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Dealing with Prayer Frustration and Spiritual Discouragement

Spiritual discouragement and frustration in prayer are experiences frequently addressed in biblical texts and theological reflection. The Psalms, in particular, often articulate the deep anguish and weariness that can accompany a struggling prayer life or periods of intense suffering [1, 2, 3].

Prayer itself is understood as direct address to God, an intercourse of the soul with the divine, which can be oral or mental, constant or occasional [5]. It is a "beseeching the Lord" or "pouring out the soul before the Lord" [5]. However, even with this understanding, individuals may encounter difficulties. The Bible does not offer a theoretical explanation for the mystery of prayer's efficacy, especially when considering general laws or human agency [6].

One common source of frustration is a sense of unanswered prayer or prolonged suffering. The psalmist expresses this vividly, stating, "My soul is wasted with sorrow; give me strength again in keeping with your word" [1]. Another cries out, "I am weary with my calling out; my throat is parched. My eyes are exhausted in my waiting for my God" [2]. Such passages highlight the emotional toll that waiting on God can take. Matthew Henry notes that these complaints are "very sad" and are poured out before the Lord in hope of easing a heavy burden [13]. This weariness can lead to a sense of anguish and sorrow, making hope seem distant [15].

In times of affliction, the biblical exhortation is to pray [4]. Specific prayers under affliction include asking God to consider one's trouble, for His presence and support, for divine comfort, for mitigation of troubles, and for deliverance [4]. There are also prayers for pardon and deliverance from sin, for turning back to God, and for divine teaching and direction [4]. The book of Lamentations suggests that repentance and prayer are appropriate responses to God's judgment and devastation [14].

Discouragement can also manifest as despair, which the Bible indicates can be produced in the wicked by divine judgments [8]. While saints are sometimes tempted to despair, they are also enabled to overcome it [8]. Trust in God is presented as a preservative against despair [8].

Christ's compassion and sympathy are presented as an encouragement to prayer, particularly for those who are weary, heavy-laden, weak in faith, tempted, afflicted, diseased, or poor [7]. His compassion is necessary for His priestly office [7]. The Lord's Prayer, given by Jesus, serves as a model of simplicity in contrast to vain repetition, and it notably addresses God as "Father," a rare practice in Jewish prayer at the time [9].

The New Testament also emphasizes prayer in the face of difficulties. Paul's final prayer in 2 Thessalonians echoes Jesus' blessing of peace and contrasts with the tribulations faced by believers in Thessalonica [11]. He consistently recognized the Lord Jesus' presence with His people [11]. The "Lord of peace" is a title given to Jesus Christ, who grants peace both outward and inward, unbroken by circumstances [12]. Believers are encouraged to call on the Lord with pure hearts [10].

Sources

  1. Psalms “Psalms 119:28 (BBE) — My soul is wasted with sorrow; give me strength again in keeping with your word”
  2. Psalms “Psalms 69:3 (LEB) — I am weary with my calling out; my throat is parched. My eyes are exhausted in my waiting for my God.”
  3. Psalms “Psalms 118:143 (DRC) — Trouble and anguish have found me: thy commandments are my meditation.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
  6. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Despair — Produced in the wicked by divine judgments -- De 28:34,67; Re 9:6; 16:10. Leads to Continuing in sin. -- Jer 2:25; 18:12. Blasphemy. -- Isa 8:21; Re 16:10,11. Shall seize upon the wicked at the appearing of Christ -- Re 6:16. Saints sometimes tempted to -- Job 7:6; La 3:18. Saints enabled to overcome -- 2Co 4:8,9. Trust in God, a preservative against -- Ps 42:5,11. Exemplified Cain. -- Ge 4:13,14. Ahithophel. -- 2Sa 17:23. Judas. -- Mt 27:5.”
  9. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
  10. 2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 2:22: 2:22 those who call on the Lord: Cp. Ps 99:6; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; 9:14, 21; 22:16; Rom 10:12-13; 1 Cor 1:2. • with pure hearts: Cp. 1 Tim 1:5.”
  11. 2 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Thessalonians 3:16: 3:16 The final prayer echoes Jesus’ blessing in John 14:27 (cp. Num 6:26) and contrasts with the situation these believers faced in Thessalonica (2 Thes 1:4-10; 1 Thes 2:14). Paul was always conscious of the Lord Jesus’ presence with his people (Rom 15:33; Phil 4:9).”
  12. 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 3:16: Lord of peace--Jesus Christ. The same title is given to Him as to the Father, "the GOD of peace" (Rom 15:33; Rom 16:20; Co2 13:11). An appropriate title in the prayer here, where the harmony of the Christian community was liable to interruption from the "disorderly." The Greek article requires the translation, "Give you the peace" which it is "His to give." "Peace" outward and inward, here and hereafter (Rom 14:17). always--unbroken, not changing with outward circumstances. by all means--Greek, "in every way." Most of the oldest manuscript”
  13. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 69:1: In these verses David complains of his troubles, intermixing with those complaints some requests for relief. I. His complaints are very sad, and he pours them out before the Lord, as one that hoped thus to ease himself of a burden that lay very heaven upon him. 1. He complains of the deep impressions that his troubles made upon his spirit (Psa 69:1, Psa 69:2): "The waters of affliction, those bitter waters, have come unto my soul, not only threaten my life, but disquiet my mind; they fill my head with perplexing cares and my heart with oppressive grief, so that I ”
  14. Lamentations (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Lamentations 2:18: 2:18-19 Repentance and prayer are the proper responses when facing the devastation of God’s judgment.”
  15. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 13:2: 13:2 A sense of anguish and sorrow closes off any perspective of hope (6:3). Unless the Lord answers the psalmist’s prayers (22:1), death seems inescapable, torturous, and slow (6:6; 32:3; 55:4; 61:2; 102:5; 116:3). The psalmist hardly knows how to pray; he longs for God’s redemption (25:17-18; 31:10; 38:8; 39:2).”
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