In a Time of Trial? This Prayer May Help

The following prayer is for anyone going through deep waters in his or her marriage and needing God’s sustaining love and help.

Lord, whether or not my marriage turns around, I know You are using this struggle to reveal more of Yourself to me. I thank You for that because I need You in so many ways right now.

Father, I desire first of all Your presence. Suppose I had a “perfect” marriage. If I didn’t feel Your presence, what good would my life be? My trials give me new opportunities to encounter You. And Your Word promises me that You will draw near to me if I draw near to You. So by faith I draw near to You right now, trusting that You draw near to me so that I might feel Your very presence.

Lord, I know that You say in Your Word, “My peace I give unto you.” Right now, right here, I ask You to grant me Your peace. I confess that if I were at total peace with my spouse, I would be tempted to live in a bub- ble of superficial contentment, thinking I do not need Your peace. But now, Lord, I am driven to seek You, the only Place where real Peace can be found. I open my heart to You, Lord. Grant to me Your peace—this day, this very hour.

Lord, Your Word also says that Your grace is sufficient for me and that Your power is made perfect in my weakness. Right now, Lord, I am very weak. My marriage is a mess, and I now know that—apart from You—I can do nothing. I thank You and praise You for bringing me to this place where I must depend entirely on You. I cannot straighten out my marriage in my own strength, which is a lesson You want me to learn. I praise Your name for the opportunity to walk by faith, trusting only You for each day. Now I know that when I am weak, then I am strong because Your power rests on me.

Father, forgive me for thinking in the midst of this pain and struggle that my life has no purpose. I know You have a purpose for me and for our marriage, and I ask You to reveal that purpose more clearly. Lord, I confess that I wanted fulfillment through my marriage when I should have been seeking Your will for my life. Thank You for making me go deeper to discover Your call on my life. I see that, without this trial, I would not have looked carefully to see what You want to do in and through me.

I am grateful to You for showing me Your marvelous ways, for using me in little ways throughout the day even when I was in pain from my marriage, and for always assuring me that I do matter to You. I am overwhelmed by the simple truth that You have not forsaken me and You never will. I know Your purpose for me is that I might bear fruit for You. Keep me close to You, Lord, and allow me to bear much fruit for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

-Dr. E