When You Don't Know What to Pray

This article was originally published here, on April 20, 2009.

How do we pray in a situation when we don't know what we should pray for? First, we need to realize that we don't know all the facts in any situation. We cannot see the ends of any situation. Only God knows what his purposed ends are, and what all the facts are in every situation. Understanding this does not limit how we pray, but frees us to pray to the One who knows everything.

Second, we need to understand that it is perfectly acceptable to God for us to pray for what we desire. If we have a sick loved one whom we desperately desire to get well, God doesn't mind us asking him to make them well. The asking doesn't mean that it is God's will to heal our sick loved one, but he invites us to ask of him.

Third, when we ask him for our hearts desire, we need to humbly submit to his will. Our prayer might look something like this: "Father, I really desire to see my loved one healed, but your will be done." We need to understand the God may have a purpose beyond our understanding. The difficulty surrounding our loved ones (and us) could be a test or trial or chastisement. The difficulties in life are designed to instruct us, to train us, to shape us, and to focus our attention on God. When we submit our prayers to God's will, we acknowledge his wise and sovereign providence.

Finally, we pray continually. We don't stop until the Lord brings about an answer. Sometimes, it is a no--like when David fasted and prayed for his infant son who died. Sometimes, it is a yes. However, we must wait and pray until we know.  To paraphrase James, "You don't have because you didn't ask; and sometimes when you ask, you ask for the wrong things to satisfy your flesh, so you still don't have. Ask and ask wisely, and you will have."