What do you do when you can’t pray?

Have you ever had a day where, the pile of things to pray for and your needs plus all the other needs is just overwhelming? What do you do? Are you able to sit with the pile to sort through it and pray about it or is it just too overwhelming? Sometimes I can be great at “praying through it” other times, not so much.

Yesterday was a day. It seemed like every hour I was getting hit with bad/concerning news about friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members. I reached my limit by the last text. I was upset and thinking- “Perfect. I have adoration and quiet time to pray.” Nope!

I arrived at church and even though there were five people in the chapel, not a sound could be heard. I sat there and I had no words. I could not pray. I was so overwhelmed by all the things, I couldn’t form the words that I had memorized in my childhood. There was nothing. I thought about what happens when I can’t pray- the Holy Spirit takes over and groans.

Is a groan a prayer? If my guardian angel finishes my prayers after I fall asleep, I think a groan is a great prayer. Especially when you have no words. A groan is an emotional response to what is happening. Very appropriate for my emotions last night. If you ponder it, the Holy Spirit is the part of the Trinity that does not use words- it’s a breath, a feeling, a fire, a dove.

So here’s the gist. I had no words, I didn’t need them. A groan or silence is still a prayer. I even opened the Bible and looked for wisdom. I found some there too. The words I found in Isaiah were Fear not, I will help you.

Sometimes God speaks in all kind of ways. If I don’t have the words, they can be found. It’s ok to be overwhelmed. It’s ok not to know what to say. It’s ok to not know the answers. It’s ok to be silent and just sit in the presence. Taking time out to pray, even if you don’t have the words is still a prayer. God already knows what I need. Sometimes all I need to do is show up.