People often encouraged me to pray.
And I appreciated their intentions.
But there were days when I simply could not find the words.
Days when disappointment felt too heavy.
Days when fear overwhelmed faith.
Days when exhaustion silenced every prayer I wanted to speak.
I worried that something was wrong with me.
Shouldn't believers always know what to say?
Shouldn't faith come naturally during difficult seasons?
Then I discovered something liberating.
God understands silence too.
He understands tears.
He understands groans.
He understands the prayers we cannot articulate.
Some of the most meaningful moments of my journey occurred when I stopped trying to sound strong before God.
When I became honest. When I admitted confusion. When I admitted fear. When I admitted I did not understand.
Faith is not pretending.
Faith is bringing our authentic selves before God.
Even when all we have is silence.
Even when all we have are tears.
Even when all we have is, 'Lord, help me.'
Sometimes that is enough.