Do you need some extra strength to make it through a present trial? Life can be hard, but with Catholic prayers for strength and patience, you can persevere.
God hears your prayers when you cry out to him during life’s hardest times. Being able to pray Catholic prayers for strength is one of the greatest gifts God has given you. Pray for guidance and strength today, and your faith will deepen as a result.
Why Should Catholics Pray for Strength?
Catholic prayers for guidance and strength are the bridge that connects you to God, who has the power to carry you through any situation. Prayer is a display of faith, and Jesus promises in Matthew 17:20 that with a little faith, anything is possible for you — even making it through the hardest life moment you’ve ever faced.
Strength During Difficult Times
Saying a prayer for strength during difficult times can turn a hard moment into a moment of peace. Life is often out of your control, but God knows everything that is going on in your life. He has a plan for you, and in that knowledge, you can have peace.
God can turn your lowest point into your defining moment. Pray that God will give you strength, and take heart knowing His will shall be done. He will give you the resilience to make it through any difficult moment.
Strength When Needing Protection
There are times in life when you may feel powerless or weak. In these moments, safety could feel far away. You may lack the physical strength to protect yourself or the ones you care about. Needing protection for any reason could leave you with a sense of vulnerability.
When you feel vulnerable, cling to God as your source of protection and pray that He gives you the strength you need. David says in Psalm 23:4 that God is with him, even when he walks through the valley of the shadow of death. That same promise applies to you. God will protect you when you need it most, so pray for strength in those times.
Strength When Needing Guidance
Sometimes in life, you can find yourself at a crossroads. You may be unsure which way to turn. Does God want you to do one thing or another? Which choice will have the best results? As a Catholic, you seek to follow God’s lead in every circumstance. However, this can demand a great deal of faith because sometimes God wants you to go one way while the world goes in the opposite direction.
God’s definition of success is different than the world’s. Still, God’s guidance is always better, as seen in Psalm 23 when David calls God his shepherd. Let God guide you today. Pray that he gives you the strength to trust Him as He directs your path.
Strength to Remember God’s Presence
In all the times when Catholics should pray for strength, one action can make a huge difference — remembering God’s presence. Paul asks in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” With this rhetorical question, Paul is reminding you that when God is on your side, you have the ultimate victory.
If you believe that truth, then God is with you, and He will help you overcome your trials. However, it can be hard to always remember God’s presence. Pray that God will give you the strength to remember His existence, so you can live by the reality of that truth.
7 Bible Verses About Strength and Courage
Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the right words when you approach God in prayer. That is when you can practice praying scriptures for strength, making the words of the verses blossom from your own heart.
Learn the following Bible verses about strength to help you meditate on God’s truths.
Isaiah 40:31
“They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” — Isaiah 40:31.
Hope is powerful — so powerful that it can fill you back up with strength when you feel like you are running on empty. Losing strength can seem like a defeat, but this verse reminds you to keep your hope in God, who restores that strength. Having the strength of God is like being able to soar on the wings of eagles.
By placing your hope in God, you will push past the moment when you thought you had reached your limit.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” — 2 Timothy 1:7.
The world tries to throw events and circumstances at you that may make you feel afraid, but God gives you the power to overcome your fears. The spirit God has given you is one of power, a power that the world is unable to take away from you.
Besides power, Paul mentions two other attributes here — love and self-control. If you hold fast to love and maintain your self-control through challenging times, you will have the strength to make it through. Pray that God will help you experience the power, love and self-control He promises in this verse.
1 Chronicles 16:11
“Rely on the mighty LORD; constantly seek his face.” — 1 Chronicles 16:11.
This verse reveals one of God’s unchanging attributes — His mightiness. It communicates that two actions are necessary to receive the strength the mighty God gives, which are relying on Him and seeking His face.
A major aspect of receiving strength from God is to fully rely on Him. By yourself, you may be powerless to change your situation, but with God, all things are possible. Meditate on this verse and seek God’s face in all you do. In time, you will discover you are sharing in a supernatural type of strength that can only come from the mighty Lord.
1 Maccabees 3:19
“…for victory in war does not depend upon the size of the army, but on strength that comes from Heaven.” — 1 Maccabees 3:19.
Following God means facing circumstances that seem insurmountable. However, with God as your source of strength, you can achieve the unlikely victory. That is one of the main reasons for Catholic prayers for strength and courage. Catholics must always be asking for this heavenly strength.
Even when it seems like you are against an entire army, having God on your side gives you the absolute advantage. God gives strength that comes from heaven, which is stronger than the strength of the troubles of the world by far.
Psalm 27:1
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?” — Psalm 27:1.
Sometimes, a reminder is all you need to live in the knowledge of the strength you have in God. The psalmist gives two amazing truths in this verse. The first is that God is your light and your salvation. The second is that God is the refuge of your life.
In both of these truths, the psalmist reminds himself of what God is to him. God is light, salvation and refuge, and He offers these things to you as He did to the psalmist. Spend time in prayer reminding yourself of these truths, and God will fill you with strength as you meditate on that knowledge.
Ephesians 3:16
“…that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self.” — Ephesians 3:16.
When looking for a prayer for strength in the Bible, one of the best places to look is in the letters of the Apostle Paul to the early church. In this passage, Paul is praying for the believers in Ephesus that God would grant them strength according to the riches of His glory.
God’s glory is limitless, so this is quite a powerful request that Paul is asking. The amazing thing is that God will give this strength to His followers. In fact, He already has through the Holy Spirit that dwells in the inner self. If you are a follower of Jesus, then you have that same Spirit living in you. Through this Spirit, you can experience the strength God offers in times of need.
Joshua 1:9
“I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9.
Joshua had his work cut out for him, leading the Israelites after Moses’ death. His job was no easy feat — he was to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan and into the Promised Land, facing enemies along the way. If anyone needed some extra strength, it was Joshua and the Israelites.
To boost the morale of the Israelites, Joshua gave a firm command to be strong and steadfast, to put aside all fear. The reason for this is that God was going to be with them wherever they went.
You have that same promise from God today. The same God that was with the Israelites is the God who promises to be with you in every life circumstance. Stay strong and steadfast in the knowledge of that truth.
Saints to Pray to for Strength
Catholics revere many saints, praying to them in a variety of life circumstances. Each saint represents a specific need or characteristic to Catholics based on their life and teachings.
The three saints below are some of the Catholic saints you can pray to for strength:
St. Christopher
Before St. Christopher had that name, he was a heathen man named Reprobus. At 7 feet tall and extremely strong, he only served the most powerful people — until he met a hermit who taught him the teachings of Christ.
Reprobus converted to Christianity. He changed his name to Christopher and devoted his life and his strength to serving God, the most powerful of all, from that day forward. He did this by carrying travelers across a dangerous river, delivering them safely to the other side.
Today, St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers. Catholics wear St. Christopher medals and pray to him when they need extra protection during journeys. You can remember St. Christopher’s strength and willingness to help weary sojourners in your prayers, especially as you embark on long trips where you need strength and protection.
St. Sebastian
Athletes require strength to play their sports and push their bodies to the limits. As the patron saint of athletes, St. Sebastion is a great example of a saint you could remember in your prayers when you need extra strength to accomplish a physical task.
Some of St. Sebastian’s accomplishments include secretly taking supplies to persecuted Christians and preaching the Gospel to Roman soldiers. When he was sentenced to death for his actions, Emperor Diocletian ordered him to be shot by arrows, which were unable to kill him. To this day, archers will pray to St. Sebastian when they need extra strength in times of need.
St. Sebastion’s life showcases dedication, strength and courage. You can remember these attributes and pray that you can stay strong even during difficult circumstances.
St. Joan of Arc
St. Joan of Arc was a woman in the 1400s who found herself influencing kings because of her great wisdom and courage. God had plans for St. Joan, and she obeyed the call — whether it was providing counsel to rulers, participating in military strategy or showing unparalleled courage on the battlefield.
After many victories for the French, St. Joan was taken prisoner by the English and was given an unfair trial. Despite the odds stacked against her, she stayed strong. She held true to her faith, even when doing so meant that she would die a martyr’s death. In the end, she received heresy charges and died by burning at the stake. Over two decades later, a papal court retried her case and declared her innocent.
You can think about St. Joan of Arc’s testimony when you face situations demanding extra strength to make it through. People may look down on you for your faith, but you can pray to receive the strength you need to make it through. Living life to please God is always better than living life according to what the world would have you do.
A Catholic Prayer for Strength
If you need extra strength today, then we ask you to share in praying this prayer with us.
Send Your Prayer Intentions to Catholic World Mission
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Please consider donating to our cause today to help make a true, lasting impact in the lives of the people who need it most. We also hope you will send us your prayer intentions, so we can lift up your needs in prayer.