Orthodox prayers for hard times

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God,God of all mercy and compassion,patient and full of mercy,You love the righteousand have mercy on sinners.

With Your most pure lips You said:“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened,and I will give you rest.”

See, we who are sinful and unworthy,worn out by sorrows and troubles,run to You, fall down before You and pray:heed the Mother of God, who bore You,as she pleads for us;receive the prayers of Your saints;bend down to our weakness,and show Your mercy to Your people,who trust in Your love for mankind,whatever their situation.

Comfort those who grieve,give courage to the downcast,strengthen those who have grown weak,heal the sick,send patience to the maimed and the paralysed,feed the hungry,clothe the naked,give shelter to the homeless,help those who labour,and give relief to those weighed downby the cares of life and by hard work.

Strengthen with patience those on trial,in prisons, in chains, shut away, in exileand in bitter labour,and bring them quickly out to freedom.Keep safe those at war,bring the captives home,bring together those who are parted,make peace between those at odds,show mercy to all in all things,and present everyone to Your holy Churchas people who please You.

For it is Yours to have mercy on usand to save us, O Lord our God,and we give glory to You,with Your Father, Who has no beginning,and the Holy Spirit,now and always,and for ever and ever. Amen.

God is our refuge and strength,a help always near in times of trouble.

So we will not fear, though the earth gives way,though the mountains slide into the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foamand the mountains shake as it surges.

There is a river whose streams bring joy to the city of God,the holy place where the Most High dwells.God is within the city; it will not fall.God will help it at the break of day.

The nations rage, and kingdoms totter;He raises His voice, and the earth melts.The LORD of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see the works of the LORD,the ruins He has made on the earth:He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;He burns the chariots with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God.I will be exalted among the nations;I will be exalted in the earth.”

The LORD of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Save Your people, O Lord,and bless Your inheritance.Help those who are weary and burdened,comfort those who grieve and those who lose heart,and keep Your servants from every trouble.

O God, our refuge in hardship,our strength in weakness,our help in trouble,our comfort in tears:

spare, O Lord, spare Your people;do not hand over to the wild beaststhe souls that praise You.

Though the fig tree does not blossomand there is no fruit on the vines,though the olive crop failsand the fields give no food,though the flock is cut off from the foldand there are no cattle in the stalls,yet I will rejoice in the LORD;I will be glad in the God Who saves me.

The LORD God is my strength.He makes my feet like the feet of a deerand makes me walk on the heights.