This is Part Two of my seven-part Drawing Nearer to God series. I heard my pastor talk about “drawing nearer to God,” and I found myself wondering - how do I actually do that? So I did what I always do: I started digging, Googling, and writing. Now I’m sharing what I’ve discovered along the way.
I’ll just say it up front: prayer is the discipline nobody really wants. I struggle with it – bigly!
Sure, we want the results of prayer – comfort, peace, maybe even a miracle or two. But the act of prayer itself? Sitting down, bowing my head, and actually talking to the Creator of the universe? That part’s hard.
I’ve been a Christian for almost 30 years, and I still wrestle with prayer. Some days it feels like I’m talking to the ceiling. Other times, I start out strong – “Dear Lord…” – and 30 seconds later I’m thinking about what’s for dinner. Or I nod off. Or I get distracted by my phone.
And yet, Scripture keeps telling me: prayer isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep praying.” Notice that last phrase: keep praying. Not eloquent in prayer. Not perfect in prayer. Just do it. Keep showing up.
That’s the part most of us don’t want.
Prayer Is Work
If we’re being honest, prayer feels like work. And not the kind of work you can check off a to-do list. It’s invisible. It doesn’t earn you likes or applause. Jesus even warned against praying just to be seen by others (Matthew 6:5). Prayer is supposed to be hidden, humble, quiet.
That’s tough for Average Joes like us. We like things we can measure. But prayer is different – it’s more about presence than performance.
The Apostle Paul gives us some relief in Romans 8:26: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”
Think about that. Even when we’re weak, even when we don’t know what to say, the Spirit picks up the slack. That means your “Lord, help” is every bit as valid as a polished, five-minute pastoral prayer.
Prayer Is Relationship
I think the problem is we’ve turned prayer into a formula. We ask ourselves: Did I say enough “Our Fathers”? Did I hit all the categories – adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication? Did I use the right Bible words?
But prayer is supposed to be a relationship, not a ritual. Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
Every situation. Every request. Not just the “holy-sounding” ones. That means you can pray about your sick child and your stressful meeting and the fact that your car won’t start. God isn’t grading your subjects. He’s listening to His child.
Prayer Is the Path to Nearness
And here’s the real reason we can’t dodge it: prayer is the path to drawing nearer to God.
Think about your closest relationships. How close would you be to your spouse, your best friend, or your kids if you never talked to them? Not close at all. Relationship requires communication.
It’s the same with God. James 4:8 says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” Prayer is one of the primary ways we take that step closer. Even when it’s clumsy. Even when it’s short. Even when it’s muttered under our breath in the car.
Small Steps Count
So maybe the key for Average Joes like us isn’t to pray long, polished prayers. Maybe it’s to pray short, honest ones – and to do it consistently.
- Whisper a quick “thank You” before your feet hit the floor in the morning.
- Breathe a “help me” when you’re stressed.
- Pause for a moment of gratitude before a meal.
- End the day with a simple, “Lord, I trust You with this mess.”
Small steps count. They build into a rhythm of relationship. And God honors them.
The Invitation
Prayer may be the discipline nobody wants, but it’s the one our souls need most. Because prayer reminds us that God is God and we are not. It humbles us. It comforts us. And it draws us nearer to Him.
So if you’re bad at prayer, welcome to the club. I’m right there with you. But let’s not quit. Let’s stumble forward together, trusting that even our weakest prayers are heard by the One who holds the stars.
And maybe that’s the whole point: prayer isn’t about proving how strong we are—it’s about admitting how much we need Him.
