Some days the words just aren’t there.
You want to pray. You know you should. But when you sit down to do it, everything goes quiet in the wrong way — not peaceful quiet, but empty quiet. You stare at the ceiling or close your eyes and feel absolutely nothing come out.
That’s not a spiritual failure. That’s what stress and depression do to a person. They take your words.
The good news is that you don’t have to come up with something original. The Bible is full of people who felt exactly what you’re feeling, and their words have already been written down. You’re allowed to borrow them.
These prayers and scriptures are here for two reasons: for you, when you need them — and for someone else, when you want to give them something real but don’t know what to say.
Read slowly. You don’t have to get through all of them. Find the one that lands and stay there.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18
What this means right now: He hasn’t moved. The distance you feel is not His absence. He is specifically, intentionally close to people in exactly the state you’re in.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
— Matthew 11:28–29
What this means right now: The invitation doesn’t require you to feel better first. Come weary. Come burdened. That’s the whole point.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:6–7
What this means right now: You can’t think your way to peace. But you can pray your way toward it — even if the prayer is just “here it all is.” The peace comes after the bringing, not before.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
— Isaiah 41:10
What this means right now: “I will uphold you” is a promise made to someone who is struggling to stand on their own. You are not expected to hold yourself together. He’s holding you.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
— Psalm 42:11
What this means right now: David was talking to himself — trying to remind his own soul of something his feelings weren’t cooperating with. It’s okay to feel one thing and choose to say another. That’s not denial. That’s faith.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
— Romans 8:26
What this means right now: When all you have is silence or tears, that is enough. The Holy Spirit is already interceding on your behalf. You don’t have to produce something.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
— Lamentations 3:22–23
What this means right now: You didn’t use up His compassion yesterday. You don’t have to earn a fresh supply. It’s just there — new, every morning, regardless of how many mornings in a row have been hard.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
— Psalm 46:1
What this means right now: Ever-present. Not available when you’ve pulled yourself together. Present now, in the middle of this, as a refuge — a place to go, a strength that isn’t coming from you.
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
— Isaiah 40:29–31
What this means right now: This verse doesn’t skip the exhaustion — it acknowledges it first. Even the strongest people run out. The renewal isn’t something you manufacture. It comes from hoping in God, which sometimes looks like just refusing to stop.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
— Matthew 10:29–31
What this means right now: He knows you that specifically. Not broadly. Not as part of the crowd. He knows you — the details of you — and He hasn’t stopped watching over you.
Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash
Use these as they are, or let them give you a starting point to find your own words.
Lord, I don’t have the words for what I’m carrying right now. I’m overwhelmed, and I’ve been pretending I’m okay for longer than I should have. I’m bringing it all to You — the weight, the fear, the exhaustion, the parts I don’t know how to explain. I don’t need You to fix everything immediately. I just need to know You’re here. Remind me that You are close to the brokenhearted. Remind me that I am not alone in this. Give me enough for today. Amen.
Father, my mind won’t stop. I keep playing through the worst possibilities, rehearsing things that haven’t happened, bracing for things I can’t control. I know worry doesn’t add anything — but I can’t seem to stop on my own. I’m handing you the “what ifs.” All of them. Do what I can’t do for myself: guard my heart and my mind with Your peace. The kind that doesn’t make sense. The kind that comes from You. Amen.
God, I don’t feel anything right now. I want to feel hope and I don’t. I want to feel close to You and I don’t. I’m showing up anyway — not because it feels like it’s working, but because I don’t know what else to do. If the Spirit intercedes when we don’t have words, then let Him do that now. I’m just here. Amen.
Lord, I’m not asking for everything to change today. I’m asking for enough to get through today. Enough strength, enough grace, enough light to take one step. New mercies for this morning. That’s all. Amen.
Here’s something worth sitting with: the verses and prayers you just read — the ones that helped you breathe a little easier — those are words someone else in your life needs too.
There’s probably someone you know who is carrying stress and depression right now and hasn’t said anything about it. Who is lying awake at the same hours you are. Who is smiling when they need to and going quiet the rest of the time.
You could copy one of these verses into a text message. You could write it on a card. You could say, “I read this today and thought of you.”
That act — taking something that comforted you and handing it to someone else — is the most natural thing in the world. And it’s also, quietly, one of the most healing things you can do for yourself.
“He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:4
The Handcrafted Encouragement devotional was built on exactly this idea. It’s a 193-page workbook with Scripture-rooted reflections and tear-out pages — so every page you complete can be pulled out and handed directly to someone who needs it. The words are already there. You just have to be willing to give them.
See the devotional → — $14.99, free shipping.
Need practical steps alongside the prayer and Scripture? Read: How to Deal with Stress and Depression: 7 Faith-Based Ways to Find Relief →
Want to understand what you’re dealing with more clearly? Read: Anxiety, Stress, and Depression: What’s the Difference? →
Or go back to the foundation: What the Bible Says About Stress and Depression →
Dwayne Jeffries is a publisher, entrepreneur, and legacy-builder who has dedicated his life to encouraging and equipping others.
As the son of the author of Handcrafted Encouragement, he carries forward the family’s vision—expanding it from a devotional into a living movement that inspires hope, faith, and resilience in everyday life.
For more than two decades, Dwayne has equipped Fortune 500 brands, entrepreneurs, and families to thrive through the shifting tides of business and life.
Known for his intuitive wisdom, strategic foresight, and empathetic leadership, he bridges the gap between timeless spiritual truth and modern challenges with clarity and heart.
At the core of his work is a conviction: true wealth is measured by the lives we impact, the faith we embody, and the legacy we leave behind.
Handcrafted Encouragement is a faith-based devotional designed to bring comfort, hope, and healing through handwritten notes. Rooted in Scripture and empathy, each page encourages you to reflect, connect, and uplift others—one note at a time.
