A short prayer for strength
Lord, I am worn out, and I do not have the strength for today. You give power to the faint.
Give me enough for this hour, and then the next. Hold me up, and help me keep going one step at a time. Amen.
How to pray when you need strength
When you are exhausted, prayer can feel like one more thing to do. These steps are meant to make it lighter, not heavier.
Admit that you are weak
"My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever" (Psalm 73:26). You do not have to pretend to be strong in prayer. Starting with honesty opens the door to God's strength.
Ask for today's strength, not next year's
In the wilderness, God gave manna each morning, enough for that day (Exodus 16:4). Ask for what you need today, and trust Him for tomorrow when it comes.
Remember how God has helped before
Samuel set up a stone and called it Ebenezer, saying, "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12). Recall times God carried you through. They are evidence He can do it again.
Let others help carry the load
"Bear ye one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2). Ask for practical help and for prayer. Accepting help is not failure; it is how God often sends strength.
Rest when you can
Jesus told His tired disciples, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). Sleep, a meal and a short break are not unspiritual. They are part of how God renews you.
A prayer for strength today
Lord, today feels like too much. I am tired in my body and in my soul.
Be my strength. Help me do what is in front of me, one task at a time. Give me patience with myself and others, and let me rest in You when the day is done. Amen.
A prayer when I want to give up
Father, I am at the end of myself. I do not see how I can keep going like this.
I am troubled on every side, but do not let me be destroyed. Lift my head, renew my hope, and send help -- through Your Spirit and through the people around me. Give me the strength to take one more step. Amen.
A prayer for a caregiver
Lord, caring for someone I love takes everything I have, and some days more. I feel guilty for being tired.
Renew my strength and patience. Help me care well without losing myself, and send people who can share the load. Let me feel Your care for me, too. Amen.
A prayer for strength for someone else
Lord Jesus, someone I love is carrying a heavy load and running out of strength. Uphold them.
Give them rest, courage and hope for the road ahead. Show me how I can help carry their burden, and let them know they are not alone. Amen.
"I can do all things through Christ": what Philippians 4:13 really means
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:12-13 (KJV)
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible. It appears on posters, jerseys and graduation cards, often meaning "I can achieve anything I set my mind to." But the verse before it shows what Paul actually meant.
Paul was writing from prison. He had known plenty, and he had known hunger and need. "All things" here includes going without, being humbled and suffering. He is saying that Christ gave him strength to endure every circumstance -- to stay content and faithful whether life was easy or hard.
That makes the verse more comforting, not less. It is not a promise that you will win every game or avoid every hardship. It is a promise that in the hardest seasons -- the illness, the money worries, the long caregiving, the grief -- Christ can strengthen you to keep going.
Paul knew where his strength came from: "through Christ." On the days you feel you cannot go on, you do not have to find the strength inside yourself. You can ask for His.
Would you like a pastor to pray with you for strength?
When you are running on empty, talking to someone can help. You can start a private voice call or chat and share what you are carrying. If a pastor is online, you are connected with them; if none is available, an AI prayer companion answers instead.
You might pray together for strength for today, for rest, and for practical help. If you have reached a point where you do not want to go on living, please contact a crisis line or emergency services right away.
Bible Verses to Hold On To
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Isaiah 40:29 (KJV)
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (KJV)
For the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV)
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9 (KJV)
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Psalm 73:26 (KJV)
Common Questions
Does Philippians 4:13 mean I can do anything I want?
Not quite. In context (Philippians 4:11-13), Paul is talking about being content and faithful in every circumstance, including hunger and need. The promise is that Christ gives strength to endure and remain faithful, not that every goal will succeed.
Why does God allow hard times?
Scripture does not give a simple answer for every hardship, and it is honest about suffering. It does promise that God is present in it and can bring good through it: "tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). It is all right to bring your "why" to God.
What if I have no strength left at all?
Tell God exactly that, and tell someone near you. "He giveth power to the faint" (Isaiah 40:29) is a promise for people who have run out. Rest, accept help, and if exhaustion is ongoing, talk to a doctor -- burnout and depression are real and treatable.
Can someone pray with me for strength right now?
Yes. You can start a private voice call or chat on Pray with Christ at any hour, and your first call and chat are free. You are connected with a pastor when one is online, or an AI prayer companion when none is.
If you are exhausted for weeks at a time, please talk to a doctor. If you have thoughts of ending your life, contact a crisis line or emergency services now.
If you are in crisis, please contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline right away -- you can find a free helpline in your country. See also our Safety Notice.