This simple prayer is for the moments when you feel tired in body, mind or spirit and do not have the energy to put much into words. You can pray it when you wake up without rest, in the middle of a long afternoon, or at night when the day is finally over and you have nothing left. It can be read aloud exactly as written, or you can use it as a starting point and say in your own words whatever is weighing on you.
Simple Prayer When You Feel Tired
Lord, I am tired. I do not have a long speech in me today, so I am simply bringing you what I have. My body is worn down, my thoughts feel slow, and there are things on my list that I cannot make myself care about right now. Some of the tiredness comes from work that never seems to end, and some of it comes from worrying about people I love and whether I am doing enough for them.
Thank you that you do not get tired, and that you are not waiting for me to become strong enough before you will listen. Please give me rest where I most need it, in my body and in my mind. Quiet the voices that tell me I should be further along by now. Help me to set down what I cannot carry today, and trust you with what is still undone.
Give me enough strength for the next hour, not for the whole week. Let me be gentle with myself when I fall short, and let me receive the help that others offer. Remind me that I am still held, even when I feel like I am only barely holding on. Amen.
A Shorter Version to Pray in a Moment
Lord, I am tired and I need you. Take the weight I cannot lift, and give me the rest I cannot make for myself. Help me get through this next task, this next conversation, this next breath. Carry what is too heavy for me, and let me rest in your care for just a moment. Amen.
Scriptures to Pray Alongside
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
(WEB)
Jesus speaks this invitation to people who are worn out and burdened. When you feel tired, pray these words slowly and name the particular weight you are carrying, trusting that he is the one who offers rest.
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
(WEB)
This verse calls for stillness in the middle of a busy or anxious day. Use it when your mind is racing and you are tired of striving, letting the words slow your breathing and remind you who is in control.
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.
(WEB)
This passage speaks of God giving strength to the weary and increasing power to those who have none. Pray it as a plain request for the strength you lack today, not the strength you think you should have.
Psalm 23:1-3
1 The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
(WEB)
The image of a shepherd leading sheep to green pasture and still waters speaks to the deep need for restoration. Read it slowly, and pray that the Lord would lead you into the kind of rest you cannot find on your own.
Galatians 6:9
Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.
(WEB)
When you are weary of doing good, this verse reminds you that your effort is not wasted. Pray it when you feel like giving up on something important, asking for the patience to keep going at a pace you can sustain.
How to Pray This Prayer
Try praying this prayer at a time when you can pause for a few minutes, such as before you get out of bed, during a short break at work, or as you sit in the car before going inside. You might sit with a cup of tea or rest one hand on the table while you speak, letting the physical stillness match the words. If you are too tired to read, you can ask someone you trust to pray it with you or to read it aloud while you listen.
If the tiredness has lasted for weeks, consider sharing it with a friend, a pastor or a doctor, and include them in your prayers as well. Prayer does not replace rest, sleep or wise help, but it can open the door to all of them. Pray it again tomorrow if you need to, since returning to God often is part of what it means to rest in him.
A Blessing to Close
May the Lord who never grows weary give you rest for your body and peace for your mind. May he hold you when you have nothing left to offer, and may he meet you with strength for the hours ahead. May you know, even in this tired moment, that you are loved and that you are not alone.
