When my kids were all babies, I was pretty desperate. I was struggling with depression, but didn’t realize it for quite some time. I was feeling guilty for the things I wasn’t doing. I felt like a terrible mother pretty much every day. That guilt and condemnation (from the enemy) turned into a vicious cycle for me. I was believing the lies. And that does something to a mother. Instead of spurring me on to be a better mother, I was wallowing in despair. I was sure I had ruined my kids for life.
To be quite honest, I am still desperate. I have only recently begun my battle against the enemy and I continue to LEARN how to STAND on God’s Word and fight the enemy with TRUTH. I do not believe this is a one time battle scene where we learn once and then the enemy leaves us. Oh, how I wish that were true!
Now that my kids are tweens and teens, I am still desperate for Jesus. I’m just desperate in different ways.
I wanted to share with you some verses that I am learning to remind myself of during these desperate days. I wish I had learned to cling to the truth of God’s Word earlier in life, but to everything there is a season.
Hang in there mama, this is a season. before you know it, you won’t be desperate for sleep, you’ll be desperate for a day without hormonal tears. {grin} There is grace enough for sleep deprivation AND raising teens! Praise God!
10 Scripture Prayers for the Desperate Mama
- Psalm 23 – Lord, You are my shepherd I shall not want. You lead me beside still waters and restore me. God, I’m asking for You to restore me today. Restore my joy in You. Remind me that my joy comes from You and not how good I am at this mothering thing. Remind me that You alone are the source of my hope.
- Psalm 25:4-5 – God, I’m desperate for You to show me Your ways, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior and my hope is in You all day long.
- Psalm 34:1 – I will bless You at all times. Your praise will continually be on my lips. God, give me strength to turn on praise music when I feel desperate. Help me to sing praises to You when I feel like going back to bed. May I begin naming the blessings in my life instead of feeling cursed.
- Psalm 61:1-2 – So often I feel overwhelmed, Lord. Hear my cry, attend to my prayer. From the needs of the earth I cry to You. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. You are my rock, God. You are my strength and my fortress.
- Lamentations 3:22-24 – Because of Your love and mercy, I am not consumed, Your compassions never fail, Your mercies are new every morning. Your love and mercy is new right now, in this desperate moment. Great is Your faithfulness. I will say to you, ‘You are my portion.’ Not my good mothering skills, not the behavior of my children –YOU are my portion.
- Matthew 6:33-34 – Lord, help me to seek You above all else. Help me to seek You first before my own comfort and even before what needs to be done in this house. When I seek You first, You give me what I need. I declare to You that I will not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about its own things.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-12 – God, help me to believe that Your grace is sufficient for me. Right now. Today. In my desperate moments where I don’t think we will survive this day. Your grace meets me here and is more than sufficient for meeting my needs and the needs of my children. Remind me that Your grace is bigger than my mistakes as a mother.
- Philippians 4:4-6 – God, help me to find simple and small ways to rejoice in each day, even when I feel hopeless. Remind me that I am Yours. Help me to be grateful for the air I breathe and my child’s sweet smile. May I thank You for the hugs and smiles of my children, for the food on our plates and for the gifts and blessings of today.
- Philippians 4:8 – Lord, continue to teach me that when I fix my eyes on You and whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and admirable, I can take my eyes off of my desperate situation and ponder the things of You. Bring to mind things that are true and lovely. May I look around me and find joy in the messy house because of these little people here to play in it. May I look around me and give thanks for the unmade bed because I woke early to comfort a crying child.
- Hebrews 12:1-2 – Father, I come before you to lay down every weight and sin that so easily entangles my heart. I am learning to run with endurance this race You have put before me. Help me to look to Jesus, help me to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Help me to remember in the desperate moments that You really are perfecting and growing and stretching my faith, making me more like Yourself every day.
Free Scripture Prayers Printable
Scripture Prayers for Desperate Mama Printable PDF
3 Years Off of Anti-Depressants
I would love for you to read an update now that I have been off all of my anti-depressants for 3 years and am thriving. God has been so good to me. My mindset has changed. My health has changed. We are never truly hopeless if we have Christ. We have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us giving us the power to make the steps necessary to BE TRANSFORMED.
My Journey Off of Anti-Depressants
My wellness journey & 51 pound weight loss!
More Encouragement for Your Weary Heart
- Put on (and pray) the Armor of God
- How to Cling to God’s Promises When All is Falling Apart
- How Does Perfect Love Cast Out Fear?
- How Do We Not Lose Heart?
- All my depression posts
- More Scriptures to Pray
Thank yo so much for this!!! As a homeschooling mom of 4 boys ages 9, 7, 3, and 7 months, I seem to have more desperate days than non-desperate ones! I’m printing this out and will hang it up in my kitchen so that I can claim the power of God’s Word!!!
Thank you so much for putting together a compilation of scriptures. I have one small complaint, wow that’s very beautiful, I don’t want to waste my ink on the pink/colorful background.