A Prayer to Carry You through Dark Seasons - Your Nightly Prayer
A Prayer to Carry You through Dark Seasons
Your Nightly Prayer for Jun 4, 2025
by Rachel Wojo
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
"By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:8
SOMETHING TO PONDER
Nighttime has a way of magnifying our struggles. Our worries often grow louder when the house grows quiet and the distractions fade away. The Psalmist who wrote these words understood this reality. Earlier in this psalm, he describes his soul as "downcast" and his tears as being his food day and night. He was walking through a dark season when God felt distant, and hope seemed like a fading memory.
Yet in Psalm 42:8, we see something beautiful emerge. Even in his darkness, he recognized that God was still directing His love by day. And at night? God's song remained with him, becoming a prayer that connected him to the God of his life.
I can think of seasons when I felt engulfed by darkness. After my daughter Taylor's terminal diagnosis, there were nights when sleep felt impossible. One Thursday night around 2 AM, I remember pacing our kitchen floor in my fuzzy socks, too restless to lie down. My mind kept racing through worst-case scenarios. The medical bills were piling up on the counter, the calendar on the fridge was marked up with doctor appointments, and oh yeah, there were those school forms I still hadn't filled out for my other children.
On those nights, I found myself whispering, "God, are you even here?" The silence felt deafening. But something prompted me to start reciting the words of Psalm 23. I had memorized the chapter as a child. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want..." As I continued through those familiar verses, something shifted inside me. It wasn't dramatic. It didn't shoot through me like a lightning bolt. But it felt like the relief of a candle lighting up a dark room.
The circumstances hadn't changed. Taylor was still sick, the bills were still there, and tomorrow would still hold the same challenges. But I sensed God's presence in a way I hadn't before.
The prayer carried me. Not because the words were magical, but because they connected me to the One who promises never to leave or forsake us, even in our darkest valleys.
Prayer isn't just something we do—it's a lifeline that carries us when we can barely take another step. It's not about having the right words or feeling the right emotions. It's about reaching out to God in our desperation and allowing Him to reach back in His faithfulness.
Whatever darkness you're facing tonight, whether it's grief, anxiety, loneliness, or uncertainty, know that God's song is still with you. His love is still being directed toward you. And the prayers you whisper in the dark are being heard by the God who never slumbers or sleeps. I'm so thankful for that.
Will you pray with me?
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
As I prepare for rest tonight, I acknowledge the darkness I'm feeling. You see the weight I'm carrying, the questions that haunt me, and the fears that threaten to overwhelm me. I'm grateful that I don't need to pretend with you. I can come just as I am—broken, weary, and uncertain. Thank You that even when I don't feel Your presence, You are here. Lord, let Your song be with me tonight. As I close my eyes, replace my anxious thoughts with the truth of who You are. I surrender this night and all my tomorrows into Your hands, trusting that the God who carries me through dark seasons will never let me go.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. A Prayer You Remember: Think of a prayer or scripture that has stayed with you since childhood—maybe the Lord's Prayer, a bedtime blessing, or a simple "Now I lay me down to sleep." Let those familiar words comfort you tonight, like an old friend who shows up when you need them most.
2. A Light in Your Darkness: Recall a specific moment when you felt God's presence in a difficult time—perhaps through a text that came at just the right moment, a song on the radio with exactly the words you needed, or even just a sudden sense of peace when you least expected it.
3. A Small Step Forward: Remember when you couldn't see the way ahead, but took one small step of faith anyway. That step, however small, was evidence of God carrying you when you couldn't walk on your own.
As you drift off to sleep, remember this: The prayers you whisper in your darkest nights build a bridge to the morning light. God hears every word, catches every tear, and carries you when your strength fails.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Fizkes
If you're looking for guidance on deepening your prayer life in tough times, I invite you to check out my new book, Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments. You'll find real-life stories, prayers, and practical ways to connect with God when you need Him most. You can learn more at desperateprayers.com.
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