What To Pray When You Don’t Know What To Say (And a Free Printable)
This year, I’ve been dangling in a stuck place without answers or accolades.
And to be honest, I feel a bit like the twenty-year-old me just hanging on with all my strength until God shows me a way out of this place of discouragement and disappointment.
Some days I cry out to Jesus with all I have in me.
I scream. And I sob.
And I lay the weight of all my uncertainty upon His back.
But on other days, I wait in silence, unable to articulate what my heart so desperately desires, too weary to put words to my wishing.
And you know what?
I’m learning that both responses are okay.
Prayer is more than words and wishing.
It’s more than asking Jesus to FIX my circumstances.
Prayer is a choice to AFFIX myself to the King of Kings.
It’s choosing to fix my mind on WHO I KNOW GOD TO BE even when I have no idea what He’s doing.
So, on many days, when I don’t know what to say, I simply pray God’s Word right back to Him.
I personalize His promises with my name.
I speak His truth aloud as an act of faith, knowing full well that Satan quakes when God’s Word is declared with confidence.
And like crevices in a rock, God’s promises become the handholds and the footholds to which I cling until my next move becomes clear.
This is how we anchor our soul to the Rock of ages, dear friends.
This is how we hang in hope.
I’ve gathered some of those verses I’ve been clinging to this year, and I’m offering them to you in a free printable.
Just click here to download a copy for yourself.
And then anchor your heart to these promises, dear friend.
And from one dangling woman to another, don’t give up.
Keep clinging to the One who dangled on Calvary’s cross for you and me.
Because He is forever faithful.
Not just as Jesus to fix but to affix ourselves to Him – just love how you phrased this. I have had some recent months of the sobbing and crying out (even one bout of pounding my fists into the pillow). But Jesus lets me get it all out until I am ready to leave it at His feet. I don’t always see His plan or understand it but I trust He is working all things for my good.
Thank you so much for your ability to put into words how to get through the “stuck” times. These verses are the way to focus my heart. I was praying tonight for encouragement and God used you to give that to me.
I’m in a marriage with an UNBELIEVING husband and its a horrible situation I would like advice or anything, Please. God Bless My name is Casey I’m a 31 year old mother of a six year old son who is struggling as well as me. Thanks
Oh, Casey, I don’t know the details of your situation, but I do know that we weren’t created to walk alone. Do you have a church? A Christian friend? I strongly suggest that you seek counsel with your pastor or a Christian counselor. Obviously, God longs for us to honor our marriage vows, but He does not ask us to remain in harms way or put our children in danger in the name of marital faithfulness. I don’t know the details of your situation, but I am praying.. praying that God will send you someone wise to walk with you, to offer you godly counsel and hope.
God is FOR you. And He loves you.
Yesrerday I was experiencing the presence of God like Elijah on mount Carmel. This morning after receiving yet another discouraging notice about a application for employment, I was going down a spiral tunnel that depression was craving to my heel. Then God did what He always do, send me a life line through your message and “Clinging Prayers”. I praise God for using you to bless me.
Betty, I love how God sends us “life lines”! So thankful He used my message to lift your eyes to Him. Praying for you as you keep clinging.
Your transparency is the anchor of our soul: to know that God will use the broken, the struggling, & the weakest for His glory gives us hope in our own journey of faith. Many years ago God gave me a similar dream to how you describe the crevices that help us when we’re “dangling”. The difference was that I was at the bottom of a dry, concrete ditch with no place to grab, but every time I reached up, a new crevice would appear to help me climb out. It was in the reaching out in faith that God made a way of escape for me. God is faithful to His children. Always look forward to your articles!