5 Reasons Prayer is Challenging –
with Insights for Breakthrough

By Dan Reiland

Prayer is arguably the most powerful force in the world; it is literally life-changing. Yet, most would agree that prayer is significantly underutilized.

Why? Prayer requires energy, focus, discipline, and time. If it was easy, more people would pray, and believers would pray more consistently and perhaps even longer.

There is no law or formula for when or how long you need to pray. . .

However, there is something undeniably powerful about more time with God, hearing His voice, lifting your prayers, and seeing miracles happen.

Prayer is a blessing, not a burden; it’s a privilege, not a pressure.

Leaders are not excluded from this conversation.

It’s not uncommon for the work of ministry to steal us away from the power of ministry – prayer. We can become so busy in doing good; we have limited time for what is best. This is not a new issue, but the longer I lead, the more I realize the depth of the power of prayer.

Prayer is work, but it also brings joy. Close communion with God through prayer is extraordinary. To be able to talk with the Creator of the heavens and the earth and know He listens, cares, and responds is an extraordinary gift. God wants us to know Him, invites us to talk with Him, and from there, He empowers our leadership for the sake of His Church.

Knowing the reasons that make prayer challenging helps us breakthrough to a greater level of prayer.

5 Reasons Prayer Is Difficult and Insights to Breakthrough:

1) External pressures are allowed to outweigh internal values.

The heart is drawn toward time with God, but the mind is pulled toward stuff to do. Is this true for you?

That’s the dilemma for most of us leaders. The reason our work can steal our time with God is that external pressures scream loud and drown out the quiet but true voice of our values and desire to be with the Father.

Jesus is never loud or demanding; He just opens the door and waits.

Our best road to beat the external noise of pressure is to establish a disciplined routine of prayer, which, once established, always becomes a joy that you can’t wait to get to. It really does!

I have a little prayer room in my basement, and I truly love my time there. It’s like a sacred sanctuary. I’m often tempted to leave quicker than I desire (stuff to do), but the inner peace from the voice of God gently inviting me is so good. That sense of “stay just a little longer” is often just what I need.

How about you? How do you deal with the pressures of chasing the to-do list?

2) The supernatural realm includes a battle.

Prayer is joyful, but it’s not a party. Prayer draws you close to God’s peace and presence, but you also enter a spiritual battle simply by aligning with God. Ephesians 6:10-18 reminds us that while ministry is grounded in the human realm, it is connected to a battle in the “heavenly realms.” Battles are work.

It’s not always intuitive to sense the battle because when we soak in the Psalms or meditate through the epistles, etc., it doesn’t feel like a battle. In fact, God’s presence is a delight.

However, through the tough times, big problems, discouraging days, setbacks, and suffering, none of which can be avoided, we are reminded of the reality of the battle. It can be tough to hang in there when your soul is tired, but that’s the time to dig deep and pray more. It’s also the time to ask your prayer partners to pray all the more for you!

3) Our faith is tested at some level.

What we pray reveals what we believe.

Have you ever prayed long and hard, and it doesn’t seem like God heard you? Or maybe He heard you but doesn’t seem to answer? We know God answers prayer, but because it’s not always like we hoped or when we wanted, it’s human to wonder if God is with you.

Doubt can hit the best of leaders on occasion. I don’t mean to wonder if God loves you or if you are saved, but is He with you in that really difficult moment? Ultimately these moments come down to faith and trust. That’s why the body of Christ is so important. I hope you never attempt to navigate the tough times alone.

4) When we forget past answers while we focus on future unknowns.

The unknowns of the future can cause stress, anxiousness, and worry. Let’s just be candid. Leaders are human too, and we care about the church, organizationally, and even more about the people, relationally.

Remembering God’s promises and the prayers He’s answered is a huge remedy to the difficult moments you face today.

I love this passage from Philippians 4:6-7. You know God answers prayer, but in the moment, you may need to lean into this.

“…The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This helps us conquer the worries of the unknown and remember God’s faithfulness in our lives. Pray from the knowledge of God’s faithfulness. Remember what He’s done for you!

5) Technology has made it difficult to be quiet and still.

It’s best that I don’t bring my phone into my prayer room, but often it “seems” necessary. (I know, it really isn’t.) When I do, it’s nearly always a distraction. Two things that can easily distract me … my phone (with its unlimited options) and something about guitars.

On a deeper level, technology has made it difficult for many of us to be still or be quiet and to wait upon God. Technology has helped us become accustomed to an incredibly fast-paced life, but God is not in a hurry. Prayer takes time; we need to learn to be still. We are trained toward technology, and tech is good for sure, but not always helpful for every situation.

Here are three practical questions:

  • What helps you slow down and be more reflective?
  • What helps you be still and wait upon God?
  • What helps you be quiet and listen for His voice?

Copyright © 2023 Dan Reiland