How to Pray for your Stressful Situation

In 2 Chronicles 20:4-7 King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites were attacked by several enemy armies and one of their cities was captured. From their stressful situation, we can learn how to call on the Lord and pray for our stressful situations.

Praise and Thank God

6 And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

The first thing that King Jehoshaphat did when he stood in the house of the Lord to pray, was to declare that God was in control in heaven and here on earth. This was tantamount to praising God.

Likewise, you should acknowledge God’s sovereignty over your stressful situation and praise and thank Him because of it because we are told, Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. (Psalm 100:4)

Declare that He is still in control even if the situation is out of your hands because it cannot get out of His hand. 

After declaring with your mouth, believe in your heart that the Lord’s hand has not been shortened to the extent that it cannot save you (Isaiah 59:1) and confess with your mouth that your problematic situation is not too big for Him to solve or too stressful for Him to resolve.

Confess your Faith

7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

The second thing that King Jehoshaphat did was to declare that since God was the One who had given them the land they were dwelling on, they believed that He was also able to protect it from their enemies.

Similarly, if you are suffering from a physical illness, prayerfully declare and believe that since God is the One who created your body, He is also able to heal it. 

If there is a rift in your marriage, as you petition Him for restoration, proclaim and believe that since He is the One who joined you to your spouse, He is also able to keep you together for what God has joined together no man (or woman for that matter) separate. (Matthew 19:6) 

If your children are going astray, as you request for His intervention, believe and decree that since He is the One who gave them to you for children are a gift from God, (Psalm 127:3) He is also able to help you keep them on the straight and narrow path to heaven.

Declare your Stand

8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 

9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

The third thing that King Jehoshaphat did was to remind God that they had built a Temple for Him.

Therefore, if you have done something good for God, especially if it is something that He asked you to do, remind Him of it in your prayers.

Reminding God of what you have done does not mean that He has forgotten. It only serves to strengthen your faith by reminding yourself that you have done the right thing in the eyes of God. 

So if you have been helping the less fortunate members of your community, remind Him of your acts and His Word which says, "Blessed is the person who considers the poor because the Lord will deliver them from trouble, preserve them and keep them alive. They will be blessed on earth and God will not deliver them to the will of their enemies. God will strengthen them when they are sick and sustain them on their sickbed." (Psalm 41:1-3)

State the Problem

10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

The fourth thing that King Jehoshaphat did was to tell God the problem.

Similarly, tell God the problem that is stressing you.

Ask for Help

12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

The fifth thing that King Jehoshaphat did was to ask God to help them.

So ask God to help you solve the problem that you are facing. 

Declare your Dependence

For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

The sixth thing that King Jehoshaphat did was to declare their dependence on God.

Therefore tell God that you are relying on Him to solve your problem.