[SIZE=14pt]FOLLOW THE JOY WITHIN![/SIZE]
Years ago I used to have many problems of the kind that you are praying about.
Then the Holy Spirit began to deal with me about how rebellious I was because of all the false doctrines that false prophets--usually Protestant ministers--had planted in my brain. In short, they had poisoned my brain against God! They teach that the Holy Spirit--even with mountains upon mountains of prayer--can't be trusted to guide Christ's One True Church until the end of the age. According to them we all need to grab a Bible and figure the Truth out for ourselves.
You can read about these loose tongues in II Peter 2 and Jude. In seeking profits and approval from corrupt people, they are especially deceitful regarding greed and fornication, the two biggest sins that afflict humanity. Like Korah in Numbers 16 and Jude 11, their Protestant founder, Martin Luther, taught that God's people don't need a human, living leader like Moses or the pope. Both Korah and Luther taught that all God's people were just as good as their leaders.
Baloney! Consider the ugly mess this has created! Over 30,000 Protestant denominations! Do you really think this is the will of God?
Thanks to my praying natural father, though, once in a while I would feel some joy. I began to ask God why it would come and go. God showed me that whenever I was thinking thoughts that were pleasing to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit was rejoicing within me. Whenever I wasn't, the joy would disappear.
Following that lead, I became a Catholic in 1986 and all my most serious problems, both inward and outward, disappeared. I still must discipline myself like a good soldier of the Cross, being careful to keep the Word of God in thought, word, and deed. But there are certain problems like depression and joblessness that are completely contrary to the will of God.
In short, Our Loving God the Father is beating his children until they behave (I Corinthians 11:30-32 & Hebrews 12:1-12).