When Prayer Feels Hard

Praying doesn’t come easily to me. Maybe you can relate.

Like Pastor John once admitted of himself, “my mind is constantly going.” Much like him, my mind is constantly drifting from one thought to the next, chasing ideas, and to-do lists. And when I do try to pray, it’s not uncommon for my focus to slip. One moment I’m kneeling, the next I’m thinking about the carpet beneath me—which then leads to thoughts of home projects, then HGTV, and suddenly I'm anywhere but in prayer.

If that sounds familiar, I want to share a few things that have helped me focus and reconnect with Jesus. Maybe they’ll help you, too.

1. Prayer Isn’t About Us

This one’s tough to admit, but it’s essential: prayer is not about us. It’s not about bringing our demands to a divine customer service counter. It’s about God—worshiping Him, praising Him, surrendering to His will.

“While prayer adores God, it lays the creature where he should be—in the very dust.”—Charles Spurgeon

Yes, we’re invited to bring our needs to God, but prayer begins with honoring who He is. The more I remember that, the more grounded and less distracted I become.

And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned."(Nehemiah 1:5–6, ESV)

They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”(Nehemiah 1:10–11, ESV)

2. Journaling Can Refocus the Mind

When my thoughts start tunneling down rabbit holes, I’ve found journaling helps bring me back. Writing out my prayers keeps my attention where it should be. It also gives me something to look back on—a record of how I’ve prayed, how God has answered, and how He’s moved in my life.

Journaling helps me:

• Stay focused – Writing slows my thoughts down and centers them on God.

• Pray with intention – I’m less likely to repeat myself or ramble.

• See God's faithfulness – I can revisit old prayers and witness how He has worked.

  
  

It turns my time with God into a moment of honest reflection instead of mental multitasking.

3. Less Is More

We don’t have to impress God with long, elaborate prayers. He’s not looking for performance—He’s looking at our hearts. If we can fit deep thoughts into short social media posts, we can certainly offer focused, heartfelt prayers to our Creator.

Try praying Scripture back to God:

For if [I] forgive others their trespasses, [my] heavenly Father will also forgive [me], but if [I] do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will [my] Father forgive [my] trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15, ESV)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10, ESV)

May the God of hope fill [me] with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit [I] may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13, ESV)

If you struggle to remember the word-by-word verses, it is completely acceptable to pray summarized versions. Simply put, speak fewer words, but make every word count. 

And When You Still Struggle… Keep Showing Up

If none of this clicks one day—or even most days—don’t give up. Don’t stop praying. Go before God anyway. Say what’s on your heart. Ask for forgiveness. Sit in silence if that’s all you have. But come.

You can’t mess up prayer. God isn’t grading your eloquence—He just wants your heart.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”—Hebrews 4:15–16

-Angie Waldron