Praying Through Doubt, Worry, and Fear

When faced with circumstances that produce doubt, anxiety, worry, fear, anger, or any number of other negative emotions, we may find it difficult to pray. We may wonder, “Where is God in this mess? How can I hear his voice over all this noise? Is he even listening?” But all this comes from our doubt, anxiety, or worry. Our Heavenly Father assures us that he is listening, that he cares, and that he works for our good in all our troubles: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble…He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God…’” (Psalm 46: 1 and 10). We can trust God to hear and answer our prayers in all our circumstances.

When we come to God with our uncertainties, our faith does not fail. On the contrary, by bringing our doubt, anxiety, and worry to God, we acknowledge our need for him. We let go of control and embrace God's plan even when it feels confusing and overwhelming. These moments strengthen your faith, not diminish it; you actively seek to trust God with everything, even the hardest parts.

The nine articles below talk about discerning God’s voice, praying with confidence in all circumstances, and trusting God with our feelings as we pray.

How Do I Discern God’s Voice in Prayer? by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- When we pray, how can we tell it is God speaking to us and not just our own thoughts and desires? God desires to communicate with us. But we must learn to recognize his voice.

Does God Really Listen to Me? by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- While we may find it hard to imagine that God cares enough about us to listen to our prayers, the Bible makes it very clear that he does.

Why Isn't God Answering My Prayer? by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- Sometimes, it looks like God will not answer our prayer. However, the Bible assures us that God always listens and answers, even when we don’t see or understand it.

Praying with Confidence: Where Does My Help Come From? by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- When we pray for God’s help, our all-powerful, all-knowing, and never-changing God stops everything to help his child. He welcomes us to come before him and courageously pray for our needs.

Praying About Important Decisions, by Rachel Syens -- In life, we make many difficult decisions about important things. At these times, we can trust that our God always listens and always helps.

How Do I Pray When I’m Angry? by Rachel Syens -- Many of us were taught to bring our prayer requests to God, but we were never taught what to do with the emotions that came with them.

How to Pray When You're Frustrated with God, by Courtney Jacob -- When our circumstances are beyond our control and there seems to be no one else to blame, it’s not surprising we become frustrated with God. How do we pray when we feel frustrated with God?

Praying in Hard Times, by Christopher Hunt -- In intense times of anxiety, fear, or grief, we may find it difficult to pray. We feel far away from God, and words don’t easily come. How do we turn our anxiety, fear, and grief into prayer?

Does God Listen When I Complain? by Emily Vanden Heuvel -- Is it okay to complain to God? Resting in the assurance of God's love—especially when we share complaints, vulnerability, and raw honesty—can strengthen our faith and lead to deeper trust and understanding.

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.