How to Pray and Ask God for Help

Whenever we go through times of hardship, we as Christians can always come to God and ask Him for help. That is what makes people in Christ different from those who are not in Christ. God is our heavenly Father; we can depend on God and cry out to Him for help in times of need, as stated in the Bible.

We ask God for help in prayer by asking Him for what we need, whether it’s financial provision, wisdom, understanding for studies, grace to persevere, or His mercy concerning our health. We need to remember that it is our heavenly Father to Whom we are talking. Therefore, we can be honest with God about the things that are causing us distress while still revering and respecting Him.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

[Psalm 18:6]

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

[Romans 8:15]

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby

[Ephesians 2:14-16] 

Because of what Christ has done for us on the cross, we have the privilege to come before God’s throne of grace and ask Him for grace and mercy to help us in times of need. Another reason we should come to God and ask Him for help in times of distress is that God is our comforter. The Bible teaches us that we will encounter suffering in this life, but the good thing is that God is our comforter; He is the God of all comfort and mercy Who consoles us in times of affliction.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

[Hebrews 4:16]

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

 

[2 Corinthians 1:3-5]

If you are not yet in Christ, know and understand the Gospel of Christ and what Jesus did for you on the cross. Only those who repent from their life of sin and believe in the person and work of Christ have the privilege of becoming part of God’s family, where you can ask God, Who is your heavenly Father, for help in times of need. As Christians, whenever we encounter afflictions, sufferings, and hardships, our first response should be to ask God for help in prayer. Often when we face a problem, we initially try to solve it independently. However, prayer should be our first response and not our last resort.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[Philippians 4:6-7]

How do you ask God for help in difficult times?

It is mostly in times of difficulty that we ask God for help. You may be going through financial difficulties, and you might need help in terms of provision. It could also be that you are in a challenging work environment where your boss or workmates are making your work life difficult. You may also be going through depression and find it extremely difficult to navigate through life. No matter what difficulties we may encounter, it is God alone to Whom we should first come for help.

When you ask God for help in difficult times, make sure that you ask God specifically. While God is all-knowing and knows what our prayers are before we even pray them, it’s to our benefit to be specific about our prayers and ask God for help regarding them. If you are going through depression, ask God specifically for mental and emotional healing. If you are a Christian and are being persecuted, ask God specifically for the grace to persevere and witness Christ despite the persecution you are going through. 

The specific help you ask God for depends on the kind of help you need; however, other prayers would be ideal to pray regardless of whatever you are asking of God. One is asking God for the grace to persevere in the faith despite the difficulties you are going through. No matter what hardships or sufferings you are going through, you will never fall away from the faith. Instead, you will persevere and continue running the race with endurance up until the end.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

[Hebrews 12:1-2]

Another thing you can pray to God for is the grace to continue thanking God despite your difficulties. No matter what circumstances you may find yourself in right now, there are still a million things you can thank God for. One is that you are still alive and breathing. You can thank God even in hardship because your contentment is in Christ.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

[1 Thessalonians 5:18]

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

[Philippians 4:11-13]

Last, you can pray to God for comfort and mercy as you ask Him for help. If the difficulty in life you are facing right now is that some people left you or betrayed you, and this is so painful, by all means, pray to God for comfort. The Bible says that God binds up your wounds and that He is near to the brokenhearted. You may be feeling dismayed because you don’t have enough funds to provide for your family; still, you can ask God for comfort and mercy. Remember that God is our heavenly Father.

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

[Psalm 34:18]

Here is an example of how you can pray to God in times of difficulty:

Heavenly Father, You are the God of all comfort and mercy Who comforts me in times of affliction. I come to You, God, because I know that You are the only One I can depend on, the One from Whom my help comes. I am going through intense emotional pain right now, and it seems that it is hard to go through life. Help me with this pain, Father, and give me the strength to persevere in life despite being brokenhearted. I pray for emotional healing and comfort. I thank You because in Christ You hear my prayers, and Your goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life. You are also near to the brokenhearted. Bind up my wounds and save me because I’m crushed in spirit. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Is it okay to pray for yourself?

While the Bible tells us to always pray for other people, that does not mean we should not pray for ourselves. We should pray to God in all situations because prayer is our communication with God. If we are going through hard times, it is through prayer that we ask God for help. Through our prayer, we also confess that, indeed, the LORD God is our God, from Whom our help comes.

It is okay to pray for yourself and others. God wants us to come to Him and ask Him for help in times of need. That is why even if God knows what we will pray before we pray, we should still pray to God and ask Him for help. It is a sign of humility and dependence on God. Sometimes we do not have the help we need because we do not ask God for it. 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

[Psalm 121:1-8]

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

[Matthew 7:7]

Why is it important to pray?

Prayer has always been an essential part of a Christian’s life. It is considered one of the spiritual disciplines that a Christian should consistently keep, together with reading the Bible, fellowship with other believers, and similar practices. We pray to God not because it is some routine that we do. Instead, we pray to God because we are in a relationship with God and enjoy spending time with our heavenly Father.

It is important to pray because we are Children of God who love God. God is our Heavenly Father, and we have a relationship with Him. How can we know God if we don’t talk to Him in prayer? Through prayer, we understand the Heart of God for us and the world in which we live.

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

[Psalms 61:1-3]

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

[Psalm 121:2]

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

[James 1:2-4]

As you go through hardships, remember that you can still have joy despite the season you are enduring. Our joy is founded on Christ and not on our circumstances. The Bible tells us to count it all joy whenever we encounter trials of various kinds because those trials will produce steadfastness in us. When that steadfastness has its full effect, we will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. In other words, perfect just like Christ. Trials sanctify us to become more like Christ.