When You Can’t Pray for Yourself

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Was there ever a time you felt so hopeless you couldn’t even summon the will to ask God for help?

It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Even the great leader Moses had days when he needed others to hold him up–sometimes literally. God never meant for us to carry all our burdens alone. And while He Himself is the ultimate Burden Bearer, He understands there are days we need someone we can see, hear, and touch on the physical plane. “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Psalm 103:13-14, NLT).

If you’re too worn down to pray for your own needs, find someone who can pray for you:

• A loyal Christian friend
• A spouse or adult relative
• An organized small group
• A pastor or Christian counselor
• A church class

And if you feel there’s no one: you have no home church, no friends close enough to confide in, no family members who understand? Look up Bible-believing churches and Christian ministries in your area–or, if you’re desperate for immediate help, prayer hotlines. They always have someone available to pray for and with anybody who asks. It’s not good to depend indefinitely on the kindness of strangers, though (and it can be used as an excuse to avoid confessing weaknesses to those who know you personally), so among your other requests, include “find the right church/small group/prayer partner to support me spiritually and hold me accountable for the long term.”

Besides what you need prayers for and whom you should ask, you may want to consider how others will pray for you:

• The submit-written-requests approach. Usually done in the context of a social-media group, email list, or official prayer ministry. This can be useful with one immediate problem, or as a supplement to other prayer support. Unless you know the prayer partner(s) well and personally, however, relying exclusively on written communications tends to lack the comforting power of hearing someone pray for you in real time.
• The over-the-phone approach. This is standard with prayer hotlines, of course; but it can also be useful when prayer partners live far apart or when “I need to talk now” emergencies are likely.
• The face-to-face approach. This is the best kind for serious needs, as it provides the full three-dimensional experience of audible, visible, and physical contact. Count it a special blessing when you find someone who is able to regularly pray for you in person.
• The laying-on-of-hands approach. A form of the face-to-face approach that involves (usually) several people gathering around one member and making physical contact at once, then offering verbal prayers (in turn or as led) for a specific need. Particularly helpful for anyone facing difficult challenges, this is a traditional part of commissioning missionaries for overseas work. When you feel especially discouraged, it can also be the best means of receiving assurance that others–including God–care about your hardships.

One more thing. However difficult and persistent your troubles, don’t expect to always be all take and no give. Ask for prayer; take some time off to rest; but do expect to regain your own prayer power eventually. Always remember the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT): “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” Much of that comfort comes in the form of prayer.

Posted by Katherine Swarts on January 11, 2019

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