How to pray to God when we are tired
There are days when weariness weighs more than anything else. Physical tiredness after long days of work. Emotional exhaustion from family problems, debts or illness. Spiritual fatigue in those who have served much, prayed much and feel they have no strength left. At such times even praying can seem like one more task. We feel guilty for not wanting to, for falling asleep in the middle of a prayer or for not knowing what to say. The good news is that God does not expect a perfect prayer from us when we are exhausted. He knows our frailty and invites us to come as we are. In this article we will look at how to pray when we are tired, what Jesus teaches us about it and some simple prayers for those days.
God knows our weariness
The Bible does not idealise human beings. It acknowledges that we get tired. “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). God is not surprised by our exhaustion, nor does he despise us for it. Through the prophet Isaiah he left one of the most beautiful promises for the weary:
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:29-31
Notice the order: first God gives power to the faint; then he promises that those who wait on him will renew their strength. It is not about finding strength where there is none, but about receiving it from him.
Jesus got tired too
The Son of God, in becoming man, experienced human weariness. John’s Gospel tells us that, travelling through Samaria, “Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well” (John 4:6). On another occasion he was fast asleep in the boat in the middle of a storm (Mark 4:38). And when his disciples came back exhausted from their mission, Jesus did not demand more work; he told them:
“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”
Mark 6:31
Jesus knows what it is to be tired, and that is why he can sympathise with us (Hebrews 4:15). He himself withdrew to solitary places to pray and rest in the Father (Luke 5:16).
Jesus’ invitation to the weary
Perhaps there are no more comforting words for a weary heart than these:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus does not say “try harder” or “pray better”. He says “come unto me”. The prayer of the weary does not have to be elaborate; it is enough to draw near. He promises rest, not only for the body but for the soul. His yoke is easy because we do not carry it alone: he walks beside us and carries the heaviest part.
Moses and the tired arms
During a battle against the Amalekites, Moses went up a hill and lifted his hands to God. While his hands were raised, Israel prevailed; when he lowered them from tiredness, the enemy prevailed. Then Aaron and Hur took a stone, sat Moses on it and held up his hands, one on one side and the other on the other, until the sun went down (Exodus 17:11-12). It is a beautiful picture: when we are too tired to pray, we need others to hold us up. Ask your brothers and sisters in the faith to pray for you and with you. You can write to us in Request prayer and we will pray for you.
When there are no words
On the most exhausting days you do not need long prayers. The apostle Paul reminds us that “the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). A sigh directed to God is already a prayer. Being silent in his presence is prayer too. Psalm 62 puts it like this: “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation… My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him” (Psalm 62:1, 5). And Psalm 131 offers the image of a child in its mother’s arms: “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother” (Psalm 131:2). There is no need to speak; it is enough to rest in his arms.
Short prayers for weary days
Throughout history Christians have used short prayers that can be repeated with the breath, while walking or before sleeping. Some come straight from the Bible:
“Lord, help me” (Matthew 15:25). “God be merciful to me” (Luke 18:13). “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). “Into thine hand I commit my spirit” (Psalm 31:5). “My grace is sufficient for thee”, remembering God’s answer to Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9). And the ancient “Jesus Prayer”, much loved in the Eastern Christian tradition: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” Repeated calmly, these prayers quiet the heart and remind us that we are not alone.
Praying with the Psalms
When your own words run out, borrow those of the Psalms. They were written by people who knew weariness, fear and sadness. Read slowly Psalm 23, 46, 62, 91, 121 or 131, and make their words your own. You don’t need to read much; a single verse meditated upon can sustain you all day.
Rest is spiritual too
Sometimes weariness is not solved by more prayer alone, but by rest. God established the day of rest at creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and included it in the Ten Commandments. Resting is not laziness or lack of faith; it is acknowledging that we are not the ones holding up the world. Elijah, exhausted, needed to eat and sleep before he could hear God’s voice (1 Kings 19:5-8). Look after your sleep, your diet and your moments of pause. Read How to overcome insomnia. And if exhaustion is constant, drains your desire to do anything or comes with deep sadness, see a doctor: there may be physical or emotional causes that need attention. Read Fighting depression with the Bible.
Weary of doing good
There is a special kind of weariness: that of those who care for a sick person, serve in the church, raise children or support their family without seeing results. To them Paul says: “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). And Hebrews advises looking to Jesus: “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:3). Your service is not in vain. Even if the body tires, “the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). But remember also to ask for help and share the load: even Moses needed Aaron and Hur.
Don’t blame yourself for falling asleep
Many believers feel bad because they fall asleep while praying. Remember that in Gethsemane the disciples fell asleep while Jesus prayed, and even in his anguish he understood them: “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). God keeps no list of your interrupted prayers. If you fall asleep talking to him, you fall asleep in his arms. A father is not offended when his child falls asleep on his lap; he is moved.
Prayers to make your own
At the start of a heavy day: “Lord, it is barely dawn and I am already tired. I do not know how I will make it to tonight. I am not asking for strength for the whole week: give me today’s. Come, Holy Spirit, and walk with me task by task. Amen.”
In the middle of work: “Jesus, you too sat down weary beside a well, at midday. Sit with me here for a moment, in the middle of it all. Give me that living water of yours, because mine has run out. Amen.”
When I feel I can’t go on: “Father, I come the way you told me to come: weary and heavy laden. I bring nothing else. I drop this weight at your feet because I can no longer carry it. Come, Holy Spirit, and be my rest within. Hold me up. Amen.”
At the end of the day: “Lord, I made it. Thank you for holding me up when I thought I would not. What was left undone I leave in your hands; it does not belong to me tonight. Give me sleep that restores, and tomorrow, new mercies. Amen.”
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, today I bring no fine words. I bring weariness. A weariness that sleep does not cure: that of having held things together for a long time, caring for others, pretending I can manage. You know it; you sat down exhausted beside a well and fell asleep in a boat in the middle of a storm. You do not scold me for being like this. You say to me: “Come.” Here I come. Come, Holy Spirit, and be rest within me, like water on dry ground. Renew my strength, not to do more, but to be with you. Teach me to let go of what is not mine to carry. And when my arms can no longer be lifted, set beside me an Aaron and a Hur to hold them up, and give me the humility to accept help. If I fall asleep praying, let me fall asleep in your arms. Your yoke is easy and your burden light. In you my soul finds rest. Amen.