When Prayer Becomes Bleh and Blah

As theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar says, “Most Christians are convinced that prayer is more than the outward performance of an obligation, in which we tell God things he already knows” (Prayer, 13).  

If prayer is more than an obligation, why do we pray?

Why Pray?

Well, we spontaneously pray when we are filled with awe and wonder.
We pray when we are filled with dread and sorrow.
We pray because we need to talk with someone. 
And we pray just hoping we aren’t all alone. 

I remember praying constantly when we rushed to the hospital when wife was 4 month pregnant with our first son. I was bargaining, pleading, promising, and hoping. And everything worked out.

I know an agnostic who called out to Jesus for help when her kids were projectile vomiting through the night. And then they immediately stopped vomiting, sending my friend on a search to find out just who this Jesus is.

Lost Prayer Mojo

But at some point the surprises and spontaneity of heartfelt prayers, full of confidence and conviction, gives ways to confusion, drudgery, and even doubts. 

• Am I praying the right way? 
• Does prayer matter to God, or just for me?  
• Am I really just talking to myself anyway?  
• Shouldn’t I be doing the work to change the world instead of just hoping God will do something?
• Thoughts and prayers do nothing when the world is on fire!

And even if you haven’t had these questions, chances are good that you know someone who has, or that you will in the future.  

For me, personally, prayer is like:

• Stillness and presence.
• Or, distraction and random thoughts.
• Or, it is Bleh and BLAH… followed by an invasion of God’s voice.
• And, sometimes prayer is a conversation in a journal. 
• And sometimes it is an argument about something dumb I think God is calling me to do and I don’t want to. But then I do it and it is amazing!
• Or sometimes it is just going through the motions.

What is prayer like for you (past/present)? And how did you move forward when you were stuck?

I’ll be posting on prayer on and off for the next couple of weeks. Be sure not to miss any by signing up for my newsletter in the side bar or this handy link.