How do you pray to God when feeling broken? It can be challenging to muster the energy to do so. Especially when life is full of hardships, and at times, we feel completely shattered—emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. During these moments, praying and believing God hears us may seem difficult. I know I have found myself right in the middle of a rock and a hard place, trying to form cohesive thoughts and words to pray to God during my difficult times. However, the Bible reassures us that God is always near to the brokenhearted, a comforting truth that invites us to bring our burdens to Him. We can call on Him while we are in our darkest hours, and He is a constant presence in our lives.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
If you are struggling with pain, loss, or despair, I hope this guide will help you speak to God amid your brokenness.
We will explore practical ways to pray when feeling broken and find encouragement through His Word.
Come to God Just as You Are: Praying Through Emotional Pain
When we feel broken, we can question ourselves: how are we supposed to pray to God when we feel this broken? We might think we must “fix” ourselves before coming to God. However, Jesus invites us to approach Him just as we are—with all our pain, doubts, and weaknesses. He promises rest to those weary and burdened. No matter how shattered you feel, God welcomes you into His presence with open arms. We mustn’t forget this: You do not need to be perfect to be in His presence or to call out to Him. You just need to be you. Again, this can seem difficult to grasp when you’re in the thick of the pain, but it is true. Keep repeating it over and over: just be you, just be you. God loves you, for you, and meets you where you are.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Be Honest About Your Pain: Connect to God During Difficult Times
God already knows what you’re going through, but He wants you to bring your struggles to Him. Being honest with God in prayer is not just encouraged. It’s a relief. It deepens our relationship and allows our authenticity to show, and it’s how He wants a true relationship with us. Truthfully, God knows if and when we are being honest. But bringing it to Him on our own will help us grow our relationship and connection more.
Like parents, we would rather our children bring the troubles to us first before someone else tells us. It shows trust. Also, as a child runs to their loving parent when they are hurt, God invites us to run to Him with everything that is weighing us down in our hearts and lives. Don’t be afraid to share your struggles with others and pray together. This not only strengthens your faith community but also provides you with the support and comfort you need during difficult times.
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him; God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 62:8
There is no perfect way to pray, so don’t let that stop you. Pray to God even when you’re feeling broken. What matters is that you speak from the heart. Your prayers don’t need to be eloquent or perfectly structured. God hears the cries of your heart, no matter how they are expressed. So, don’t worry about getting it right. Just be honest and open with God, and He will listen. Your prayers are powerful, and they do make a difference. Trust in their effectiveness and in God’s loving response. Your prayers have the power to change your circumstances and bring you closer to God.
Cry Out to God in Prayer: Healing Prayers When Feeling Broken
Even if you are having trouble forming the right words, allowing yourself to let out the cries of your soul to our God is enough. God sees your brokenness. He also listens, cares, and delivers. Whether through silent tears or desperate prayers, know that God is near. Overcoming spiritual despair through prayer requires honesty, faith in His promises, and a willingness to surrender your pain. It’s not easy, but worth it. Trust that he listens, heals, and restores in His perfect timing.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
Pslam 34:17
So know our Lord can and will deliver us from our troubles. It can be discouraging, as we don’t know His timeframe. Our prayers could take hours, days, months, or years to be answered. Something I’ve heard is that God answers in three ways: Yes, No, and Wait. ‘Yes’ means that God will grant your request. ‘No’ means that God has something better in mind for you. ‘Wait’ means that God’s timing is not yet right, but He will answer your prayer in His perfect time. This concept of ‘God’s timing’ means that God knows the best time to answer our prayers, even if it’s not immediate. Yet, don’t let that discourage you. Sometimes, we must reframe our prayer and reflect on what we are praying about, and sometimes, just sometimes, that will provide better results.
Use Scripture in Your Prayers: Approaching God with a Broken Spirit
Use Scripture in Your Prayers. When you struggle to find the right words and want guidance on casting your cares to God, leaning into scripture can be the answer. Find the biblical guidance for the brokenhearted. For instance, you can use Psalm 23 to remind yourself of God’s comforting presence, Philippians 4:6-7 to guide your prayers for peace, or Isaiah 41:10 for strength. Pondering on God’s Word brings peace and assurance that He has not abandoned us. Scripture opens the door to God’s word and allows further insight into God’s guidance. Use scripture in your prayers, which carry the most power over our struggles. God gave us the Bible as a guide, a tool, a weapon to wield against our sins, temptations, and struggles. Let it empower and guide your prayers.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Pslam 23
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Wait on God with Hope: Overcoming Spiritual Despair
Remember when I mentioned that God answers in three ways? Yes, No, and Wait. Well, learning to wait on God with hope when you feel broken shows God our faith in His promises and our trust in Him. Waiting on God doesn’t mean being passive, but it’s about actively trusting in His timing and plan for us. I have been there, finding it difficult to wait on his time, yet I pushed through and prayed even when I felt destroyed by everything I had going on. Patience becomes such a hard word to digest. Yet, I continued to pray and pray and pray. I also adjusted how and what I was praying. Then, the waiting ensued.
There’s a story in Job that really stands out in terms of understanding what it means to wait on God with Hope. Job lost everything—his children, his flock, and his riches. Meanwhile, everyone around him wondered what he did to God to deserve this and why he wasn’t cursing God for taking all of this away. Even his wife told Job to curse God for it. But Job stayed faithful. He cried out to God, stayed patient, and reaped the best reward. At the end of this story, Job is reunited with his children, who eventually bear their own children; his flock is doubled, and his riches are increased. All because he waited for God’s timing and trusted God’s process, even when faced with unimaginable losses.
Deliver me from the hand of the enemy, rescue me from the clothes of the ruthless’? Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.
Job 6:23-24
Sometimes, it is very hard to understand the wait and how long you will have to endure patience, yet that is where faith and trust come in—faith in God, trust in Him.
Final Thoughts on How to Pray When Feeling Broken
Approach God with a broken spirit and learn how to pray when feeling broken. I hope this article provided you with the How-Tos for praying when times are difficult. Learn to lean into scripture and be raw in emotion with God. Show up as you are. God just wants us to show up. Don’t get me wrong, this is no easy feat, yet when you start to practice connecting with God, you will reap the benefits of His love and patience for us. It begins with one day at a time.
At times, listening to worship music that suits your struggle can be healing and inspiring. It can also help you let out your prayers when you feel incapable of anything related to devotion.
Check out my article exploring worship music; there’s a list of songs provided that can jump-start your playlist!
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