A few weeks ago, I reached this point of desperation saying, God, is this area of my life ever going to change?

Am I ever going to see growth and maturity?

I've been praying about this for years.

And maybe, just maybe, there's an area in your life where you feel that despair as well? If yes, today's prayer is for you. Welcome to the

Prayers of Rest podcast. I'm your host Asherita and this season we are praying through spiritual strongholds.

And yet despair is a spiritual stronghold, but we can break free from it through the power of God's spirit.

So take a deep breath and quiet your heart as we become aware of God's loving presence

around us and within us.

Today's passage comes from 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verses 17 to 18.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs

them all so we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary

but what is unseen is eternal.

Let's begin by reciting God's goodness.

Oh, Father of mercy, we love you.

We love you because you first left us. We love you because you hear our voice. You pay

attention to us when we cry out for mercy, where we feel like there is nowhere else to go,

no one else to turn to. You wait for us with open arms. You are gracious and righteous, full of

compassion and love. God, thank you. Thank you that we can throw ourselves on the rock of salvation

when we feel like we are sinking to the bottom

an ocean of despair. Oh, how good you are, Father, we praise you. So, praise God now. Praise goodness and kindness and compassion. Even on the darkest days,

where despair threatens to overwhelm you. He is still there. Praise him for his presence in your life.

Let's continue now by expressing our neediness.

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