How do I pray for hope when I feel none?

Pray honestly from the emptiness: 'God, I have no hope left; please give me some.' You do not have to feel hopeful to ask for hope.

What does the Bible say about hope?

Scripture calls God 'the God of hope' who can fill you with hope 'through the power of the Holy Ghost' (Romans 15:13), and reminds the downcast that 'joy cometh in the morning' (Psalm 30:5).

What if I am losing hope in a dangerous way?

If your loss of hope includes thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out right now to a real person or crisis line. See the help page below; you deserve immediate, caring support.

Prayer & Presence

A Prayer for Hope

When hope runs low, you do not have to summon it up on your own. You can ask for it. A prayer for hope is not pretending things are fine; it is telling God the truth about how empty you feel and asking him to carry what you cannot. Hope, in Scripture, is something God gives, not something you manufacture.

If this is you. If you are worn thin and cannot see a way forward, this is a gentle place to pause. You do not have to feel hopeful to pray for hope. You can pray from the bottom, honestly, and be heard.

The Bible does not tell discouraged people to cheer up. It points them to a source of hope outside themselves. Even the Psalms let people say, my soul is cast down, and then, in the same breath, hope thou in God.

What Scripture says

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

Psalm 42:11

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Romans 15:13

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5

A prayer you can pray right now

A prayer you can pray right nowGod, I am running low on hope, and I cannot make more of it by myself. So I am asking You for it. Hold me through this night. Help me believe, even a little, that morning can come. Amen.

You do not have to carry this alone. On the Living Bread prayer wall you can ask real people to pray for you tonight. You can keep it private, share only what you want, and you do not need to make an account to be prayed for. Someone will pray.

✝

And if you want to know the One you are praying to

You do not have to believe anything yet. Prayer is simply turning toward God as honestly as you can, and Christians believe that in Jesus, God turned toward us first. You do not have to take our word for it. Read his own words quietly and see what you find. The Gospel of John is a gentle place to begin, and it costs you nothing but a little quiet and an honest look.

Read the Gospel of John Ask for prayer Come and see

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pray for hope when I feel none?: Pray honestly from the emptiness: 'God, I have no hope left; please give me some.' You do not have to feel hopeful to ask for hope.
What does the Bible say about hope?: Scripture calls God 'the God of hope' who can fill you with hope 'through the power of the Holy Ghost' (Romans 15:13), and reminds the downcast that 'joy cometh in the morning' (Psalm 30:5).
What if I am losing hope in a dangerous way?: If your loss of hope includes thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out right now to a real person or crisis line. See the help page below; you deserve immediate, caring support.

Nearby, if you want itI need hope I feel empty I need help now