Abide in Me
You are not alone
If it's late and you can't sleep, you're not alone here. Some things that might help, right now:
A verse for what you're feeling
Look for what you're feeling. There's no wrong door here.
Anxious / worried
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition 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 thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Afraid
“Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10
Exhausted / burned out
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29
Grieving
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
Lonely
“Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or scared of them, for the LORD your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
Angry
“Be angry, and don't sin. Don't let the sun go down on your wrath.”
Ephesians 4:26
Guilty / ashamed
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
In despair
“It is because of the LORD's loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn't fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23
Doubting
“Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, ‘I believe. Help my unbelief.’”
Mark 9:24
Facing temptation
“No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
Feeling unloved or rejected
“For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
Worried about the future
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Struggling to forgive someone
“Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so you also do.”
Colossians 3:13
Overwhelmed
“We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Mourning someone who died
“We don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don't grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Sick or in physical pain
“He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
Confused / needing direction
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
James 1:5
Grateful / wanting to give thanks
“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Needing peace
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
John 14:27
Comparing yourself to others / envious
“But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else. For each man will bear his own burden.”
Galatians 6:4-5
Scripture: World English Bible, Catholic Edition (public domain).
A Prayer for a Hard Night
Lord, it's late, and my mind won't rest.
You said the one who keeps me does not slumber or sleep — so even now, You are awake with me.
I don't need to have the right words. You already know what's heavy tonight.
Quiet what needs quieting. Steady what's shaking.
If I can't sleep, let me at least rest in knowing You're here.
And in the morning, whatever today left undone, let tomorrow begin again in Your hands.
Amen.
The Examen — a short guided version
A simple way of praying through your day, five steps, a few minutes:
- 1.
Become aware of God's presence.
Pause. However you're feeling right now, you don't have to feel it alone. Just notice that God is here.
- 2.
Look back on the day with gratitude.
Walk back through today, even a hard one. Look for anything — small or large — worth being grateful for.
- 3.
Pay attention to your emotions.
What moved you today? Where did you feel peace? Where did you feel pulled down? Don't judge the feelings, just notice them honestly.
- 4.
Choose one moment and pray from it.
Pick whatever stood out most — good or hard — and bring it to God directly. Ask for what you need: forgiveness, strength, comfort, clarity.
- 5.
Look toward tomorrow.
Ask for the grace to meet tomorrow, whatever it holds, and let yourself rest.
A Reflection for Sleepless Nights
There's a verse in the Psalms that says God “will not slumber.” Not because He's too busy to rest, but because He's never not paying attention to you — especially the you that shows up at 2am, when the day's noise has gone quiet and everything you've been holding together all day finally catches up.
Night can make small things feel unbearable and unbearable things feel permanent. They're usually neither. You don't have to resolve anything tonight. You don't even have to pray well — the Psalms above are full of people who were falling apart when they wrote them, and they're still prayed today.
If you need more than words on a page tonight, that's not a failure of faith — that's what the numbers below are for. And if you need an actual person from this parish, the Ask a Priest page isn't going anywhere; it'll be there in the morning too.
If you need someone right now
In immediate danger, or worried about your safety right now: call 999 or 112 (Uganda's police/general emergency numbers), or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
To talk to someone: Sauti 116 — toll-free, 24/7, on every network. (It's run as Uganda's child helpline and is most associated with child protection, but it's the most reliably staffed 24-hour line available.)
Mental Health Uganda toll-free counselling helpline: 0800 21 21 21 — Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm only (not available overnight).
Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital — Uganda's national psychiatric hospital, for in-person emergency psychiatric care.
Parish Info Assistant
This is an automated tool, not a person and not a priest. It can answer questions about the parish's published information (Mass and confession times, sacraments, registration, events, directions, contact) and explain what the Church teaches from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It cannot hear confession, give absolution or any sacrament, or offer personal spiritual direction. For anything personal, ask a priest.