Why We Pray

Have you ever had someone charge you to pray when you’re going through a hard time? More often than not, it just falls flat doesn’t it?

For me, at times, it’s added on a layer of guilt like I’m not good enough or spiritual enough to an already challenging time. Is that what God is doing when Scripture invites us to pray through life?

Interpersonal Neurobiology is a mouthful, but it’s also full of scientific insights that could help us spiritually. Apparently, our brains and nervous systems are constantly connecting with others. When an overwhelmed and overheated mind connects with an understanding and empathetic mind, it is calmed and cools down from its overactivity according to countless brain scans.

It’s healthy to voice our hardships, to experience compassion, to connect with and be calmed by another mind.

And, you know who is most compassionate and most available? That’s right. God.

We don’t pray to prove ourselves, get out of stuff, or repress emotions. We pray to connect with God and to find grace for every need a moment at a time.