After oversleeping for the third morning in a row, you rise from your bed, put a bagel in the toaster and begin reading the news. You should take a shower. You should iron your clothes. And you should get to work on time. But on this day, you’re feeling sluggish.

Eventually, you get dressed and head to work late, grumbling about the tedious tasks you must accomplish. Another exciting day, you sarcastically think to yourself.

Have you experienced a day, week or month like this one? Maybe, as a new empty nester, life feels dull without your children. You’ve struggled to adapt, lacking enthusiasm in their absence. Or maybe, after working the same monotonous job for more than a decade, you feel restless. Longing for a more rewarding career, you spend most of your day watching the clock, waiting for 5:00.

In these moments, when you lack the energy to carry on, you can call out to God for comfort. You can rely on him for strength. And you can reflect on promises of hope found in his Word. These four prayers will get you started:

1. Lord, comfort me when I feel discouraged.
   Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28 (GNTD)
2. Lord, give me hope when I feel hopeless.
   May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 (GNTD)
3. Lord, give me strength when I feel sluggish.
   Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The Lord is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary. No one understands his thoughts. He strengthens those who are weak and tired. – Isaiah 40:28-29 (GNTD)
4. Lord, give me joy when I feel indifferent about life.
   You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever. – Psalm 16:11 (GNTD)