A Prayer for Comfort: Psalm 86-Supplication through the Scriptures

A Prayer for Comfort

Psalm 86

He is able…to give hope and joy under the heaviest sorrows.
Matthew Henry

Paul, in 2 Corinthians, gives us a wonderful description of the Lord. He is the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). For the believer, our Heavenly Father is the source of all comfort we look for and receive. To be the source of comfort means that God is where our comfort comes from and can be obtained. And He is able and willing to comfort us in ALL our affliction. He comforts in any trouble, distress, anguish, affliction, hardship, trial, tribulation, irritation, disappointment, setback, financial distress, or sorrow we face today. There is no situation that befalls us where we lie outside the reach of God’s comfort. 

Psalm 86 is David’s cry to the Lord for God to be gracious toward him according to His abundant love and truth. There were many times in David’s life where this psalm would’ve been appropriate for him to pray. For us as well, whatever we are facing today, whether it seems to be small or big, we can pray “listen to my plea for grace”(86:6). We can cry all day to the Lord for His comfort and help in our time of need. He loves to bestow His comfort and lavish His grace on us. With trusting hearts, let’s turn to Him for comfort for today’s trouble.

Listen to my plea for grace

86:1-7 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. 
Lord, I pray:
▫️You would incline Your ear to me today and give comfort in the challenges I face today. 
▫️I trust in You, Lord, preserve my life, my thoughts, my hope, my joy with Your comfort.
▫️You are my God, the God of all comfort, and I belong to You. You will meet me in the tough moments of this day. I am poor and needy, please come to my help.
▫️Listen to my plea for grace and be gracious to me, your servant. Lavish me with your grace today to help me endure and persevere with joy (Colossians 1:11).
▫️Gladden my heart today in You that no matter what inconvenience, delay, or unexpected detour I face, I would not stumble.
▫️Help me to lift up my soul and all its concerns to You and to look to Your hand to supply all I need each moment.
▫️Comfort me when I encounter my own sinfulness today. Remind me that You are good and forgiving and abounding in steadfast love. I am forgiven and accepted in Christ, and He is my comfort in this life with its battle against sin.
▫️I will call to You today because You hear and answer me with Your goodness and Your abundant comfort. 

He does wondrous things

86:8-13 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 
Lord, I pray:
▫️When I’m feeling the need for Your comfort, I would remember Your wondrous deeds which You have done for me in the past and I would have confidence that You will help me again.
▫️You are great and all You do is great. The comfort You promise to me will come at the right time and will be exactly what I need.
▫️Teach me Your way as I walk through this difficulty. Help me to experience the truth of Your Word, that You are the God of patience and comfort (Romans 15:5), and help me to walk in Your truth trusting You.
▫️Give me a fresh awe of You as I learn more about Your goodness and grace through this time.
▫️I give thanks to Your name for the comfort of Your Word that meets me with encouragement and hope for the path You have led me on.
▫️Help me to glorify You in this trial, in responding with thankfulness to Your comfort, and ministering that comfort to others who need it.

The Lord comforted me

86:14-17 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Lord, I pray:

▫️When I am in need of comfort today, You would comfort me with the truth that no matter what I face, You do not change. You are my God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

▫️Turn to me right now as I cry to You and be gracious to me by strengthening me with all power, according to Your glorious might (Colossians 1:11).

▫️Show me a sign of Your favor. Let me see something today that reminds me that You see me, You hear me, You are working for me.

▫️Thank you, Father, for how You have helped and comforted me as I take refuge in You.


May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 


Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All right reserved.

Photo credit to joshua_j_woroniecki

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