The LORD is near to everyone who prays to him,
to every faithful person who prays to him.
He fills the needs of those who fear him.
He hears their cries for help and saves them.
The LORD protects everyone who loves him.
Psalm 145:18–20 GW
It had been a difficult day.
Well, a difficult week.
Let’s make that a hard month.
To be truthful, it had been a crazy, unrelenting year—a year in which I had taken a ride on the roller coaster of angst and ridden a whirlwind of anxiety. I had experienced stress, disappointments, betrayals, worries, grief, isolation, and family trauma. It was a year that had left me sinking into the muck of this world.
But this particular day had been extra difficult. It was as if I had experienced an emotional hurricane triggered by the swell of exciting news, followed by news that shocked and angered me, followed by news that left me stressed and bewildered.
By the end of the day, I felt like a storm had raged through my heart, leaving behind a high-water mark of frustration. Where was my peace? Where was my joy? But beyond that, where was my quiet trust in God?
If so, you’ve come to the right place, because I am about to share the prayer that brought me back to peace:
Dear Lord,
My emotions are twisted in so many knots that I can’t even process all that’s happened today. So even though this doesn’t seem to be a fair exchange, I’m asking You to trade my emotional turmoil for Your peace that passes understanding.
Thank You!
In the name of Jesus, amen.
I took a deep breath and began to let go, giving it all to God. I felt the cares of the world drain off my mind and my soul. I knew God was with me, and His Spirit began to flow peace into my spirit. And I knew everything would be all right, maybe not according to my timeline but definitely according to His.
I was back to peace.
Finding peace is the aim when praying through emotions. It’s not about learning how to control your circumstances; it’s about learning how to release your circumstances to the One who loves you, the One you can trust.
So join me in this prayer adventure as I share with you some of my favorite prayers for praying through emotions so that you can push into the peace that passes understanding.
May His peace be with you.
Love,
Linda Evans Shepherd
P.S. There are many ways you can use this book. You can read it straight through as a devotional, or you can consult the contents page to find prayers you need for your life right now.
As you pray, you’ll discover that the prayers are a reflection or a paraphrase of the accompanying Scripture passages. This was by design, because God loves it when we pray His Word to Him. His Word is alive and filled with power; it strengthens our souls and brings peace to our emotions. Praying God’s Word also gives us the confidence that we are not only praying in His will but also agreeing with and activating His promises to us.
Be sure to linger over the Scripture passages that go with each prayer, because God’s Word is the source of transforming power. When you find a Scripture passage that speaks to you, read it again. Then use that passage to craft a prayer of your own back to the Lord. This is a way not only to continue praying but also to experience and rest in God’s presence.
When you find a prayer that has deep meaning to you, pray the prayer often. Consider meditating on and even memorizing the Scripture passages that accompany it so that you can recall them whenever you need them.
And don’t be afraid to read prayers that concern emotions you don’t relate to right now, because the moment may come when you will need the peace those prayers will provide. Also, seek out and enjoy the inspirational prayers, like the prayers concerning victory, worship, and faith, for those prayers were created for you to grow in your fellowship with the God who loves you.
Be sure to keep an extra copy of Praying through Every Emotion on hand so you always have one to give to a friend or loved one.
God bless you, and let your prayer adventure begin.