When You’re Desperate: 21 Days of Honest PrayerSample

Sometimes prayer feels like work — slow, repetitive, and challenging. But this verse reminds us: it’s never wasted. Desperate prayer doesn’t always feel dramatic. Sometimes it just looks like refusing to quit — trusting that God sees, and that even if your circumstances don’t change, time in God’s presence changes you – and that’s always worth it.

Practice:

Before you give up on praying about something, take a moment to remember this: your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Say it out loud: “This matters. God sees. I won’t quit.” Let that truth steady you — even when it feels like nothing is changing. Let desperation lead you to persistence in prayer.

Guided Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Today I am encouraged that nothing

that I do for You is ever wasted.

Help me to stay strong and unwavering

in who You are,

where You have placed me,

and the work You’ve given me to do.

Forgive me for the times

that I feel like my efforts are useless.

Even when I don’t see it,

I am confident You are always working.

Thank You for promising my efforts

will be used for Your purpose.

Help my life to show others

how great You are.

I know You always finish what You start.

Because that promise includes me,

I will stay steady in the work

that You have entrusted me to do.