control. He is holding us close. And we can run to Him with our confusion and trust Him to guide us through our challenges and struggles.
We can proclaim with Paul…
Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!
Romans 11:33 & 36
For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.
Deb, this was very moving! It is full of so many wonderful reminders about our Almighty God! Loved this statement “Make me less self-aware and more Jesus-aware.” Oh how we need to be seeking to be like Jesus!
Those verses from Isaiah speak so deeply to me. Reminding me of His greatness, of who He is, shows me that I may be confused, but He is not.
Thanks be to God that He is our horizon when we feel lost and dizzy.
Blessings to you–and thanks for sharing the truth so consistently and with so much joy.
Deb, thank you for sharing God’s Word with us through your writing.
These were beautiful passages that expressed God’s grandeur. “God counts the stars and calls them by name.” Awesome! Our God is amazing, magnificent, and almighty.
I like the word “omnipotent.” I read the other day the words God Most High in a passage. Did a study on those words. The passages you used in this devotional showed us how great our God is.
Deb, you write such beautiful devotionals and you have such a deep knowledge of God’s Words. Thank you for sharing with us.
Love the concept of being less self aware and more Jesus aware. Will be adding this to my prayers often. Many Thanks Deb! 8)
FYI… something is not right with your tweet the link up button, thought you would want to know. Thanks again
Deb, it is good to come back and visit here again. I took a mini-blogging break this Summer to focus on some of the details of my new book and other projects. It felt great to sit down a create a post again. Lord willing, I can find the balance between everything. I won’t get started on confusion. What a marvelous post. I know for myself, I have to go to God first before anything. What powerful scriptures you share. I love what Isaiah was inspired to write. Thank you for the opportunity to share and your longstanding support. Have a wonderful weekend, friend. May God continue to bless you and yours.
Oh, how we don’t understand God’s ways, but they are right. Great reminders! Sharing!
So much comfort in your words today, Deb. Yes, when we are feeling confused and lost, we need to turn to the One who holds everything in His most capable hands. God will give us the clarity and confidence to work through our thoughts and feelings successfully.
Blessings!
This has been a week for me of learning some dear ones are going through very hard things. These verses are so helpful. laurensparks.net
Thank you Deb!
Bless you,
Jennifer
Deb, I always love reading your posts. I especially enjoy all the different Bible verses you include. It never fails that I read a verse and learn something new. Thank you so much for sharing, and thank you for highlighting my post from last week!
Thank you Deb.