The Power of Short Prayers in Dark Times
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When life falls apart, you don’t have the strength to pray long, drawn-out prayers. Have you ever sat there with your heart aching, trying to come up with the right words, but nothing comes?
And if you’re like me, you might hesitate to pray at all—because somewhere along the way, you picked up this idea that prayer is supposed to sound a certain way. That your words need to be polished or complete. That you have to figure out exactly what to say before God will lean in and listen.
But here’s what I’ve learned in my darkest moments: God isn’t waiting for perfect prayers. He’s waiting for honest hearts.
The truth is, prayer isn’t about getting the words right. It’s about coming to the God who already knows. Who sees the tears you can’t hold back. Who hears the cries you don’t even have the strength to speak.
Some of the most powerful prayers I’ve ever prayed have been the simplest. The shortest. The messiest.
Because the power of prayer isn’t in the words we say—it’s in the God who hears us.
Sometimes, when life feels too heavy, all we can offer are the cries of our hearts—silent prayers, messy prayers, prayers without words. But those are the moments when God’s heart is most tender toward us.
We see this beautifully in the story of a woman named Hannah, whose silent prayer reached the heart of God.
Hannah’s Silent Prayer: When Words Aren’t Enough
Hannah’s story has stayed with me for many years. It reminds me that God hears even the prayers we can’t put into words.
In 1 Samuel 1, we meet Hannah in what we can assume to be one of the most challenging moments of her life. She’s heartbroken and desperate. Year after year, she had prayed for a child, and year after year, her hope had been met with silence.
One day, she went to the temple to pray. But this wasn’t a perfectly crafted prayer. It wasn’t a neatly worded petition we might expect to see in a prayer journal.
No, her prayer was silent and raw.
The Bible says Hannah prayed from her heart, her lips moving but no sound coming out (1 Samuel 1:13). In fact, the priest Eli saw her and assumed she was drunk. But when Hannah explained that she was pouring out her soul to God, Eli realized her desperation was real.
What strikes me most about Hannah’s prayer is that God heard it.
There were no eloquent words. No structured requests. Just a woman in deep anguish, offering her pain to the only One who could do something about it. And God responded.
Soon after, Hannah became pregnant with her son Samuel, who would go on to become one of the greatest prophets in Israel’s history.
But Hannah’s story isn’t only about her answered prayer. It’s about how God hears us when we come to Him in our brokenness. Even when our prayers feel incomplete. Even when we don’t know what to say.
Her story reminds me that the power of prayer isn’t in how we pray—it’s in the God who listens.
When Words Fail
Maybe you’ve been there. Sitting in the dark, struggling to pray. The pain is too deep, the words won’t come, and you’re left feeling like you have nothing to offer God.
That’s when I want you to remember Hannah.
Her story reminds us that it’s not the length of our prayer that matters. It’s the heart behind it. God heard Hannah’s silent prayer, and He hears yours too. Even when your words are few—or when you have no words at all.
So, how do you pray when life feels too heavy and you don’t know what to say? Start small. Start simple. God isn’t waiting for the perfect prayer. He’s waiting for your heart.
I’ll never forget one of the simplest prayers I’ve ever prayed. I was sitting by my daughter Taylor’s hospital bed, completely out of words. All I could say was, “God, help me.” And that prayer was enough. I didn’t see a miraculous change in the moment, but I knew God was with me.
Here are some short prayers to carry with you in dark times:
- “God, help me.”
- “I trust You.”
- “Be near, God.”
- “Give me strength.”
- “I need You.”
- “You are faithful.”
These prayers may feel simple, but they carry great power because they invite God’s presence into your situation. They’re a way of saying, “God, I’m here. I’m trusting You with the little I have.”
And isn’t that what faith is? Trusting God, even when our hands—and our hearts—feel empty.
God Hears Every Cry
If you’ve been holding back from prayer because you think it needs to sound a certain way, I hope you feel the weight of that expectation lifted.
God isn’t waiting for perfect words. He’s waiting for you. He sees your heart, hears your cry, and promises to draw near.
Even the shortest, simplest prayer—“God, hold me”—reaches heaven. The power of prayer doesn’t come from our words. It comes from the God who hears us.
So, whether you pray with silent tears, whispered cries, or wordless groans, know this: God hears you. He sees you. And He will never turn away.
What is one simple prayer you’ve prayed in a hard season? How did God meet you there? I’d love to hear your story—share it in the comments.
Share Your Story
What is one simple prayer you’ve prayed in a hard season? How did God meet you there? I’d love to hear your story—share it in the comments.
Join the Desperate Prayers Book Club
If you’re looking for more community and encouragement, you’re invited to join the Desperate Prayers Book Club starting 7pm Eastern, Monday, 1/13! We’ll be gathering together to dive deeper into the themes of the book, share our stories, and support each other in prayer. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with me!
Learn more and sign up here.
Get Your Copy of Desperate Prayers
If this message resonates with you, my book Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life’s Darkest Moments offers more encouragement to help you pray through life’s hardest seasons. Through stories of real-life struggles and biblical truths, you’ll be reminded that God hears your cries—even when words fail—and He is always near.
Get your copy HERE or wherever you buy books. Through stories of real-life struggles and biblical truths, Desperate Prayers will remind you that God hears your cries—even when words fail—and He is always near.
