Jesus, Calm My Heart: 365 Prayers to Give You Peace at the Close of Every Day

By Ruth Schwenk

Before you turn out the lights, turn to Jesus.

When coming to the end of a day feels like coming to an end of ourselves, we often struggle to find the words to pray--or even know where to start. We just know we need God.

Knowing well this weariness, beloved author Ruth Schwenk comes alongside you, offering encouragement and simple prayers of peace and hope. Whether you're exhausted from worry, fear, unanswered prayers, pain, rejection, regret, or lack of joy or purpose, each of these 365 nightly prayers and journaling prompts will infuse hope into your life.

Even as your eyes drift shut, you will discover that the end of a day can also be the beginning of a new and deeper dependence on God. Because when you seek Him, you will find the One who never sleeps--and who strengthens us and works on our behalf even as we rest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Nov 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781493443826

Ruth Schwenk

Ruth Schwenk is the founder of the popular blog TheBetterMom.com and co-founder, with her husband Patrick, of FortheFamily.org and the podcast Rootlike Faith. She is also the trusted author of several books with HarperCollins Christian Publishing, including The Better Mom Book and Devotional, and co-author with Karen Ehman of Pressing Pause and Settle My Soul. Ruth is a Michigan football super-fan, lover of all things HGTV, and a self-proclaimed foodie. But her greatest joy is her family. She lives with her husband and their four kids in the dreamy college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Book preview

Books by Ruth Schwenk from Bethany House Publishers

Trusting God in All the Things*

Jesus, Calm My Heart

* with Karen Ehman

© 2023 by Ruth Schwenk

Published by Bethany House Publishers

Minneapolis, Minnesota

www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Ebook edition created 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-4382-6

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations identified ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016

Scripture quotations identified NKJV are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Micaela Blankenship

The author is represented by the Brock, Inc. Agency.

Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.

Contents

Cover

Half Title Page    1

Books by Ruth Schwenk from Bethany House Publishers    2

Title Page    3

Copyright Page    4

Introduction    17

For the woman who . . .

Night 1: Feels stuck in a season of waiting

Night 2: Senses she is spiritually dry

Night 3: Feels completely overwhelmed by her life

Night 4: Is hoping and praying You will come through for her

Night 5: Is struggling to keep her head and her heart in a good place

Night 6: Is wrestling with regret

Night 7: Is weary

Night 8: Is struggling to find joy in this season

Night 9: Is miserable

Night 10: Is experiencing anxiety

Night 11: Needs to know You are with her tonight

Night 12: Feels desperate for Your peace

Night 13: Has a mind spinning with what-ifs

Night 14: Is struggling with change

Night 15: Remains in a season of waiting

Night 16: Just needs a break

Night 17: Is struggling with worry

Night 18: Is questioning the call You have on her life

Night 19: Feels lost

Night 20: Feels discouraged

Night 21: Feels unsettled by her circumstances

Night 22: Is questioning Your goodness

Night 23: Feels things will never change

Night 24: Fears an unknown future

Night 25: Feels invisible

Night 26: Is facing unimaginable circumstances

Night 27: Is struggling to discern what is next

Night 28: Desperately wants to change but wonders if she ever will

Night 29: Feels the hard times will never end

Night 30: Finally feels hopeful and at peace

Night 31: Is desperate for Your peace in her life

Night 32: Is living a life that looks nothing like she thought it would

Night 33: Is gripped by fear

Night 34: Is feeling discouraged by her current circumstances

Night 35: Is struggling to place her plans in Your hands

Night 36: Is barely hanging on

Night 37: Is doubting You can actually use her

Night 38: Wonders if You are even listening

Night 39: Isn’t sure how she can face the mountain ahead

Night 40: Is battling depression

Night 41: Is struggling to understand Your plan for her life

Night 42: Feels lonely

Night 43: Is fearful of what is to come

Night 44: Wonders if her pain has any purpose

Night 45: Is wrestling with how she can make a difference

Night 46: Is struggling with thoughts that are running wild

Night 47: Is laboring to see through the fog

Night 48: Is wrestling with the whys

Night 49: Feels she can’t go on

Night 50: Has a deep desire to serve You but doesn’t know where to begin

Night 51: Is struggling with boundaries

Night 52: Is in a season of suffering that seems unending

Night 53: Is longing for community

Night 54: Feels discouraged because it seems like everyone else is thriving except her

Night 55: Is struggling to surrender her circumstances to You

Night 56: Is heartbroken

Night 57: Lacks focus and resolve

Night 58: Is seeking Your wisdom

Night 59: Feels unwanted

Night 60: Feels powerless over her circumstances

Night 61: Is struggling to see the good in her life

Night 62: Feels unsettled

Night 63: Is suffering in the middle of heartbreak

Night 64: Feels nervous about her future

Night 65: Just can’t seem to get it all together

Night 66: Is struggling to find her voice

Night 67: Is laboring to let go

Night 68: Is struggling to see You in her hurt

Night 69: Longs for something more

Night 70: Feels confused about where You have her

Night 71: Can’t seem to catch a break

Night 72: Is struggling to find a friend she can trust

Night 73: Is struggling to get through each day

Night 74: Finally feels settled for the first time in a long while

Night 75: Feels she has been abandoned

Night 76: Lacks the confidence to move forward with what You have for her

Night 77: Is struggling with insecurity

Night 78: Is filled with dread at what is to come

Night 79: Feels unmotivated to do anything

Night 80: Feels uneasy

Night 81: Needs direction

Night 82: Feels numb inside

Night 83: Is struggling to trust You with her future

Night 84: Is tired of all the sleepless nights

Night 85: Is frustrated and wondering if she has been wasting time in this place

Night 86: Has lost her faith

Night 87: Feels like giving up

Night 88: Has been betrayed

Night 89: Has been let down so many times that she is struggling to believe in the good and have hope again

Night 90: Feels disoriented by all she is walking through

Night 91: Is struggling with contentment

Night 92: Feels worn and weary

Night 93: Is doubting Your love for her

Night 94: Needs a reminder that there is always hope when she stays close to You

Night 95: Has been hurt by someone she trusted

Night 96: Wonders if You hear her prayers

Night 97: Has finally found her courage

Night 98: Is stuck in a cycle of sin

Night 99: Has lost her joy

Night 100: Is struggling in a relationship with a loved one

Night 101: Needs assurance that You are for her

Night 102: Feels no one sees who she is or what she has done

Night 103: Is cautiously looking forward to what is to come

Night 104: Wonders how You could let this happen to her

Night 105: Is hoping for better days to come

Night 106: Feels disorganized

Night 107: Feels uncomfortable with her circumstances

Night 108: Wishes You would answer her prayers

Night 109: Is in danger of quitting too soon

Night 110: Is doubting You will show up for her in her hard situation

Night 111: Is sick and tired of being sick and tired

Night 112: Is struggling to discern Your voice

Night 113: Is feeling hopeful

Night 114: Needs to remember that who she is becoming is more important than what she is doing

Night 115: Can’t imagine how things will get better

Night 116: Is struggling with chronic sickness

Night 117: Is unsatisfied with where she is at in her life

Night 118: Feels unloved

Night 119: Feels her life is chaotic and unmanageable

Night 120: Feels unworthy

Night 121: Is mourning

Night 122: Feels she is running out of time

Night 123: Feels apathetic

Night 124: Desires to be poor in spirit

Night 125: Feels persecuted by those around her

Night 126: Wonders if her life will ever be normal again

Night 127: Can’t see a clear path ahead

Night 128: Feels distracted

Night 129: Is in a funk

Night 130: Feels forgotten

Night 131: Is ready for a change

Night 132: Wishes she had friends

Night 133 Needs hope

Night 134 Feels unappreciated

Night 135: Is longing for peace

Night 136: Wonders where You are

Night 137: Is longing for joy again

Night 138: Is struggling to find her purpose

Night 139: Feels no one cares for her

Night 140: Is waiting for You to come through for her

Night 141: Is ready to throw in the towel

Night 142: Always wakes at 3 a.m.

Night 143: Feels afraid

Night 144: Can’t seem to find her footing

Night 145: Finally feels hopeful

Night 146: Feels trapped by her current circumstances

Night 147: Wonders why life has to be so hard

Night 148: Can’t see the way forward

Night 149: Has been wrongfully accused

Night 150: Feels she is always rushing

Night 151: Is afraid of what is to come

Night 152: Is trying to hear Your voice in the middle of the noise

Night 153: Needs strength

Night 154: Wants more for her life

Night 155: Desires to be meek

Night 156: Is holding on to her faith in the middle of heartbreak

Night 157: Is tired of feeling stuck

Night 158: Needs peace

Night 159: Needs to be loved

Night 160: Is struggling to believe in You

Night 161: Wants to hunger for righteousness

Night 162: Has suffered for so long that she isn’t sure she can take another step

Night 163: Has been manipulated

Night 164: Is longing to be close to You

Night 165: Is ready to give up

Night 166: Is struggling to let go of things from her past

Night 167: Wonders if anyone really cares

Night 168: Is ready for a fresh outlook on life

Night 169: Is tired of being lukewarm in her faith

Night 170: Needs Your defense and protection from the enemy

Night 171: Has lost someone she loves

Night 172: Feels the fog of darkness around her will not lift

Night 173: Needs faith

Night 174: Feels her life is going nowhere fast

Night 175: Feels alone in her suffering

Night 176: Needs wisdom and understanding to follow Your purposes for her

Night 177: Is struggling with spiritual attacks from the enemy

Night 178: Wishes her life looked different

Night 179: Isn’t sure how to take the next step

Night 180: Wishes You didn’t feel so far away

Night 181: Wants a pure heart

Night 182: Wonders why bad things happen to good people

Night 183: Needs Your knowledge and help to make a decision she is wrestling with

Night 184: Is tired of her hard life

Night 185: Desperately wants to break her cycle of unhealth

Night 186: Feels devastated by her situation

Night 187: Is struggling to feel grateful for her life

Night 188: Feels insecure in what You’ve called her to

Night 189: Is devastated by the loss of a dream

Night 190: Is ready for something different

Night 191: Wants to seek You with all her heart

Night 192: Needs help

Night 193: Needs joy

Night 194: Is anxious for tomorrow

Night 195: Needs the courage to pick up the phone and ask for help

Night 196: Wants to surrender her life to You

Night 197: Feels lost

Night 198: Is struggling to control her emotions

Night 199: Wishes she had a second chance

Night 200: Is frustrated with her life

Night 201: Longs for a community that cheers one another on

Night 202: Is struggling with an ungrateful heart

Night 203: Needs to know You see her

Night 204: Needs You

Night 205: Is grieving the life she dreamed of

Night 206: Is struggling with envy

Night 207: Is open to hearing from You

Night 208: Wishes she knew what to do with her life

Night 209: Is frustrated with her friends

Night 210: Feels she is falling apart

Night 211: Is frustrated at home

Night 212: Is struggling to hold on

Night 213: Is feeling drained

Night 214: Is tired of always putting others’ needs before her own

Night 215: Is worried and wondering about what awaits her in the morning

Night 216: Feels crushed by what she’s been through

Night 217: Wants to follow You

Night 218: Needs Your healing

Night 219: Is struggling to keep going

Night 220: Is scared she’ll mess up again

Night 221: Needs a break

Night 222: Wishes You would right all the wrongs that have been done to her

Night 223: Wonders why her life turned out like this

Night 224: Wants to cultivate faithfulness and endurance within herself

Night 225: Wants to see the good in the middle of what is so hard

Night 226: Is bored with her life

Night 227: Wonders what You have for her

Night 228: Is unmoved by her sin

Night 229: Wonders why You aren’t listening to her prayers

Night 230: Feels detached from everything and everyone

Night 231: Is hurting because of the words someone spoke over her

Night 232: Wonders what this next season will be like

Night 233: Is ready to turn her life around

Night 234: Wonders if You are real

Night 235: Has hurt others with her words

Night 236: Has been going full speed for so long that she isn’t sure how to slow down

Night 237: Is seeking Your truth

Night 238: Is tired of making the same mistakes over and over again

Night 239: Can’t find her way out of the hopelessness she feels

Night 240: Wonders if she’s making a difference

Night 241: Is struggling after loss

Night 242: Is wrestling with past hurts

Night 243: Wants to love her life but doesn’t

Night 244: Wonders why You feel so distant

Night 245: Wants to make the most of the time she has

Night 246: Is longing for a deeper walk with You

Night 247: Needs You to dig her out of the hole she is in

Night 248: Wants to