Prayer is not about finding the perfect words. It is about bringing your honest heart before God, even in seasons when faith feels dry, distracted, or difficult. Tama Fortner shares encouragement for anyone who has ever wrestled with prayer and needed the reminder that God is still listening, still near, and still inviting you into conversation with Him.
The Wonder, Joy, and (Sometimes Messy) Practice of Prayer
by Tama Fortner
When it comes to my walk with God, particularly in prayer, there’s a quiet sort of truth I keep discovering over and over again:
The closer I grow to God, the more I realize how deeply I need Him.
Not in an anxious, grasping way—though I’ve had those seasons, and haven’t we all? Rather, it’s a steady, everyday sort of dependence. Like breathing. Like reaching for the light switch to chase away the darkness simply because I know the light—the Light—is there and available to me.
And the more time I spend with God, the more I am able to rest in this wonderful truth:
God actually wants to spend time with me.
The God who paints sunrises and twirls galaxies leans in (leans in!) to hear my thoughts, my worries, my whispered prayers. I never want to lose the sense of the joy and wonder in that privilege.
Which, I suppose, is why it’s such a relief to learn that prayer isn’t what I believed it to be for so long. It’s so much more! Prayer, you see, isn’t about getting the words just “right.” It’s about offering God our real, raw, and honest ones.
But even knowing these things, if I’m being completely transparent, prayer still doesn’t always come easily.
When Prayer Feels Like a Struggle
Does that surprise you? Maybe you assume that someone who writes about prayer must have a beautifully effortless prayer life. If only. Here’s the thing I’ve found: Whatever I’m writing about becomes the very area the enemy chooses to step in and attack. For example, when I wrote about joy, it suddenly became hard to find. When I wrote about grief, I lost my mom. And when I wrote about fear? Well, by then I’d learned what to expect, and let’s just say this girl doubled down on her prayers for protection!
Working on Prayers for Each Moment was no exception. The writing of the prayers themselves flowed out with grace and clarity—one of those holy intersections where I could feel God nudging every sentence. But once I stepped into the editing process? Suddenly the atmosphere shifted.
My prayers felt flat. My words felt thin. I was plagued by doubts about the book and felt disconnected, as if my own voice had wandered off somewhere without telling me where it was going. Refusing to surrender to this attack, I determined to turn to Scripture, lifting up God’s own words to Him. Often, I simply prayed the Lord’s Prayer. I just kept showing up for that quiet time with God, even when I felt empty.
And in the showing up, God met me. To be clear, He had never left. He was always there. But over time, God graciously guided my heart and mind back to Him, back to the awareness of His presence. Because that’s who He is. A God who delights in meeting His people wherever they are—but, perhaps, especially in the dry and desert places.
Why We All Sometimes Struggle to Pray
Have you ever felt that same dryness or distance? It’s okay to admit it. I’m convinced you’re not alone. In fact, I believe most of us struggle far more often than we like to confess, and usually for much the same reasons.
For one, we’re busy. Or rather, we’re distracted, and busyness is simply the mask distraction wears. We move from task to task, need to need, and errand to errand at lightning speed. Until, by the end of the day, our souls feel threadbare and stretched too thin.
Or we feel unsure about how to pray. Somewhere along the way in our faith journey, we’ve gotten the idea that prayer requires special words, or a certain posture, or a particular place and time. We forget that God is everywhere and in all times. He’s with us in the traffic, in the meeting, and as we’re facing yet another sink filled with dishes. And He responds far more to honesty than to eloquence.
Then there are the times when we’ve prayed earnestly and waited faithfully, but haven’t yet seen God’s answer. Or we’ve missed the quiet ways He’s already moving. And though His promises declare otherwise, our hearts begin to feel alone.
But here’s the reality: None of these things push God away. Not our busyness or our uncertainty or even our questions, doubts, and fears. None of them make us unworthy of conversations with our Father. Rather, they simply remind us how much we need Him and of how tenderly He meets us in all the moments of our lives.
The Gift of Prayer
What a gift! It never ceases to astonish me. We get to talk to the God who imagined oceans and hummingbirds and every heartbeat in our chest. More than that He listens—truly listens—and answers. Every time. He’s never too busy. Never distracted. Never wishing we would stop repeating ourselves. (And trust me, I repeat myself often.)
God’s Word gives us these incredible glimpses of His heart toward us:
- “Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)
- “Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” (Psalm 62:8 NLT)
And my personal favorite:
- “Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:2 NLT)
Y’all! (Yes, my Southern really shows when I’m excited, and this is exciting!) Just imagine. Let that picture fill up your mind and heart of God Himself bending down, leaning close, shushing the noise of the world, and listening . . . to you.
Once you’ve seen prayer that way, something shifts. Prayer stops feeling like an obligation—a task to be checked off the never-ending list—and starts feeling like what it truly is: an invitation. An invitation into a relationship and a conversation with Someone who cares about all the moments of your life—big, small, joyful, painful, repetitive, and everything in between.
My Prayer for You—and for Prayers for Each Moment
When I wrote this book, my own prayer was simple: that these honest, everyday prayers would inspire your own. That they would whisper back to you what God has always been saying: I love to hear your voice. I’m listening. I’m working. I’m near.
God isn’t after perfect words. He’s after you. Your heart. Your honest moments. Your ordinary days.
So start the conversation, right where you are. While stirring dinner. While folding towels. While sitting in traffic or standing in line. Let your heart speak to God, and then pause long enough to hear the quiet whispers of His love speaking back.
Because He is speaking.
He is listening.
And He is already with you . . . in each and every moment.
Tama
(If there are affiliate links in this post, meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you)).
Additional Resources to Strengthen Your Prayer Life
Prayer is often less about finding the “right” words and more about learning to return to God honestly, even in the middle of distractions, doubts, busy schedules, or weary seasons. Sometimes a simple resource or meaningful reminder can help you pause, quiet the noise, and reconnect with God’s presence throughout the day.
These prayer resources offer encouragement, practical guidance, and gentle prompts to help you stay rooted in conversation with God as you grow deeper in faith and trust.
Devotionals and Guided Prayer Resources
Prayers for Each Moment by Tama Fortner
Worry Less, Pray More: A Woman’s Devotional Guide to Anxiety-Free LivingWorry Less, Pray More by Donna Maltese
Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life’s Darkest Moments by Rachel Wojo
Everyday Prayers for Love by Rachael Adams
These resources can encourage you when prayer feels difficult, your thoughts feel scattered, or you simply need help finding words to begin the conversation with God.
Understanding Your Prayer Style and Practice
Praying Personalities: Finding Your Natural Prayer StylePraying Personalities by Janet McHenry
PrayerWalk by Janet McHenry
The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus by Janet McHenry
These books can help you better understand different ways to connect with God through prayer and develop a rhythm of prayer that feels natural and life-giving.
Simple Reminders to Keep Prayer Front of Mind
A “Pray More, Worry Less” tumbler
I love how this Pray More, Worry Less ring is a simple reminder to pray throughout the day whenever I see it! And I love that it’s adjustable to fit anyone you gift it to.
This plaque is a beautiful reminder that there is never a time not to pray!
This T-shirt is a pretty reminder of the truth that prayer changes things!
Sometimes even small reminders placed throughout your day can gently draw your attention back to God’s presence, peace, and faithfulness.
Sometimes prayer feels joyful or messy. Sometimes you show up with nothing but exhaustion and a whisper of faith. Still, God leans close and listens. That kind of love never loses its wonder. Share on X Prayer was never meant to be polished performances and perfect words. God meets us in honest conversations, quiet moments, questions, tears, and everyday life. He is speaking and still listening. Share on X
About Tama Fortner:
Tama Fortner is an ECPA award-winning and bestselling author with more than sixty titles to her credit, including Everyday Joys Devotional and Simply Christmas. Tama has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for all ages. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and two feisty little pups who are convinced, they’re people too.
Connect with Tama: Website / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn
Get your Free Stress-Response Personality Assessment
Stress rarely affects everyone the same way. Your brain, body, and emotions often respond in unique patterns shaped by your personality, past experiences, and nervous system.
This assessment will help you identify your primary stress-response personality so you can better understand how you react under pressure, recognize your stress patterns, and begin moving toward healthier, faith-filled responses.
Get the assessment here: Stress-Response Personality Assessment
