Evening Prayer in the Midst of Difficulty

Begin by turning your attention to who Jesus is in the middle of your difficulty. You don't have to feel resolved or strong right now; you can simply acknowledge him as he is. Jesus, you are the God who does not sleep, who sees what I'm going through in this moment. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8, ESV)—your faithfulness doesn't change because my circumstances are hard. Take a breath and tell Jesus what you know to be true about him, even if your heart feels tangled right now. Maybe it's that he is present, that he is trustworthy, that he cares about you specifically. There's no performance here—just truthfulness about who he is.

In this moment, bring to Jesus not only what's happening to you, but what's happening inside you as a result. Difficult seasons reveal us to ourselves. You might find anger here, or fear, or words you wish you hadn't spoken, or ways you've turned away from him or toward something else for comfort. Jesus already knows—he's not surprised or disappointed by what you're about to name. As he tells us through the apostle John, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, ESV). There's no shame in laying it down. What do you need to tell him about yourself and what this difficulty has stirred up in your heart?

Even in difficulty, there are threads of grace woven through. You might give thanks for a person who showed up, a moment of rest, an answer to prayer—even a small one—or simply for the fact that Jesus hasn't abandoned you. The psalmist wrote, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV). This doesn't mean pretending the difficulty isn't real; it means noticing the kindnesses and mercies that exist alongside it. What has sustained you even a little? What can you thank Jesus for as you look at this evening?

Now bring your need directly to Jesus. Ask him for what you actually need—not what you think you should need, but what you do need. Is it peace for tonight? Wisdom for tomorrow? Relief from the weight you're carrying? Strength you don't have? Jesus invites us to come to him, saying, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NIV). You can ask him to help you sleep, to help you see a way forward, to hold what feels too heavy for your hands. Tell him what you need from him in this difficulty.