2 Verses to Pray When You Need God’s Help & Hope for the Future
Do you ever feel like everywhere you look, the world is in crisis?
You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
Matthew 24:6–8
Jesus said, “see to it that you are not alarmed.”
He told His followers, and that includes you and me, that these things are going to happen.
Wars, natural disasters, disease, poverty, depression, and more…
I’m a super-emotional person. Rev asked me in a Bible Class once, “Do you remember..?”
And before he could finish the question, I said, “I don’t know. Did I cry?”
Yes, I’m emotional. I FEEL life. So, I guess it really wasn’t surprising that I was diagnosed with Agitated Anxiety years ago.
If you look it up, the symptoms include things like anxiety, fatigue, guilt, impulsiveness, and irritability. I struggled with the first three but not the last two. Worry and fear kept me from being impulsive, and my need to “please” the people around me helped me suppress any feelings of irritability.
Thankfully, agitated anxiety is very treatable, and I have done well for years. I was blessed to have a wonderful counselor, medication, and lots of Jesus! Because I needed God’s help and hope then and the truth is I need help and hope every day.
Maybe you need God’s help and hope too!
We scroll through social media and people are agitated and concerned. We turn on the news and people are hyped up and promoting countless reasons to be anxious and afraid. Is it any wonder more people are worried about the future? That they’re anxious for their children and grandchildren.
But wait a minute. Jesus said, “don’t be alarmed.” Because…
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
We will experience trouble but we can have peace without fear and alarm because our Lord and Savior, Jesus is our Help and our Hope. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)
Yes, life is hard. Sometimes it’s downright scary. We desperately need God’s help and hope for the future, and by His grace, we have both.
A Promise of the Lord’s Help…
God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
Hebrews 13:5–6
So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
A Prayerful Promise of Hope for the Future…
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
2 Thessalonians 2:16–17
Let’s pray…
A Prayer Asking for God’s Help
& Hope for the Future
Father, I admit it’s hard to reject fear and anxiety about the future when the world gives us a continuous message of unrest and conflict. Jesus said there would be wars, famine, and earthquakes (Matthew 24). And He said that we would experience trouble in the world (John 14:27). But He also told us to remember that He has overcome the world. He promised that in Him we have lasting peace and confident assurance . . . we have hope for the future.
Father, I come to You asking for help today. I believe that You are my safe place and strength . . . my help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) I believe that You hear my cries for help. (Psalm 18:6) And that You answer my prayers with Your unfailing love and faithfulness. (John 1:14) I believe You are with me. (Matthew 28:20) And that Your Word gives me hope and encouragement as I wait for Your promises to be fulfilled. (Romans 15:4)
When the enemy tries to frighten me with reminders of all the terrible things that can happen, please help me remember that my Lord and Savior, Jesus, has already won the victory. By Your grace and with Your help, I will hold onto Jesus’ promise—Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me . . . I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:12–13)
I pray this in the name of Jesus, the One who is my help and my hope for the future. Amen.
Friend, it’s tempting to give in to fear and anxiety as the world reminds us of all that can and will go wrong. But You and I have God’s help and promise that we can live without fear and frustration. We can keep our hearts and minds focused on the One who is our Help and our Hope for the future.
So, write this truth on a notecard and proclaim it at the start of each day.
We put our hope in the Lord.
Psalm 33:20–21
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
Better yet, make it personal and replace all the “we and ours” with “I and me.”
May you be blessed today as you hold on to God’s promises that will last forever.
Before you go take a minute to tell us about a time God has helped you replace your fear and anxiety with hope.
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Amen! This is so encouraging! Thank you for inspiring us to pray and to trust in Jesus!
Thank you, Melanie! I sure do appreciate your encouragement. Blessings and hugs!
Than you so much for sharing the good news with us, my heart is smiling I needed to hear all this… Psalm 33: 20 – 21 I’m definitely printing it. My daughter is so worried about being accepted at high school she wants to attend next year, we have been told that chances are slim for her to be accepted, all the people we applied with got accepted but she’s on the waiting list… now I am going to read the Psalm with her every day… Jesus got us! ????????????
Thank you, Thuli! Praying that your daughter is able to attend the school she wants and that she is blessed by this opportunity. Thank you for visiting and for inviting us to join you in prayer. God bless you!
Thank You FOR Sharing Deb ????????????♥️G-d ????????IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL ❗️❗️????????♥️When I had Brain Surgery I HAD fear ???? BUT JESUS ????????♥️ WAS AND STILL is With me SO I CAN Overcome ANYTHING ????????????????????????♥️ And DO All Things Through CHRIST ????☝????WHO Gives me Strength ❗️G-d♥️Bless
Amen, Cheri! With the Lord, there is peace and strength. May He continue to give you good health and countless blessings. Blessings!
My daughter and I got into an argument.
I felt awful and prayed about how to make it right. And in the morning I had an answer from God so I quickly wrote it down and sent it to her. In a few minutes she sent a text with all hearts!
I love that, Lisa. Thank you so much for sharing that with us. It takes grace and humility for a mom to reach out like that. God bless you!
Years ago I suffered with anxiety that led to a spastic stomach. God used this situation to teach me how to leanon him through prayer and bible study. I have a wrinkled up printed scripture passage on my bedroom dresser. This passagage, Isaiah 43 verses 1-2 had ministered to me in a dark season and I still retreieve there in times of distress. I am currently walking a cancer journey and I have key scriptures in multiple places to speak to me over and over.
Anxiety certainly can affect our physical health too. I love that you keep verses around the house to bless and encourage you. I need to do more of that! Lifting you up today and asking God to give you His peace and strength as He heals your body. God bless you!
I can relate. While I have tremendous faith, I also have a large dose of anxiety to deal with. It can be hard to balance, but yes, JESUS our Messiah is the One to turn to. Thanks for sharing your story. It was encouraging to me today in this world full of trial and tribulation!!
Thank you for your encouragement. I am always thankful when the Lord can use my story to bless and encourage someone else. May the Lord be with you and bless you!
When I tell you this is a timely post for me, believe me! I’ll be honest. Now that the mask mandates have been lifted, my underlying conditions are always on my mind. I am very concerned but still walking in faith. For me, it’s nothing to do with politics and everything to do with my health and longevity. When my church lifted the requirement to wear masks I completely experienced anxiety. Fortunately, I found a really good solution to help me feel safe and to keep others safe. But still, the anxiety About getting sick is slightly there and I battle it daily. for me, a cold can turn into so much more and I’ve seen that happen to so many of my friends. Yet, I will trust the Lord to take care of me as he always has.
I’m so glad you were blessed and encouraged, Teri. It is truly a challenge to live with any kind of health challenge. Our son had asthma as a child and I remember how terrifying even a cold could be. I’m praying for you today . . . asking God to protect you as He gives you His peace. God bless you!
Thank You so much for your devotionals. I look forward to them every day. God is using you to turn others to Him! What an awesome blessing. May God continue to bless you, protect you, help you grow stronger as you use your gift as His servant.
Thank you so much, Katharine. I’m blessed by your kind encouragement. God bless you!
Neither worry, nor anxiety are strangers to me, though they are both just as huge of a burden as the weight on the Pilgrim’s back. My husband is going through again a difficult patch of health problem, despite that we have the Promise of the Lord that He already granted ending his suffering and forgave his sins.
But while we’re in the waiting room, we still face overwhelming trials. But I’m learning in the middle of my heartaches holding on to Jesus’ promise by tooth and nail, because I know Who made them.
Since politics and the world’s direction caused serious anxiety, I started to remind myself that Jesus broke the power of sin and the world. That God is still in control, even when everything seems to be out of control. It’s not easy while witnessing and many times dealing with the consequences of the way of the world, but Jesus was in the furnace with His people in the past, He’s with us now as well. The same God, Who closed the lions mouth, Who parted the Red Sea, Who fed Elisha by crows….He can and will do the same for us if needed.
Through a difficult patch in my life I learned the sad reality of what an enemy of Jesus worry is. I think you also had a blog about this Deb, that worry in essence is UNBELIEF. We can try to dress it however we want it, when we worry, we don’t trust in Jesus, don’t think He’s enough to keep and carry us through the hard times.
I’m also a feeler….but after a lifetime, start to resent it. Focusing on my feelings, robbed me of a lifetime of faith with Christ. Rather than focusing on God’s Word and the Truth, I was focusing on my feelings, or some times the lack of them….
Nowdays I keep reminding myself of Paul’s declaration that I know Who I believed and He will save my treasure that I entrusted on Him.
Blessings dear Deb
Thanks, Gaby! You’re so right. Lately, I’ve been reminding myself that God will give me what I need today and He will do so again tomorrow. I can so all things through Christ who gives me strength. God bless you!
I’m emotional too. Thank you for sharing these verses I needed to hear them today.
It’s always lovely to know I’m not the only one, Paula! Thanks much! Blessings!
I pray to God to help the people of South Africa, for the murders to stop and the farm murders and pray for them that can’t get a job to provide for their loved ones
I thank God for those who can provide ????
I am joining you in prayer, Cornelius. Asking God to be with you and bless you . . . and protect the people of South Africa.
Glory be to God Almighty. Great thanks for the nourishing Word of God. May the Resurrection power of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus keep on empowering you in spreading the Word of God.
Thank you so very much! God bless you!
I receive it. You are welcome
Deb, thank you for obeying and answering the call God put on your hart to faithfully and honestly share this blog counting my blessings,
I look forward to every one of them they are so encouraging, and honest. Everything you share is exactly what we’re all going through but many don’t like to admit it.
Your words are kind and true and encouraging and I’m so grateful to God that we have people like you as sisters in Christ.
God is good all the time! and he is always working on our behalf!
Praying for today ????
Lori, your kind encouragement is such a wonderful blessing. Thank you so very much! I am always so glad to know that my story is helping and giving hope to people who visit me here. God be with you and bless you!
Thank you, Deb! Great words that I can certainly relate to. If we would spend as much time with God as we do with the constant negativity of the world today, we would be pleasing God and trusting what He said. I can’t do the world, or at least, my corridor is very narrow with what I allow to seep in. I am very sensitive and try hard to stick to trusting God because I can only pray for most of things we all encounter on a daily basis. I am grateful God makes Himself available each and every moment! God bless, everyone.
You’re right, Jean! I think it’s wise to manage what we allow ourselves to see and hear. I am so thankful that He invites us to bring Him our burdens and concerns. I leave a whole stack at the throne every single day! Blessings!