10 Verses For When You're Struggling To Pray

Pray without ceasing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Last month, I dedicated one week of devotions to these “10 Verses For When…” posts. I got a lot of feedback saying this specific type of devotion was really encouraging, so I thought we’d give it another go this month! My prayer is that over the next five days, you’d dive deeper into God’s Word and meditate on these verses. As you do, I have no doubt the Lord will meet you where you are and challenge you and encourage you with His Word no matter what you’re walking through.

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To kick the week off, I want to talk to the person who’s struggling to pray. If we’re being honest, I think many of us have the expectation that our prayer life is supposed to look a straight line - always consistent and trending upward with absolutely zero bumps in the road. Sure, there are times when prayer is super easy and it’s your default reaction to any circumstance (good or bad) that happens in your life. But there are also seasons where prayer feels extra difficult and you begin to wonder if God is even listening when you pray. 

I’ve been in both camps multiple times throughout my faith walk, and I’m sure you have to. But if you find yourself in the second category, if prayer has been more difficult for you recently, or if you’re struggling with doubting that God is paying attention to you when you pray, I hope you’ll take the verses below to heart.

I hope that you take the time to read them, meditate on them, and incorporate them in your prayers, reminding yourself that God is listening, He cares what you have to say, and He wants you to talk to Him no matter what is going on in your life. 

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And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. – 1 John 5:14

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. – Mark 11:24

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. – John 15:7

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. – Matthew 21:22

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. – Romans 8:26

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – James 5:16

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. – Luke 11:9

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. – Jeremiah 33:3

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. – Psalm 34:17 

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. – Colossians 4:2