The Most Frustrating Thing I've Heard On Prayer
And a Biblical Alternative on How to Pray
A very popular book on prayer made a statement that immediately made me stop listening.
“Prayer is not for the faint of heart.”
When I heard him say this in the audiobook, my eyes widened, and my head recoiled back from the whiplash of this statement.
I remember saying outloud on the perpetual stairs machine at the gym, “Then who is it for!?” I’m sorry, but this might be one of the dumbest things I’ve heard about prayer. I know what he’s trying to say—he’s still wrong. It’s a carelessly crushing sentence. Definitely the most frustrating thing I’ve heard about prayer. Why? Because some of the sweetest moments in prayer and communion with God are when we are faint of heart.
Friends, prayer is for the faint of heart.
Psalm 61 has entered the chat.
Psalm 61:1–2 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
David said this was the exact condition of his heart when he prayed! Faint, feeble, weak, strengthless. The Psalms are like a spiritual protein powder for us faint-hearted followers. David, Asaph, Moses, Solomon, and all the Psalmists show us what and how to pray when we are spiritually weak, scared, and upside down by the storms of life. Here’s an example.
A Spiritual Exercise
When I go to the gym, I’m so glad I have an app that tells me what to do, how much weight to use, and even a guide on the exercise. It keeps me from doing things way wrong, from injuring myself, and from wasting my time. The Psalms are a guide in prayer.
Psalm 20 is a powerful example of what to pray, how to pray, and how to respond as we wait on God.
In Psalm 20, there are eight things to ask God for.
Answer (v1) - “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!”
Protection (v1) - “May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!”
Help (v2) - “May he send you help from the sanctuary”
Support (v2) - “And give you support from Zion!”
Remember (v3) - “May he remember all your offerings
Regard (v3) - “And regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!”
Grant ____ (v4) - “May he grant you your heart’s desire”
Fulfill ____ (v4) - “And fulfill all your plans!”
These eight categories give us examples of the kinds of things to ask for and bring to God in prayer. We should not be bashful or timid in asking for any of these. But we also should not ignore the rest of the Psalm.
Psalm 20 closes with 3 postures we should exhibit in prayer and the rest of our lives.
Express joy in salvation (v5) - “May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners!”
Trust in his name above all else, no matter what (v7) - “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
Keep calling on him (v9) - “May he answer us when we call.”
We should have reactive joy over the fact that we are saved. We don’t have to wait for answered prayers to be joyful. We already possess the chief reason to be joyful—Jesus.
Trust God in your waiting. Remember his track record. Remember his attributes. Trust him with your requests, and trust him above your requests. He knows what’s best.
Keep asking. Keep calling. God is never annoyed with our prayers.
Prayer doesn’t have to be tricky. It’s not as complicated and daunting as we make it seem. Prayer is for the faint of heart. It is for the total weaklings—but who have the faith of a sesame seed to say, “Father…”
Thank you for pointing out that very subtle and almost imperceptible lie! The human condition is one of weakness couched in deception of self-strength.