8 Practical Ways to Renew Your Prayer Life When It Feels Hard
Finding Hope When You Feel Distant
Sometimes life gets so busy that prayer slips into the background. Other times, we sit down to pray and struggle to find the words. If you've been feeling spiritually dry or disconnected from God, you may wonder how to get back to a more consistent prayer life.
I've had seasons when staying consistent in prayer felt difficult, too. But struggling with prayer doesn't mean you have failed, and you don't have to wait until you feel more spiritual to begin again.
Renewing your prayer life can start with small, practical changes. Let's look at eight common obstacles to prayer and what you can do to move past them, one step at a time.
Common Factors Contributing to Lack of Prayer
Prayer struggles can look different from one person to another. Sometimes the problem is a packed schedule. Other times, disappointment, guilt, or uncertainty makes it harder to approach God. Recognizing what's getting in the way can help you decide where to begin
Here are some frequent reasons people struggle with consistent prayer:
You may recognize more than one of these struggles. You don't need to address everything at once. Start with the obstacle that feels most familiar, then take one practical step toward renewing your prayer life.
Let God's Word Shape Your Prayers
When you don't know what to say in prayer, Scripture can give you a place to start. The Psalms contain honest expressions of grief, fear, gratitude, and trust. Reading them reminds us that prayer doesn't require us to hide our struggles or pretend we feel differently than we do.
God's Word also helps us understand His character and examine our own desires. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10, KJV). This reminds us that prayer involves more than bringing God our requests. It also involves seeking His will.
Matthew 6:10
"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
(KJV)
Try reading a few verses slowly and turning what you read into a personal prayer. You might thank God for a promise, ask for help applying a truth, or bring Him a concern that the passage brings to mind.
Keep Praying Even When It Feels Difficult
Jesus taught His disciples that they "ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1, KJV). His teaching encourages us not to give up when prayer becomes difficult.
Still, persistence doesn't mean we must always feel strong or know what God is doing. Sometimes we pray with confidence; other times, we come to Him with questions, grief, or very few words.
Prayer is not a way to force a particular outcome. It is part of our relationship with God, through which we bring our needs to Him, seek His will, and continue trusting Him even when we don't understand the answers.
If you're in a season of waiting, you don't have to solve every unanswered question before you pray again. Begin with what is on your heart today.
A Moment for Honesty:
When you find it difficult to show up, what is the biggest hurdle? Is it a busy schedule, a heavy heart, or the weight of the silence?
8 Practical Ways to Renew Your Prayer Life
If prayer has become difficult, you don't need an elaborate routine to get started again. Choose the step that speaks to your current situation and put it into practice today.
1. Set Aside Five Quiet Minutes
When you're busy or distracted: Start with five minutes of uninterrupted time. Put your phone aside, find a quiet place if possible, and tell God what's on your heart. You don't need to fill every second with words. Give yourself room to slow down and focus.
"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10, KJV)
2. Connect Prayer to Your Daily Routine
When prayer keeps getting pushed aside: Choose an everyday activity that can remind you to pray. Talk to God before starting work, while taking a walk, or as you prepare for bed. You can also set a reminder on your phone. The goal isn't to turn prayer into another obligation, but to make space for it in your ordinary day.
"Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV)
3. Pray Through the Psalms
When you feel spiritually dry: Read a Psalm slowly and notice what the writer says to God. If you feel anxious, discouraged, thankful, or uncertain, look for words that express what you're experiencing. Use the passage to help you put your own thoughts into prayer, even when you struggle to find the words yourself.
"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." (Psalm 42:1, KJV)
4. Bring Your Doubts to God
When disappointment or uncertainty makes prayer difficult: Be honest about what you are struggling to believe. You don't have to pretend you have every answer. Ask God for help as you seek truth in His Word and work through your questions.
"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24, KJV)
5. Use the Lord's Prayer as a Guide
When you don't know what to say: Read the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Use its pattern to guide your own prayer: honor God, seek His will, ask for what you need, confess your sins, and seek His help in temptation. You can begin with this familiar prayer and then speak to God in your own words.
"Lord, teach us to pray." (Luke 11:1, KJV)
6. Move Beyond Going Through the Motions
When prayer has become routine: Before you begin, pause and consider what you actually want to bring before God. Instead of rushing through a list of requests, spend time thanking Him, confessing something that needs attention, or reflecting on a truth from Scripture. Honest prayer matters more than following a perfect formula.
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." (James 4:8, KJV)
7. Bring Your Guilt to God
When guilt is weighing on your heart: If you have sinned, confess it honestly and seek God's forgiveness. If you have hurt someone, consider what responsibility you need to take or what needs to be made right. Don't confuse genuine repentance with believing you must make yourself worthy before approaching God.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, KJV)
8. Keep Praying When Answers Seem Delayed
When waiting has left you discouraged: Continue bringing your concerns to God, even if your prayers are brief. You can tell Him that you're tired of waiting, ask for wisdom about your next step, and seek strength to remain faithful. Remember that persistence in prayer doesn't guarantee the outcome we want, but we can continue seeking God without having every answer.
"Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." (Luke 18:1, KJV)
These steps aren't a checklist you must complete to earn God's attention. They are practical ways to begin making room for prayer again. Choose one, start where you are, and give yourself permission to grow gradually.
A Heart Check
Which factor resonates with your heart today? You do not have to fix it yet. Just name it before the Lord. Let that be your first prayer.
Choosing Your Turning Point
Reading about prayer is one thing; making room for it in everyday life is another. You don't have to change your entire routine today. Start with one practical step from this article and decide how you will put it into practice.
Maybe that means setting aside five quiet minutes, praying through a Psalm, or bringing an honest concern to God that you've been carrying for a while. Choose a place to begin, and return to it tomorrow.
Need Help Finding the Words?
Find a Prayer for What You're Facing
Whether you need wisdom, strength, peace, or encouragement through a difficult season, you don't have to figure out what to pray on your own. Explore prayers written to help guide you through different circumstances and seasons of life.
Prefer a simple visual reminder?
You can also use this printable prayer guide to keep practical encouragement close at hand and remind yourself to make time for prayer throughout your day.
