Struggling to Pray? Faith-Based Counselling for Emotional Healing

Faith and psychology working together to help you find strength in difficult times.

Life can lead us to places where we carry the weight of anxiety, grief, or depression and even prayer feels hard. For many Christians, prayer is usually the first place we turn to for comfort and strength. But what happens when your emotions feel too heavy to put into words, or when you wonder if God is even listening?

At Clarity Life Counselling, we understand that prayer during emotional struggles doesn’t have to look “perfect.” In fact, some of the most powerful prayers are born out of brokenness. This blog post will offer practical ways to pray when your emotions feel overwhelming, along with insights from psychology and the Bible, to help you find hope in the midst of struggle.

Longing to Connect with God

Imagine Sarah, a busy mum of two, who’s been feeling constantly on edge. She struggles with racing thoughts at night and finds herself snapping at her children more than she’d like. She wants to pray but feels guilty, unsure what to say, and weighed down by shame. Maybe you’ve felt like Sarah… longing to connect with God, yet emotionally drained.

The good news? God invites us to come just as we are. Peace isn’t the absence of problems. It’s the presence of God in the middle of them.

1. Start with Honesty

When emotions are overwhelming, prayer doesn’t have to be long or eloquent. The Psalms remind us that raw honesty before God is welcomed:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Even if all you can say is, “Lord, I’m tired,” that’s a prayer.

In counselling, we often highlight that naming emotions reduces their intensity. Research shows that labelling our feelings activates the brain’s regulatory systems, helping us feel calmer (Lieberman et al., 2007). When we name our emotions in prayer, we bring both honesty and healing into God’s presence.

2. Use Scripture as Prayer

When words fail, Scripture can become your prayer. You might repeat Psalm 23:“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing”, as a grounding reminder that God is with you.

Reading Scripture aloud can be both spiritual and therapeutic. Psychologists note that affirmations and repeated truths rewire our thought patterns (Beck, 2011). When you declare God’s Word in prayer, you are not only strengthening your spirit but also reshaping your mental focus.

3. Pray with Your Body

Sometimes sitting still feels impossible when emotions run high. Prayer can also involve movement, like taking a walk and talking to God, journaling your thoughts, or even listening to worship music.

From a therapeutic perspective, engaging the body helps regulate the nervous system (Ogden, 2015). Deep breathing while praying, or kneeling as an act of surrender, can help you feel grounded in God’s presence.

4. Invite Others into Your Prayer

Struggles can make us feel isolated, but prayer is not something we have to do alone. Jesus tells us, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20, NIV).

If you’re finding prayer difficult, consider asking a trusted friend, a church leader, or even a Christian counsellor to pray with you. Sometimes, when we can’t find the words, others can carry us in prayer.

5. Reflect and Listen

Prayer is not just speaking—it’s also listening. After sharing your heart with God, take a moment to pause in silence. Notice what comes to mind. Often, God’s peace enters in the quiet moments when we simply sit with Him.

Taking the Next Step

If prayer feels heavy and you’re struggling emotionally, you are not alone. God’s love meets us right in the middle of our pain. But you may also need safe, professional support to process your emotions.

At Clarity Life Counselling, we provide Christian counselling and psychotherapy that integrates faith and evidence-based psychological tools. Whether you’re facing anxiety, depression, grief, or relational challenges, we’re here to journey with you.

God Hears You

Remember: prayer is not about performance. It’s about presence. Whether your prayer is a single tear, a whispered word, or a silent heart cry, God hears you.

If you’d like to explore how faith-based counselling could support you in this season, we invite you to contact us today.