Dear God, I Don’t Know What to Pray
I think I’ll give up on watching the news. It’s just too hard. There is war and sickness, violence, fear and hate on display in high-definition, wide-screen color. It’s devastating. As a child of God, my response to the pain in the world should be to pray, taking the concerns of my heart to the Throne of God. But there comes a point when the pain is overwhelming, and I can’t even find the words to pray.
When war is raging in a faraway country, how can my prayers help?
When loved ones don’t return from the grocery store, how can my prayer ease their grief?
Businesses fail and jobs are lost.
Interest rates rise and homes are foreclosed.
Children are struggling with anxiety.
People we love are suffering.
We feel so helpless.
God, I don’t know what to pray.
When I find myself in this place, there are eight powerful scriptures I use to help me find the words (and the faith) to pray.
- The presence of God
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NIV).
God promises to be present with us, wherever we are and whatever we are going through. We can pray that others become aware of the presence of God Who is always with them.
- The peace of God
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).
Jesus came to give us peace that goes beyond our circumstances. We can pray for the peace of God to overcome anxiety and fear.
- The strength of God
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).
When we are weak, He is strong. We can pray for God to give us the strength to persevere and overcome difficult circumstances.
- The miracles of God
“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him” (Mark 11:23 NIV).
We serve a miracle-working God. When we pray for miracles, it increases our faith to expect the power of God to work in astonishing ways on our behalf.
- The guidance of God
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV).
When we don’t know what to do next, we can pray and ask God for guidance. We don’t need all the answers when we submit to God’s will and walk in faithful obedience.
- The provision of God
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).
In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus invites us to ask our Heavenly Father for our daily bread. God knows what we need. He invites us to pray and ask for His provision.
- The wisdom of God
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 NIV).
What a wonderful promise! When we are overwhelmed, God invites us to ask Him for wisdom and promises to give generously when we ask in faith.
- The hope of God
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).
Oh, how the world needs the hope of God. Let’s pray that we ‘overflow with hope,’ and those who are hurting will find their hope in Him.
It is my hope that these verses will fill your prayers for a broken and hurting world with faith and purpose. God is good. God is at work. God longs to answer the prayers of His children.
Will you join me in prayer? Dear Heavenly Father…
Christine is a writer who packed up her city life to live in an RV and travel full-time around Australia with her husband. Christine writes about faith, self-care, and simple living in her blog, Living with Margins. For more blogs from her, click here. You can listen to our Bible studies by tuning in to your favorite radio station, listening to our podcast on iTunes, listening through TuneIn, Spotify, or Stitcher online radio, or watching on YouTube.
I do have a lot of problems of praying, this will my help me to be a prayer warrior again
Prayer can be difficult, Marla. I understand your struggle. I hope these verses help you find words to cry out to your loving God once again.
Exactly how I am feeling and the verses are perfect for me when I don’t have the words to express how I am feeling.
Thank you, Beth. I love how Scripture helps us find words to cry out to God. We are not alone in our struggles.
Thanks Christine. A great reminder of all we have in God. Life is overwhelming but God is in control!
Yes! God is in control. No matter what life throws at us we can trust in Him. Bless you.