Being nervous about praying, Help!

[coolcatholicguy]

Hey, I’m a teenager and often find myself praying to God around other people, but whenever someone asks what I am doing, I usually say, “Oh nothing” because I am kind of nervous about explaining it. It’s nothing I have against God, and I consider myself a devout Catholic Christian, but I’m kind of nervous about talking about it sometimes.

Could you give me any advice?

 

[Highwayhound]

Hey, I’m a teenager and often find myself praying to God around other people, but whenever someone asks what I am doing, I usually say, “Oh nothing” because I am kind of nervous about explaining it. It’s nothing I have against God, and I consider myself a devout Catholic Christian, but I’m kind of nervous about talking about it sometimes.

Could you give me any advice?

What do you imagine the response would be if you answer the question by saying. “Praying”?

 

[Able]

I found this…

Stand boldly before the throne of grace

Sometimes in the vale of suffering we are emotionally, physically and spiritually down. We are in desperate need, feeling that we re unable to go on. It is then, more than ever, that we need to claim God’s promise to assist us.

At one of those down times with Elsie, I realized with new clarity the truth of Hebrews 4:16: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

In the precious words of this passage, we are told of a place to go in time of need, a procedure to follow, the purpose for going, and the Person to whom we flee. This verse tells us what to do when we feel we’re about to be overwhelmed, and it holds a tremendous promise.

Our sovereign Lord does not leave us to ourselves in a time of suffering. He does not leave us with no course of action, no place to turn. The invitation of Hebrews 4:16 is open to all who are in God’s waiting room. If you are there, I urge you to accept it as it did one lonely night.

May 14, 1982, was not a good day for Elsie. Both physically and emotionally she was having one of those down days. I arrived home from the hospital about 8:30 that night, physically weary and emotionally drained. Watching her suffer and struggle for the past ten hours had gotten to me.

I sat in my favorite chair and slumped into a spell of self-pity, dwelling on my own sorrow. The tears flowed freely. The longer I sat there feeling sorry for myself, the more depressed I became. I felt myself slipping into a state of despondency. There was no drive or desire to do anything.

Very early that same morning, I had typed Hebrews 4:16 on a file card and taken it with me to the hospital. During the day I had read it to Elsie several times, and together we had come several times to God’s throne of grace.

Now I was the one who had the need. The time had arrived for me to translate our verse into my own experience. The content of this chapter is the message God gave to me on the night of May 14, 1982.

“Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Is today a time of need for you? Here is a text which promises some very special help. Many of God’s children have put it to the test and found that it works…

Able

bible.org/seriespage/time-need

 

[Trishie]

You’re not obliged to tell others anything if you don’t wish. That others ask, doesn’t oblige us to specifically reply. You wouldn’t tell your private business. For instance if there were some problem in your family, just because someone asks the question you don’t have to share that private family business.

It’s delightful that you pray to God around others, and at any time. It’s wonderful!
Don’t stress about it, just enjoy the wonderful graces of your friendship and trust in God.
You most honor God,
and most witness to your love and friendship with God
when you give genuine Christian charity and kindness to others.

 

[ML561]

Keep on praying! If you tell others that you are praying, perhaps they may join you. Maybe they pray too and are as nervous as you are. If you are met with people who make fun of you, try to ignore them and pray for them, although that can be difficult. But never be ashamed of what you are doing. Have you heard of some high schools who have “See you at the Pole” meetings around the flagpole to pray after school? My understanding is that this occurs in public schools. You didn’t say whether you went to a public or private school but in some schools there are prayer groups which meet outside of class hours. I will pray for you. May God bless you always.

 

[Lifeisawesome]

A helpful approach is to write out what you think the worst case will be. Usually this results in a “oh, I can handle that…” bit of relief.

 

[requieroveritas]

Hey, I’m a teenager and often find myself praying to God around other people, but whenever someone asks what I am doing, I usually say, “Oh nothing” because I am kind of nervous about explaining it. It’s nothing I have against God, and I consider myself a devout Catholic Christian, but I’m kind of nervous about talking about it sometimes.

Could you give me any advice?

Don’t be afraid to tell others what you are doing when you pray. Being a good catholic means, among other things, being a light in the darkness, to guide others.

Explaining what you are doing to someone who asks, may be the light that leads that person to salvation.

If you are mocked, scoffed at or derided, don’t worry about it. It only means that the Holy Spirit is with you.

All the best to you, in Christ.

 

[Lifeisawesome]

The last post said something very important - when we follow Christ - and clearly suffer for it. We are afforded a profound opportunity to know him in ways that we otherwise could not.