When the world gets quiet, your mind doesn’t always follow. These nighttime prayers can help you find peace, rest, and renewal with God.
I used to fear nighttime because I knew what it brought. It felt like the same thing over and over, with bright and joy-filled days turning to dark thoughts at 10:00pm.
I would distract myself to avoid thinking and dealing with the heaviness that nighttime brought. Can you relate?
Night often acts as a reset for the world. A time when our bodies should be resting. But what do we do when nighttime brings darkness? Not literal darkness, but dark thoughts after long days, left alone with ourselves ...
For you, maybe your mind fills with worries about the future or embarrassment about something you said earlier that day. You might be feeling overwhelmed by your endless to-do list. Or you might feel guilty about how you used your time. It’s no wonder so many of us struggle to sleep well.
No matter how your day went and what thoughts are swirling through your mind, there’s good news: We can find comfort, grace, and rest in Jesus.
Jesus Offers Rest
In Matthew 11, Jesus says,
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT
The rest Jesus is talking about here isn’t physical rest. It’s rest for your soul.
We all carry burdens and weights that no one sees. But God does. He sees what’s on your plate. He sees the sacrifices you’re making. He knows the thoughts running through your head when you’re sitting alone in your room.
In the middle of hard days and stressful situations, God promises to provide us with rest.
In the middle of hard days and stressful situations, Jesus promises to provide us with rest. But how do we experience this rest He’s speaking of?
Look at the beginning of the verse where He simply says, “Come to me.” When we’re tired, Jesus doesn’t say “do more.” He wants us to come to Him and set our burdens down at His feet. That’s when Jesus meets us with true rest for our souls.
No matter what you’re facing today, you can bring it to God through prayer—He will give you His rest. Prayer won’t automatically clear your calendar, load your dishwasher, or unsend that email you wished you’d left in drafts, but it can bring peace. The kind of peace that comes with trusting God’s love, acceptance, and care in any situation.
7 Nighttime Prayers
Whether you’ve just had a bad day or feel stuck in a pattern of hard thoughts when nighttime hits, here are seven prayers that will help you find rest, reflect, and gain renewal in the darkness.
1. A Prayer for Rest
Feeling tired by the weight of life? Try this prayer tonight:
- God, I come to You this evening feeling weighed down by life. I am worn out. I am tired. I don’t have the physical or mental strength to keep going at this pace. I pray for the spiritual rest You offer. Tonight, I choose to give my weight and burdens to You and accept Your rest in return. God, I need You. I need Your help. I pray that I would feel Your helping hand and find rest in knowing that You are carrying this load with me. Please give rest to my weary soul and give me the strength to keep going. In Jesus’ name, amen.
2. A Prayer for Silencing Intrusive Thoughts at Night
Feeling trapped by your thoughts? Pray this tonight:
- Lord, I am overwhelmed. I want to be able to sleep well and rest easily, but my mind is consumed with thoughts of not being enough, not getting things right, and not winning. I feel like I can’t shut my brain off. Lord, please calm my mind. Calm my body. Help me rest so I can be the best version of who You’ve created me to be. Quiet these spiraling thoughts. In Jesus’ name, amen.
3. A Prayer for Sleep
Can’t sleep? Talk to God about it:
- God, I’m lying here with a restless mind and a tired body. I’ve tried to push through the noise, but the overthinking won’t stop. I’m carrying so much and trying to solve things that are too big for me. So right now, I hand it all over to You. You never sleep, and You never stop caring for me. So while I rest, I trust You’ll keep working. Please quiet my thoughts, calm my heart, and help me find deep, peaceful sleep tonight. In Jesus’ name, amen.
4. A Prayer for Peace at Night
Feeling the weight of the darkness? God has peace for you, so ask Him for it:
Father, I look to You tonight. The night brings immense darkness. I am struggling with depression and anxiety. My thoughts are crippling my ability to see Your goodness. I pray that You would open my eyes to Your love and Your mercy. Help me remember who You say I am.
Your light shines best in the dark, and right now, Lord, I feel surrounded by darkness. Please help me to see You through my anxious and weighted thoughts. You are my protector. You are always with me. You are my Abba, my good Dad. Help me overcome dark thoughts as I remember these truths. Please fill my heart and mind with Your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
5. A Prayer for Evening Renewal
Feeling tired of the distractions holding you back? Make this prayer your own this evening:
- God, today I recognize that I am distant from You. I feel a stirring in my soul, but I don’t know why. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” God, tonight I repent and turn back to You. I can’t do this life on my own, so today I fully give my life to You. I look to You as a guide, and I want to follow Your ways. Set me free from distractions. Forgive me, God. Make me new. Let my life reflect You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
6. A Prayer for Comfort at Night
Feeling uneasy about what’s happening around you? Pray this prayer tonight:
- Father, I don’t understand. I don’t understand why bad things happen to good people. Our world is hurting. Our world is in desperate need of You. Jesus, help me show Your love to others. Our world is corrupt and broken because it has not yet been made whole. Remind me that when bad things happen, it’s a reflection of a hurting world in need of a Savior. Jesus, I know Your wholeness. I pray for Your comfort, knowing that someday our whole world will know You. Use me tomorrow, Jesus, to reach others and share Your goodness, Your grace, and Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
7. A Prayer for a Better Day Tomorrow
Feeling discouraged? Reach out to God about it tonight:
- God, I thank You for the promise that the sun will rise after a dark night. Thank You for offering me fresh grace and mercies each day. God, I pray that You will remind me of these promises daily. Though the night feels like it will never end, renewal is coming. Tomorrow is a new day, with new chances. I pray that I’ll wake up with the same grace for myself that You give me. Thank You for Your promise of renewal. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Joy in the Morning
The nighttime can bring many different feelings and thoughts. But be encouraged that night doesn’t last forever. Your trials and feelings aren’t permanent. A new day is coming.
Cling to God in your darkness.
Cling to who He says You are.
Cling to what His Word says.
… Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 NLT