The Truth About the Power of Prayer in Hard Times

When you’re going through a dark season, it can be difficult to see the power of prayer in hard times. However, this is the most important time to pray, and the best way we can fight our battles. Read on to learn more about the power of prayer, how to P.U.S.H., and be encouraged to pray (even when you don’t want to).

For more encouragement and Bible verses to use during your prayer time, check out these articles: Promising Bible Verses about Hope in Hard Times, Why Does God Allow Suffering? A Promising Look At Hebrews 12, and Who God is Can Be Found Boldly in Psalm 103

The power of prayer

Prayer is one of the most powerful tools you can use as a Christian. Yet sadly, many Christians don’t really use the power of prayer.

Instead, prayer has been watered down to something you only do when you’re sitting in church, or at the end of the day before you fall asleep. When talking to someone else about life’s hardships, saying, “I’ll pray for you” rarely results in actual prayer that moves mountains. Rather, it’s a catch-phrase that translates empathy and compassion, but requires no accountability to follow-through with prayer.

True facts: Prayer isn’t just a thought that you have about someone else, or a desire for your own life to change. Prayer is direct communication with God. Prayer is laying everything at the Lord’s feet. The power of prayer is coming into agreement with God’s will, calling things from the spiritual into the physical with confidence, despite what things look like (Hebrews 11:1).

And so much more!

If prayer wasn’t important, there wouldn’t be many scriptures on the power of prayer. Jesus wouldn’t have taught us how to pray, and he wouldn’t prayed three times in the garden or on the cross before death.

That’s because prayer MATTERS.

But how do you use the power of prayer? Read on to learn more.

How to P.U.S.H. (pray until something happens)

The best piece of advice you can remember when it comes to prayer is to P.U.S.H., which stands for Pray Until Something Happens.

The Bible does not call us to pray repetitious prayers, but it does call us to pray without ceasing. As mentioned above, Jesus prayed in the garden three times before the crucifixion, in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives. It also lets us know that each time He prayed, He prayed more earnestly, which means “seriously.”

Luke 22:44 (ESV)

And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus pushed Himself to pray, to the point that He sweat blood. He took it seriously.

Not only did He continue to pray without ceasing, but He prayed all the way to the end, even on the cross, until something happened. What was it that happened?

Well, first off, the veil was torn in two, which exposed the chambers that were previously only accessible to priests. This happened in the physical. Spiritually, Jesus was about to be raised from the dead, fulfilling the prophesy and the scriptures.

Point being, Jesus prayed continuously until something happened.

Likewise, when we’re going through hard times, we need to pray until something happens. Whether you’re dealing with addiction, grief, divorce, loneliness, depression or anxiety, you need to keep praying God’s will until something shifts from the spiritual into the natural. The same holds true if you’re praying for someone else, for their salvation, sobriety, or healing.

Pray until something happens, and watch how God works.

Prayer in hard times: when you don’t want to pray anymore

If you’ve already been praying like crazy, warring in your prayer closet and/or staying at the Lord’s feet, but you’re TIRED…a word of encouragement.

Sometimes we grow weary of praying. Especially if you have something specific you’re praying for. But this isn’t a time to give up. In fact, when we get tired, that’s when the enemy is going to try to get you to give up praying altogether. He wants you to throw in the towel (and hopefully, God throws that towel right back at you!).

The devil is a liar!

When times get tough, don’t let the weight of the world (or the wait on answered prayer) discourage you from continuing to pray. Understand that answered prayer takes TIME to come to pass. Mountains move slowly. True heart change, in yourself or others, comes in stages of development.

Rest in the fact that consistent prayer does CHANGE THINGS, and one day you will see the fruits of labored prayer.

Podcast episodes on prayer

The truth about why God is delaying your prayers:

Three types of powerful prayers that will change your life:

Final thoughts

Prayer isn’t something we should be lazy about, not take seriously, or become discouraged over. Nope.

Prayer is a time when we can be in direct communion with our Father, keep our eyes on Him instead of our problems, and TRUST that His will is coming to pass. So if you’re praying for something BIG, understand that it’s not on our watch, but His. He’s working ALL THINGS for your good, for His glory.

Amen to that!

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