How Do We Pray When It’s Hard?

How do we pray in tough situations? We all respond to difficulties differently. Some can go straight to prayer in a difficult situation. But on the other hand, many report finding it hard to pray when they’re stressed, hurting, or carrying deep wounds. Prayer can be hard when we feel ignored, disappointed, or when our hearts feel tired. In these circumstances, it can be hard to organize our thoughts and force words out in a prayer. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to do the hard work of praying when it’s hard: 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).

What a comfort to know that even when words are hard to form and our prayers feel clumsy, unfinished, or even angry, the Holy Spirit is already at work. Even when we may feel ignored or unheard, God has not turned away; he is listening. Staying in conversation with God, even when your heart may be full of doubt, is faith in its most honest form. 

We hope the articles listed below will help give you the courage to pray, even when it's hard:

How to Pray When You're Frustrated with God, by Courtney Jacob. When our circumstances are not what we want them to be, when they’re beyond our control, and when it appears there’s no one else to blame, it’s not too surprising we might become frustrated with God.

How Do I Pray When I’m Angry? by Rachel Syens. A lot of us feel angry these days. Anger over the state of our world. Anger over loss. Anger over division among our friends, family, and communities. And perhaps you’ve been unsure of how to approach God with your anger.

Praying in Hard Times, by Christopher Hunt. In intense times of anxiety, fear, or grief, we can find it very difficult to pray. The words won’t come. We feel far away from God. What can we do when we feel a deep need to pray, but can hardly bring ourselves to do it?

How to Quiet Your Mind and Heart for Prayer, by Emily Vanden Heuvel. How do we quiet the noise in our minds and worry in our hearts so that we can pray?

Prayers of Relinquishment: Letting Go in the Grip of Crisis, by Emily Vanden Heuvel. Do we really believe that God sees our suffering? Can we trust God’s plans enough to let go of our own desire to try to take control? That is what prayers of relinquishment are for.

Praying for God’s Protection, by Courtney Jacob. Though every circumstance is different, the Bible makes it clear that the Lord protects those who trust in him.

Prayers of Comfort for a Grieving Heart, by Christopher Hunt. Grief can be overwhelming, making it very hard to pray. God’s Word is the perfect prayer guide in our seasons of grief.

A Prayer for Times of Waiting, by Emily Vanden Heuvel. The Bible doesn't just teach us about prayers; it also gives us lots of examples of prayers. One of these is Hannah’s prayer.

Did you find this article helpful? We’ve put together a short ebook called “How Do I Pray?” which introduces six ways to reinvigorate your prayer life. Download it free right here.