.png)
To the Christian, struggling in prayer, losing hope, or worried about life circumstances this is for you. This post is about the importance of prayer, the danger of prayerlessness, and what happens when we don't go to God in prayer.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll receive a commission if you purchase through my link. Refer to the Privacy Policy. Check out our Disclaimer policy
@JonTyson
Unfortunately, prayer is not always the approach we take. Have you ever prayed for something, waited, and waited, only to see no change? Have you ever felt so discouraged in prayer that you almost gave up? As we face life's challenges, it's easy for a lack of faith and the danger of prayerlessness to creep in. Our sinful nature can lead us to prayerlessness, to doubt God, and doubting Him is often the result of this lack of faith. A diminished faith can cause us to stop praying altogether. And this leads us to an important point: when it comes to life's concerns, we will either pray about them, worry about them, or try to suppress them—by not giving them to God in prayer. Let's explore the effects of these three responses (especially prayerlessness) and why it's crucial to ultimately pray without ceasing about everything.
When We Suppress Prayer (Prayerlessness)
A Form of Prayerlessness: Example of Suppressing Prayers -
When we bury our desires and concerns instead of handing them over to God, it can become dangerous. We start losing the faith to trust Him with them, and that leads to sin, bitterness, prayerlessness, a lack of peace, and all sorts of other struggles. Let me tell you if you suppress that desire long enough, it can eventually explode into something much worse—leading to serious consequences and sin you never would have expected.
Why does it lead to all this? Because we are going out of God’s will and into sin willingly. We are commanded in scripture to pray, giving God all of our anxieties and concerns (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, 1 Peter 5:7)…
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7, KJV
When we display prayerlessness, it often reflects a lack of trust or faith in God. It’s like we’re saying we don’t believe He can handle our needs, even though Scripture tells us we can trust Him with everything. Now, you might be wondering the million-dollar question, What if this thing I want isn’t in God’s will for me? And that’s a valid concern. We need to be open to the possibility that His will might not align with our deepest desires, but that’s okay. We can trust that His plan for us is far better than anything we could ever imagine on our own, and that brings a deep sense of peace (Romans 8:28, Isaiah 55:8-9). Ultimately, our joy and contentment should come from Him—not from the blessings or things of this world (Philippians 4:11-13).
@DenisTuksar
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:11-13, KJV
When We Worry Instead of Praying
A Form of Prayerlessness: Example of Worrying Instead of Praying -
When we’re faced with an urgent concern or difficult situation, it's easy to fall into the trap of becoming a "worried planner"—thinking, I have to do everything in MY power to fix this (leading to prayerlessness). While planning and taking action are important, we can’t rely solely on ourselves. We need to trust in God’s power, which is so much greater than our own. Hand it over to Him in prayer, then move forward with peace, not frantic energy, relying on His wisdom and guidance through His Word.
I've noticed that when we try to force open a door or make something happen on our own accord instead of praying about it, it usually doesn't work out. But when we surrender it to God in prayer, we can move forward in peace, trusting that He will put the pieces together. This mindset of worry often has deeper roots in sin. Worry stems from a lack of faith that God will provide for us in the situation (look at Matthew 8:23-27, you’ll see this worry demonstrated when Jesus says, “O ye of little faith.”). Ultimately, worry never leads to anything good—
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:25-34, KJV
@MarioAme
When We Pray
Example of Prayer -
Lastly, and certainly not least, we pray about it. When we pray, we’re doing several beautiful and beneficial things. We’re obeying God’s command to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), we’re serving Him (Luke 2:36-38), and we’re building a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Prayer is a way to connect with Him and grow in our faith, and there’s so much more that happens in that sacred time.
In prayer, we cast our anxieties on God (1 Peter 5:7), align ourselves with His will, experience the joy of seeing prayers answered, and intercede for others—and of course, for ourselves. Out of all the things we could do, prayer is the one that brings us closest to God and ultimately gives us the peace and joy we’re longing for in our Lord and Savior.
We hope this encourages and equips you, no matter the feelings of worry or the temptation to fall into prayerlessness.
A Few Quick Tips Before You Go…
Use God’s Word (Scripture) to ground your prayers and give you confidence. I.e. Asking God for wisdom based on James 1:5.
Make prayer a daily habit—whenever you think of something, take it to God in prayer.
This post was all about the danger of prayerlessness and the three actions we typically take in prayer. To pray about it, to worry about it, or to suppress it. If you liked this post you may like these blog posts…
10 Prayer Closet Essentials
Comments