Have you ever found yourself checking off a list of people you need to pray for, and then feel immediately stumped when it comes to praying for things that involve well… you?

Maybe you don’t think twice about lifting up a friend’s struggle, but when it comes to your own pain, you hesitate. Maybe it feels selfish. Maybe you’re afraid of being disappointed. Maybe you don’t even know where to start.

You’re not alone in that.

Jamie MacDonald recently sat down with Bekah from WayFM to talk about this very struggle—how sometimes, it takes hitting a breaking point before we cry out to God for ourselves.

“When it comes to praying for myself in that way, I had to kind of get to that low place of desperation where I needed something from God and I wasn’t going to give up until I got an answer.” | Jamie MacDonald

This reminds me of the stories in the Bible where people weren’t afraid to bring their most desperate prayers to God. In the interview, Jamie and Bekah mention Joseph, who begged God for an answer when he was trapped in a season of waiting and uncertainty. We also see this kind of raw, unfiltered prayer throughout the Psalms—David crying out in frustration, fear, and heartbreak.

There’s something powerful about those moments when we come to God with nothing left, when we stop trying to have the perfect words and just let our hearts pour out everything we’re carrying. And the best part? God can handle it. He doesn’t need polished prayers. He just wants us to come to Him.

That’s exactly what Jamie’s new song, Desperate, is about—the moments when we have no choice but to throw ourselves at God’s feet and trust that He will make a way, even when it feels impossible. Sometimes, it takes getting to that low place before we realize we were never meant to carry it all alone.

If you’ve been struggling to pray for yourself, you’re not the only one. But you’re also not alone in it. The Bible reminds us:

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” | 1 Peter 5:7

If you need someone to stand with you in prayer, we’re here. Drop a request on our Hope Nation prayer wall, and know that you have a community ready to walk alongside you, lifting you up when it’s hard to find the words yourself.

No prayer is too small. No heart cry is too messy. God hears you. And He’s already making a way.

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