Sometimes I wish life came with a “get out of jail free” card. Think about it: every time you fall into a hopeless circumstance, you’d have an immediate escape at your fingertips. Simply flash your card and return to normal life.

Of course, life doesn’t work like Monopoly. When you’re faced with difficult situations—job loss, loneliness, financial insecurity, family hardship—the road often feels long and wearisome. There’s no quick fix, so anxiety increases, patience decreases and the situation feels more stressful than ever before.

Maybe you’ve suppressed your fears and anxieties. Maybe you’ve sought wisdom from friends and loved ones. Maybe you’ve tried to resolve the problem on your own. But you still feel trapped. No matter how hard you try, you just cannot find a way out of your situation.

In moments when you need an escape from life, I invite you to join me in seeking the Lord in prayer. As you pray, meditate on messages of patience, peace and courage found in God’s Word.

These four prayers will get you started:

1. Lord, give me strength.
   But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.– Isaiah 40:31 (GNTD)
2. Lord, give me patience.
   Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.– Romans 12:12 (GNTD)
3. Lord, give me peace.
   You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.– Isaiah 26:3 (GNTD)
4. Lord, give me courage.
   “I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”– John 16:33 (GNTD)