Simple Prayers for Complicated Days
...because sometimes we don’t need more words, we simply need Jesus
When life upends, prayer doesn’t need paragraphs.
I was asked the other day what prayers I pray directly from Scripture.
I thought about some lengthy passages I’d prayed over the years: The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13, when I didn’t know what to say, Psalm 23:1-6 when I needed to rest in God’s care, and Ephesians 3:16-19 when I craved a reminder of my rootedness in God’s love.
But when life upends, prayer doesn’t need paragraphs.
Three Prayers I Keep Coming Back To
If you asked me what words are most often on my lips, they are much simpler. Three prayers, straight from Scripture, come back to me again and again.
They aren’t polished.
They aren’t lengthy.
They don’t require a seminary degree or a spiritual high to pray.
I find myself whispering these at the kitchen sink, in traffic, when I’m overwhelmed by headlines, when faith feels fragile, or when I don’t know what else to say. I think you might relate.
Simple Prayer #1—“Lord, show me Your glory.”
📖 Exodus 33:18, AMP – Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”
Moses prayed this after one of the worst spiritual letdowns in history.
God had just rescued Israel from slavery by parting the Red Sea and providing daily manna. He then called Moses up the mountain to receive His law—but while Moses was away, the people melted their gold and shaped a calf to worship instead of waiting on God.
When Moses returned, he interceded on their behalf, pleading for God’s continued presence. It was then, in this moment of crisis and confession, that Moses prayed.
If I were Moses, I might have prayed: “Lord, give me a do-over.” Or, “Lord, give me better people.” Instead, he prays: “Lord, show me Your glory.”
Some days, I pray this in wonder—standing on the beach at sunrise, watching my grandkids giggle, or holding a warm cup of coffee and feeling the simple joy of being alive.
Other days, I pray this when my heart is numb, when I don’t feel God’s presence, when worship feels dry, or when the weight of life makes me forget what glory even looks like.
And always, I pray this because I need to remember: God’s glory isn’t only revealed in grand events. It’s seen in His constant goodness, unwavering faithfulness, and quiet presence—even when we fall short or face uncertainty.
Moses didn’t get to see God’s face, but he saw His back, His passing goodness, a presence that never leaves. Some days, that’s all I need to see too.
Simple Prayer #2—“Lord, help my unbelief.”
📖 Mark 9:24, KJV – “I believe; help my unbelief!”
This one comes in the tension of faith.
A father brought his son to Jesus, desperate for healing. He had already asked the disciples, and they couldn’t help. So when he turns to Jesus, his words tumble out like a contradiction: “I believe. Help my unbelief.”
I pray this one when my faith feels stretched thin.
When I know God is good but my circumstances feel bad.
When I’ve prayed for something and it still hasn’t happened.
When I trust Jesus with my eternity but struggle to trust Him with my today.
And what does Jesus do?
He doesn’t say:
“Come back when your faith is stronger.”
“If you believed harder, I’d help you.”
“You should know better by now.”
He responds to the faith that is there—however small or fragile.
If you’ve ever prayed something with more doubt than certainty, you’re in good company. Jesus meets us where we are, not where we think we should be.
Simple Prayer #3—“Lord, help me.”
📖 Matthew 15:25, ESV – “But she came and knelt before Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’”
I probably pray this one the most.
In Matthew 15:25, a desperate mother cried out to Jesus, “Lord, help me.” She was a Gentile, an outsider. She didn’t know the right words to say, but she knew Jesus could help. So she asked, again and again, until He answered.
Some days, “Lord, help me” is my prayer when I’m exhausted.
When the to-do list is too long.
When I have nothing left to give.
When I need strength to do what love requires.
Other days, it’s my prayer when I have no other words.
When grief is fresh.
When the news is bad.
When I don’t understand why God hasn’t fixed what is broken.
“Lord, help me” is the prayer that never gets old because there is never a day I don’t need His help.
A Bonus Prayer—The Shortest Prayer of Them All
What if the simplest prayer isn’t words at all? Before words, requests, or desperate cries for help, there is silence.
Silence isn’t the absence of prayer; it’s the most surrendered kind. When we stop struggling to say the right things and simply sit in the presence of the One who already knows, we align our hearts with His.
When Hannah prayed for a child, she prayed without words, her lips moving in anguish, her heart crying out to God (1 Samuel 1:13).
When Job finally encountered God face to face, he put his hand over his mouth (Job 40:4).
When Zechariah doubted and was silenced, his silence became space for reflection—and his first words when his speech returned were praise (Luke 1:64).
Sometimes, the most transformative prayer is not “Lord, show me Your glory”, “Lord, help my unbelief”, or “Lord, help me”—but the unspoken recognition that He is already here—and that is enough.
Prayer as a Heart Check
Prayer is a spiritual heart check.
Our prayers not only reveal what we believe; they reveal who we trust—not just for salvation or big moments but also for the ordinary, everyday moments when life feels overwhelming or uncertain.
The three simple prayers, and one bonus prayer, mentioned above remind us how much we need God. They aren’t about saying the right words but about turning our hearts toward Him. They reorient us when we feel lost, draw us back when we drift, and ground us in the reality that God is near.
Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be real.
Sometimes, the simplest words hold the deepest connection with the One who knows us best.
The Power of Simple Prayers
In a world reveling in verbosity, it’s refreshing to remember that God meets us where we are. Whether in a whisper of gratitude, a cry for help, or a moment of stillness, we encounter His presence in ways reams of words can’t capture.
Our relationship with God deepens through these simple honest prayers.
Lord, Help us and our unbelief that we might see Your glory anew.
Amen
What simple prayers echo in your heart? I’d love to hear them in the comments below.
Recommended Prayer Resources
There are many great books on prayer. Below are a few unexpected ones that left their mark on my heart.
When You Pray - Bible Study Book: A Study of Six Prayers in the Bible with Kelly Minter, Jackie Hill Perry, Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Jada Edwards, Kristi McLelland View An ideal study to learn directly from the prayers found in the Bible. This is the study that sparked my reflections on praying Scripture—leading to this post
God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer by Pete Greig View Confronts unanswered prayer head-on, blending raw personal stories and biblical insight.
Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God Sybil MacBeth View
A creative approach to prayer using doodling and color, ideal for visual learners seeking a fresh, simple way to connect with God.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. Thank you for supporting this ministry.
Thank you - such good reminders!