10 Scriptures to Pray When You Are Frustrated

We all feel frustrated by our circumstances at times. One of the best ways to respond is to pray God’s Word as we process our frustrations. Today, we’ll explore 10 Scriptures to pray when you are frustrated.

I’ll also share a personal story about feeling frustrated with God.

Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you turn to God in life’s difficult seasons.

10 Scriptures to Pray When You Are Frustrated

Let’s see what God’s Word says about frustration as we bring our frustrations to God.

10 Scriptures to Pray When You Are Frustrated

1. Matthew 11:28 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Prayer:

“God, it’s tempting to turn away from you when I feel frustrated. Thank you that the first step toward healing is turning toward you. I turn to you today and honestly bring my emotions to you, trusting that you are not offended by my frustration. Thank you for being a good Father and wanting to help me through this.”

2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Prayer:

“Lord, please help me to find joy in you. Empower me to remain faithful in prayer. Help me cultivate gratitude even when I feel frustrated.”

3. Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Prayer:

“Father, as I face this frustration, I need you to renew my mind. Give me your eyes to see this the way you see it. Please grant me your patience to endure and move forward in alignment with you. I am tempted to respond in my flesh, and I know this won’t lead me where I want to go. Please renew my mind so that I can discern your will.”

4. 1 Peter 5:8

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Prayer:

“Father, thank you for the reminder that every battle has a spiritual element. I recognize that Satan wants to destroy me by leading me away from you in this frustrating time. Help me defeat him by turning toward you instead of away from you even when I don’t understand what is happening around me.”

5. Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Prayer:

“Lord, I admit that I feel tempted to handle frustrations by falling into all sorts of temptations. Please protect me from escaping into unhealthy coping mechanisms and help me not to respond in anger. Remind me to bring my feelings to you and surrender to you, fleeing from all temptations to sin in this situation.”

6. Ephesians 6:18

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Prayer:

“God, I know that the key to handling this frustrating situation is turning to you in prayer. Rather than worrying, remind me to bring my concerns to you first.”

7. Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Prayer:

“Lord, help me keep my mind centered on you. Please protect me from spiraling into imagined scenarios that might never take place. I place my trust in you, recognizing that you can change this situation. Help me to rest in you.”

8. Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

“Father, I long for your peace. As I lift this burden to you, I thank you for hearing me. Thank you for being good. Please cover me with your peace as I trust in you.”

9. Romans 8:6

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Prayer:

“Lord, you know how tempting it is to focus only on the temporal circumstances surrounding me. Please help me focus on you. Thank you for filling me with your Spirit and giving me peace.”

10. John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Prayer:

“Father, thank you for your peace. I claim and receive this peace as I surrender this situation to you. Show me how to act upon the parts that are mine to change and rest in you regarding the parts that are not. Grant me the wisdom to know the difference.”

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I now invite you to shift gears with me, and I’ll share a personal story of turning to God in a frustrating moment.

A Personal Application of These 10 Scriptures to Pray When You Are Frustrated

I climb onto the elliptical as a new day dawns, and I have no motivation to follow through with my usual routine. I’m feeling frustrated with God, and I’m not sure I feel like going through the motions today.

I’ve been feeling frustrated about a shattered dream.

Everything I had planned for and hoped for has been thrown out the window like chaff in the wind, and I am alone here with my broken heart. I have no clue as to what the next step on this journey is supposed to look like.

Navigating Frustration With God

Most of us have been frustrated that God didn’t move differently at some point in our lives.

I’ve been frustrated over the bad breakups that came with the latter years of adolescence, hard friendship struggles, failed diets, rejected article ideas, career mishaps, and so much more. Life’s just frustrating sometimes.

Most of us are frustrated that the hand of God didn’t move differently at some point in our lives. #disappointment #encounteringGod Share on X

I’m not thinking about these things as I climb onto the elliptical.

I open the laptop and click on a message by Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church. He says these words: “Following Jesus can be a very disappointing experience sometimes.”

Yes, I think. Yes, it can.

What to Do When You’re Frustrated With God

Most of us start following Jesus with the hope that he will improve our lives.

We hope that following him means our dreams will come to fruition, our hearts will never again be broken, and we’ll never find ourselves huddled in the corner, just praying for daylight.

Meanwhile, Jesus doesn’t promise freedom from pain, suffering, or disappointments. He promises just the opposite: He promises that in this life we will have trouble (John 16:33).

My First Reaction When I’m Frustrated With God

When life is frustrating, I want nothing more than to rush out of the arena of my pain and get on with the next thing.

I have a question for us all today.

What if God is calling us to stay in the arena, even when staying in the frustration is uncomfortable?

We have a wide array of choices when we feel frustrated with God. Some of us rush through the frustration and move to something different: different careers, ministries, or relationships. Others try to fix the painful circumstances in our own power, apart from God. Some of us numb ourselves to escape the discomfort.

God’s Invitation for the Hard Moments of Your Life

But what if there’s a better way?

We can allow frustration to lead us closer to God.

We can dig deeply into his Word and read the truth that will slowly heal us.

I believe God longs for us to sit with him in the middle of our pain without trying to hurry to the other side. He gently nudges us to look for reasons to give thanks amid the frustration.

My prayer is for you to keep a soft heart. Remain open to the ways God wants to shape your heart through the struggle. Don’t leave the arena of your pain prematurely. The greatest frustrations are often the most powerful platforms for God to work in your life.

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If these 10 Scriptures to pray when you are frustrated blessed you, I invite you to explore our family devotionals and free devotional eBooks below. Be blessed as you turn toward God in your frustrations. He waits with open arms and holds the answers you seek.

Calling All Parents and Grandparents!

As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.

Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!

God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.

Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter

Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.

Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.

Find Our Family Devotionals Here

Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.

Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing

God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!

A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God

Lastly, if these 10 Scriptures to pray when you are frustrated with God blessed you, I have a gift for you. God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!