In times of trouble and suffering, prayer is a welcome refuge. Our Lord Jesus Christ says to us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Another meaningful passage in times of trouble is from St. John’s Gospel (14:27): “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Before he was martyred for the Faith, during his imprisonment, St. Thomas More wrote to his daughter: “I will not mistrust Him, Meg, although I shall feel myself weakening and on the verge of being overcome with fear. I shall remember how St. Peter at a blast of wind began to sink because of his lack of faith, and I shall do as he did: call upon Christ and pray to Him for help. And then I trust He shall place His holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning.”
The Lord wants us to call upon him in time of trouble. Psalm 50:15-15 says: “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
Jesus’ love is greater than whatever troubles us. We can have total confidence in Him, knowing that He sees the bigger picture, that He has our best interests at heart. St. Francis de Sales has some comforting words that can help us when we’re dealing with trouble in our lives. (You can find these words of St. Francis de Sales here on our website).
We can pray to the Holy Spirit for light to navigate through the troubled situations in our lives. Come, Holy Spirit!
Here we share several prayers, including two Psalms, which you can turn to when you’re dealing with any kind of trouble.
Prayers for Help in Time of Trouble
Lord, in every need let me come to You with humble trust saying,
“Jesus, help me.”
In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations,
Jesus, help me.
In hours of loneliness, weariness, and trials,
Jesus, help me.
In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles, and sorrows,
Jesus, help me.
When others fail me, and Your grace alone can assist me,
Jesus, help me.
When I throw myself on Your tender love as a father and savior,
Jesus, help me.
When my heart is cast down by failure at seeing no good come from my efforts,
Jesus, help me.
When I feel impatient and my cross irritates me,
Jesus, help me.
When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work, and I am lonely,
Jesus, help me.
Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls, and shortcomings of every kind,
Jesus, help me and never forsake me.
Amen.
Psalm 68
Incline unto my aid, O God; O Lord, make haste to help me.
Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my soul.
Let them be turned backward and blush for shame that desire evils unto me.
Let them be presently turned away blushing for shame, that say to me “Tis well, ‘tis well.”
Let all that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee, and let such as love Thy salvation say always, “The Lord be magnified.”
But I am needy and poor; O God, help Thou me.
Thou art my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, make no delay.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
V. Save Thy servants,
R. Trusting in Thee, O my God.
V. Be unto us, O God, a tower of strength,
R. From the face of the enemy.
V. Let not the enemy prevail against us,
R. Nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt us.
V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins,
R. Neither reward us according to our iniquities.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Out of the Depths (Psalm 130)
Out of the depths I cry to Thee, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice!
Let Thine ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication:
If Thou, O Lord, mark iniquities,
Lord, who can stand?
But with Thee is forgiveness,
that Thou mayst be revered.
I trust in the Lord;
my soul trusts in His word.
My soul waits for the Lord,
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn,
let Israel wait for the Lord;
For with the Lord is kindness,
and with Him is plenteous redemption;
And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.
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