Prayer is one of the simplest and most profound gifts God has given us. Yet, if we're honest, it's also one of the hardest things we do.
Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, a notable preacher in the 20th century, said, "Everything we do in the Christian life is easier than prayer." Alexander Whyte, a Scottish preacher, observed, "There is nothing that we are so bad at all our days as prayer." Note that both of these quotes come from mature Christian leaders. No wonder the rest of us sometimes feel discouraged with our prayers.
I hope that makes you feel less alone. I've never met anyone who feels they've mastered prayer, not one. Even seasoned pastors and theologians admit they're still beginners at prayer.
Why Prayer Feels Hard
On paper, prayer shouldn’t be hard. Prayer connects us with the loving Creator of the universe, who knows and cares for us through Jesus. He loves to hear from us. Prayer is one of our greatest privileges. And yet, we still find it hard.
For one thing, it’s deeply personal. It’s not a performance or a technique. Add to that our wandering minds, our doubts, the busyness of life, and it’s no wonder we struggle. Sometimes we feel like we’re talking to the air. Other times we’re overwhelmed with guilt because we don’t pray enough or well enough. We compare ourselves to others who appear to have everything under control and pray beautifully, making us feel inadequate.
Also, Satan would like nothing better than to discourage us in our prayer lives. He knows that if he can keep us from praying, he can disrupt the close fellowship that God wants us to have with him.
We have a hard time praying for many reasons. If you struggle to pray, you’re not alone.
But here’s the good news: God doesn’t expect us to be experts. He welcomes us to come just as we are and pray.
Jesus’ Invitation to Beginners
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he didn’t give them a complicated formula. Instead, he gave them a simple, heartfelt model: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9)
Jesus emphasized honesty and simplicity. He warned against praying to impress others or using empty words. Instead, he invited us to come to God as children come to their father, with trust, dependence, and openness. He provided us with a simple model prayer that clearly expresses his priorities for our lives, while addressing our concerns, and it's both profound and brief.
Jesus also affirmed simple prayers like this one, found in Luke 18:13: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” We don’t need long, complicated prayers. There’s no time limit for how long we must pray or standard we must achieve. Jesus emphasized honesty and simplicity.
It's not just about the words we use; it's about opening our hearts to God—sharing our thoughts, seeking his help, and acknowledging his presence in our lives.
In fact, God even gave us an entire book of prayers—the Psalms—to turn to when we get stuck praying. We don’t need to be experts at prayer; we just need to pray.
Why Being a Beginner is Good
Being a beginner is valuable because it humbles us and strengthens our reliance on God rather than just our own abilities. It keeps us curious and open to learning. Most importantly, it keeps us focused on the relationship, not on the act of praying itself.
One of our greatest problems is sometimes focusing on prayer itself rather than on whom we're praying to. Prayer is not a requirement or a way to gain favor with God; it's about enjoying his presence, expressing our feelings, and listening to his word.
Here's a beautiful thing: even when we don't know what to say, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26). When we are faithless in praying, our great High Priest is praying for us (Hebrews 7:25). God hears us, even when we sense that our prayers are weak.
If you feel like a beginner at prayer, don't be discouraged. You're in good company. The key is to keep showing up. Pray honestly. Tell God what's on your mind, even if it's messy. Thank him for his goodness; ask for his help; confess your struggles.
Don't forget to be honest about everything you're going through. In fact, when you struggle in prayer, pray about that too. Tell him that you find it hard; ask for his help.
You don't need to be eloquent. You just need to pray! The more you pray, the more you'll grow. But even then, you'll still be a beginner—and that's a good thing. Prayer isn't about being an expert. It’s about being a child of God, welcomed into his presence, loved and heard.
Let's embrace our beginner status. Let's pray simply, honestly, and often, and let's trust that God delights in every fumbling word.
