1.

Dear God,
Calm my worried spirit. Quiet the voices in my head, spinning me in every direction. Help me to focus on you, on your word, on the ways you can, and always will stand next to me in my confusion and chaos. Show me that I don’t have to rely on my own sense of strength, on my own anxious heart to guide me through.

Remind me that you are with me, and I don’t have to fear.

Amen.

2.

Dear God,
I feel lost. I don’t know where I’m going, I’m not sure what my next step should be, and I feel so far away from you, even though I’ve been told, time and time again, that you’re already and always within my heart.

Please show me your love, show me your grace, show me your mercy, even though I am undeserving. I don’t know what to do next and I need you to help me find the way. Lead me away from the evil, from the pain, from the temptations of this world. Set my path straight and help my heart to be focused on you.

Amen.

3.

Dear God,
I am doubtful. I know you’re here, I know you’re with me, but I have to be honest—I’m not feeling your spirit in my heart. I know I should be happy. I know I should feel free. I know I should stop trying to control situations and trust in the unseen, but it’s so hard to know you’re here when I can’t see you, can’t feel you, can’t reach out my hand and touch yours.

Please give my doubtful heart peace. Please wipe my worries away. Please remind me that you are my God, my incredible, all-powerful God, and there’s no need to doubt. Every time I take steps away from you, pull me closer. Show me that there’s no where I can go that doesn’t shine with your light.

And Father, help me see that light and be inspired by that light in whatever way you choose.

Amen.

4.

Dear God,
I feel so heavy. It feels like everything that could go possibly wrong has gone wrong, that every way my heart could break, it has. I’m trying, so desperately, to cling to the slightest piece of hope, but I’m running out of willpower. Each day that goes by I’m sinking lower; I’m drifting farther away from you. I feel so alone. Please save me. Please grab me, hold me, pull me closer. I don’t want to feel this way anymore. I want to drown in you, not in the pain of this temporary life.

Let me fall into your glory and rise up from this darkness in your name.

Amen.

5.

Dear God,
You’ve brought so many wonderful blessings to my life and I want to take a moment to appreciate them. Thank you. Thank you for the lessons, for the pain, for the growth, for the changes, for the things you have brought to me, to my undeserving, flawed heart.

I know I won’t always feel okay, feel good, feel weightless, but remind me, when I lose my way, that you are still good. You are always good. And when I forget, when I start thinking that I am the one who has brought so many wonderful things to my life—show me that my focus and thankfulness should be directed to you. Show me that in every season, good or bad, you are my loving God. And help me to seek you more.

Amen.

6.

Dear God,
I’ve been searching for answers for so long…and nothing. I know you work according to your timeline, not mine. I know I need to be patient and trust that your plan is in action. I know I need to take a step back from my selfish perspective and understand that you have a reason for why things have happened the way they have—perhaps you’re bringing something better along, perhaps you know what my heart truly needs, perhaps this unanswered prayer is blessing in disguise.

Help me to trust, rather than doubt. Help me to wait, rather than try to take matters into my own hands and go against what you’re planning for me. Help me to know that you’re listening, rather than get frustrated and angry. Help me to search for you, rather than the things of this world. Help me to fall closer and deeper into your love.

Amen.

7.

Dear God,
I have so many questions. Why? Why? Why? I know I might not always know your way, I know things won’t always make sense, I know you work in mysterious ways, and I know you are good, but still, I don’t get it.

God, I want to know you more. I want to feel your presence in my heart, in my life. I want to understand the ‘why’ and the ‘how.’ I want to know my worth and see myself in your eyes. I want you to guide my days, rather than my selfish, sinful heart.

I want to know you, feel you, seek you.

Please help me to stop questioning and start trusting you more. Please help me to stop doubting and start believing. Please help me to turn to you, lean on you, love you, no matter how much my heart resists. Show me the new beginnings, the healing, the strength I can find in you.

And when I start to lose my way, bring me back. Bring me back and even closer.

Amen.
 

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Marisa Donnelly is a poet and author of the book, Somewhere on a Highway, available here.