When Prayer Became More Than Words
Guest Post by Krista Krahn
Since I grew up in a Christian home, I have always believed in a loving and caring God. I never doubted my faith, but what I did doubt was myself—whether I was good enough or whether I was doing enough to earn God's love. I treated my relationship with God like a checklist for many years. I would pray before bed, say grace at meals, and attend church on Sundays. Prayer, for me, was simply just another box to check off.
There was a time when I felt overwhelmed by the weight of when other people would ask for prayer. Whenever someone asked me to pray for them, I would nod and say, “Of course,” but deep down, it felt like another thing I had to do. It was hard praying for myself, let alone others in a real way!
One night, after a friend asked me to pray for something really important in her life, I sat down and tried, but my mind was blank. I felt frustrated and guilty. Why couldn’t I just do this right? I realized I was trying to do it all on my own instead of asking God to help me. So, I stopped and said, “God, I can’t do this by myself. Please help me pray from my heart, not just because I’m supposed to.” After that I started to see prayer as more than a chore–It was a way to talk to God and trust Him to lead me.
This change was not a big important miracle nor a dramatic moment; it was my mindset. My mindset shifted in a way I can only describe as God opening my eyes. As prayer stopped feeling like a chore, it became a way to grow closer to God, like building a friendship. The more time I spent talking to Him, the more natural it felt, like how friendships deepen with conversations and shared moments. I began to crave those moments with God because of the peace, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It wasn’t about duty anymore; it became something I genuinely wanted to do. Instead of the same old repetitive prayers, I began pouring my heart out to God.
I told him everything—my fears and my hopes, in addition to my hardships. And I knew, deep down, that He was listening. I discovered that prayer is not only about asking for things. It is about deeply connecting with God. It is pouring out your heart and trusting that He hears and cares, as well as working in ways that we cannot always see.
I now see prayer as more than words—it is a lifeline, a way to build a relationship with the God who created me. Prayer is an important part of my daily life.
Prayer is walking down our road while having a conversation with God about my day.
It is crying out to Him when I am feeling overwhelmed.
It is waking up in the morning and saying “God, here I am—lead me today.”
I have learned that prayer is not about being perfect or saying all the right words. It is about consistently showing up and being authentic with God. Being authentic with God means you don’t have to pretend or hide how you feel. You can talk to Him about joys, struggles, fears, or even when you’re upset. It’s okay if your words aren’t fancy or if you stumble through what to say. What matters is that you’re honest and open because God cares about your heart more than your words. He wants you to keep showing up and be yourself with Him.
Growing up in a Christian family has truly been a gift. It gave me a basis for faith and hope. However, even with that very strong foundation, I had to learn for myself what it means to truly seek God. I had to fully commit to my relationship with God and take it seriously.
It is not about what He can do for us—though He is always working in our lives—but about who He is. He is not just a God who performs miracles or answers prayers; He is the God who loves us deeply, and who desires a relationship with us. “We love because He first loved us”(1 John 4:19). His love is constant, unchanging, and always reaching out to us, inviting us to draw closer to Him. And through that, He also blesses us with kindness we can share with others.
Prayer showed me that God is not too small to help us with our problems and not too big to care about our daily hardships.
He invites us to come to Him with everything. When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to focus on what’s going wrong, but God calls us to trust Him and believe His promises. The Bible is filled with verses like Isaiah 41:10: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
I have felt lost and unsure at times, as I’m sure you have, too. In those moments, this verse reminds us to trust His word instead of our worries. His promises are true, and when we rely on them, we find peace knowing He is always with us. This frees us to trust Him fully and to rest in His love. That kind of relationship changes everything because it changes the way we think, bringing hope and clarity to our lives.
Hi, my name is KRISTA KRAHN. I’m turning 15 soon! I’ve grown up in a Christian home, always knowing there’s a God who loves and cares for us. Writing is something I’ve always been drawn to because it lets me share my heart and experiences. In this piece, I reflect on how my perspective on prayer changed—from seeing it as just a routine to realizing it’s a powerful way to connect with God. I believe prayer isn’t just about asking for miracles but about building a relationship with the One who loves us deeply and shapes us for His purpose.
