How to Talk to God When You Don’t Know What to Say
There are moments when words dry up.
Moments when pain swells so deep or shame burrows so low that silence feels like the only language we have left.
Moments when we ache to pray, but all we can do is stare at the ceiling.
You’re not alone in that.
And more importantly—God is not silent in your silence.
1. Start with Honesty, Not Perfection
"Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." — Psalm 62:8
God doesn’t need polished words or theological phrases.
He wants the raw, the real, the rough-edged version of you.
If all you can say is “God, I’m hurting” or “I don’t know what to say,” then say that.
Prayer is not a performance. It’s a posture of the heart.
Start where you are, not where you wish you were.
2. Let the Holy Spirit Help You
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." — Romans 8:26
Even when your mouth can’t form the words, the Spirit speaks for you.
He takes your groans, your sighs, your silence—and He brings them before the Father.
You are not alone in prayer. The Spirit is in the room, interceding, guiding, and carrying the weight when you can’t.
3. Pray the Psalms
When you don’t know what to say, borrow the words of Scripture.
David and other psalmists wrote their rawest cries to God—joy, fear, depression, longing, confusion. It’s all there.
Try these:
Psalm 13: “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?”
Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, O God…”
Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley…”
Psalm 73: “My flesh and my heart may fail…”
God isn’t offended by your doubt or despair. He’s a Father. He can handle your honesty.
4. Just Sit With Him
"Be still, and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10
Sometimes the most powerful way to pray is to simply be with God.
No words. No agenda. Just presence.
Like a child sitting next to his father, not needing to say anything—just needing to be held.
Let Him hold you. Let the silence be sacred, not shameful.
5. Write It Out
If speaking feels hard, write.
Write a letter to God. Journal your feelings. Start with,
“God, I feel…”
“God, I’m afraid of…”
“God, I want to trust You but…”
The page becomes your altar.
Your pen becomes your prayer.
And you might find that once the ink starts flowing, so do the words.
6. Don’t Wait Until You Feel “Right”
"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." — James 4:8
The lie: “I can’t talk to God like this. I have to get my act together first.”
The truth: You come as you are, or you don’t come at all.
The prodigal son didn’t clean himself up before heading home.
He came broken and barefoot—and the Father ran to him.
So don’t wait. Run limping. Run silent. Run confused. Just run home.
Final Thoughts: His Presence Is Greater Than Your Words
When you don’t know what to say, God isn’t looking for the right words.
He’s looking for your heart.
He’s not waiting for eloquence—He’s inviting surrender.
So if all you can muster is, “God, I’m here,” that’s more than enough.
Because He’s already there—and He always will be.
Reflection Questions:
When was the last time you just sat in silence with God?
What Psalm resonates with where your heart is right now?
Can you identify any lies you’ve believed about needing to “fix” yourself before coming to God?
Challenge This Week:
Spend 10 minutes each day with no agenda—no phone, no performance.
Just be with God.
Say nothing if you need to.
And trust that He’s listening… even in the silence.
