When I Don't Know What to Pray

Today let's take a few moments to breathe deeply, sit back and meditate on Psalm 61 and 62.

When I'm the most tangled up inside my thoughts, my worries and my obsession over things I can't change is when I need to decide I'm going to trust God no matter what is going on inside my mind.  I just really need to trust Him ... That's what it comes down to.  So today I'm going to do that. Let's take a few minutes to read some Scripture to solidify that trust in Jesus, our Savior and our sovereign God…   

I have this habit of mentally jumping too far into the future, and then deciding I'm going to be afraid of it. Of whatever might be there waiting for me. I fear that a new problem or crisis will come crashing into my life, or more commonly, what current hard thing will be so much worse by then? I fear sickness, loss, disease, rejection and deep disappointment. But what's worse is that I fully believe I'm right and validated in my fear … and I can sometimes leave God completely out of the scenario. Because when God is considered, and His great and surprising works are factored in along with his omniscience and goodness, we can be so very wrong. If you get stuck in cycles of being so very afraid of the future, this short episode is for you.   

Sleep is necessary to good health in both the mental and physical sense, so when it's elusive and feels out of my reach, I start to spiral and question everything. I even let myself believe that God has forgotten me, because why would something as simple and vital as nighttime rest be unavailable to me?  I've learned that my hardships don't mean God is hard-hearted toward me. Sleepless nights display my humanity — evidence of a life lived in a human body. So when I'm having trouble sleeping, heading to Scripture and leaning on some real truth makes a world of difference. Let's close our eyes and soak in these words from two different beloved Psalms tonight.   

  When walking through daily frustration, sadness, ongoing sickness, chronic pain, disappointment or deep heartbreak, it's easy to slip into the mindset that God has forgotten all about me, and has sidelined me from His loving and watchful eye.  It's easy to assume that if He saw me and loved me, that He would never allow me to feel this way or give any room for me to think He is anything but good, loving, caring and protective of me.  To be beloved is to be "greatly loved." But what if what we see in front of us doesn't look like God's love? What if we know we are loved in our head, but don't feel it in the midst of our circumstances?  

When I'm overwhelmed and feeling sad, helpless and lost, I often don't know what to pray.  I want to pray — I'm not against the act of prayer when I feel this way… I need it. I need to be with my Father in times like these because I know that prayer aligns my heart with God's heart and helps me get in a good head space..  My relationship with Him is strengthened too when my prayer life is active.  And whenever I'm feeling so low that I can't find the words to say … I know I can pray my own jumbled words and that He hears me and sees me. I also know I can borrow prayers prayed by others who have felt overwhelmed like me. Listen in!    

How do I know God sees me? How do I know God hears my prayers? How do I know God cares about my pain? How do I know God knows what's best for me and those I love?   When I'm feeling sad or low, I sometimes wonder how much God sees and hears. When I'm devastated by deep pain, I sometimes wonder if He cares and truly does what's best for me.    But over and over again, even when I'm at my lowest, what it comes down to is: I trust God.    I've seen too much of Him not to. I've experienced too much with Him to deny it. I believe in Him and I believe Him. If you find yourself struggling, but you truly trust God too, listen in and know God is worthy of your trust.   

If you're living in the midst of deep pain and heartbreak, and are praying for and dreaming of better days ahead ... But you can't see how any of what you're walking through could ever possibly be good, turn out well or be used to bring God glory. You just can't see it.  You ask: Will there ever be any resolution or fix for what I see in front of me?  In this moment, let's trust that He sees, is sovereign over all you're facing and is working in your life as I read through some beloved passages from the Psalms.

When you're weary, it wears on you. When you're weary at Christmastime, it's magnified. The world appears to be cheerful, merry and carefree — when you feel anything but.  Though into our world, Emmanuel — God with us, also came. To us and for us. Click play whenever your weary soul needs a thrill of hope in this season. 

For when you wonder if your story matters and if God even sees you ... For the moments when you aren't sure what it's all for. Take a restful few minutes to take in the reminders you need right now and know God is directing a bigger story above and around you written by His hand, orchestrated by His will and unveiled according to his calendar.