Finding Strength Through Prayer

Up until about three months ago, prayer felt more like a chore to me—a “have to” rather than a “want to.” It reminded me of the way you feel when you know you need to message someone back but just can’t find the energy. It was something I did because I knew I should, not because I really wanted to.

But a lot has progressed for me over the last 2 and a half years, especially in the past few months. In my last two previous post, I shared about feeling God’s mercy after a struggle with mental health and embracing a growth mindset. My post today in a way draws those two posts together as prayer is what got me through the challenges and opened my eyes up to being more adaptable to change.

As Christians, we’re called to pray with open hearts—to bring our joys, struggles, and desires to God. Sometimes I feel it’s hard to know how to do that. But I’ve come to realize prayer isn’t just about asking for things; it’s about aligning ourselves with God’s will, even when we don’t fully understand it. That hasn’t always been easy for me, but I’ve seen how it’s made a difference in my life.

Two years ago this month, I lost a friend to cancer. During the last six months of her life, I prayed for her more than I’ve ever prayed for anyone before. My prayers weren’t just about physical healing—though I absolutely believe in God’s ability to work miracles. They were about something more. I prayed for her to stay strong in faith, for her to find peace and comfort through Jesus, and for her family to feel God’s love through everything.

In a more personal encounter with health challenges, in 2022, I faced an unexpected health issue that, on top of other personal struggles, felt incredibly heavy. It was tempting to pray only for the problem to go away, and for everything to be fixed. But instead, I found myself asking for something more: for courage to face what was in front of me, for grace to stay faithful even when I felt so discouraged, and for wisdom to trust God’s plan, even when it didn’t make sense.

As a person who is invested in learning about the lives of all different saints, I learnt the value of suffering for Jesus. As St Paul writes, “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18) and “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)

This shift in how I approach prayer has been transformative. It’s not just about asking for things to be different; it’s about growing closer to God—seeking His heart. And in those moments of surrender, I’ve found a new source of strength and peace, one that can only be found in our Lord and Saviour.

When talking with some friends about my recent “conversion” on October 8th this past year—something that felt like it happened almost overnight—they asked, “How do you think that happened?” Honestly, I’ve asked myself the same question, even bringing it up to my dear friend *Gracie. I told her, “It’s so random. Someone must have such a strong relationship with God that He answers their prayers.” With a heartfelt smile and a glimpse of joy in her voice, she responds: “Maybe it was all your prayers, Katie Rose.”

That got me thinking about how much I had prayed, pouring my heart out to God for months, begging Him to give me strength to overcome my weakness and to pull me out of the dark place I was in. I prayed to be free from the upsetting thoughts that weighed me down, to be close to Jesus in both mind and heart, and to follow His will. Looking back, maybe those prayers weren’t unanswered after all.

In these past few months, I feel I have learned so much about personal prayer, especially the kind that comes from deep within. Prayer is truly, in every sense, how we communicate with God. It can be as long or as short as your heart leads you to make it, and as long as it’s for a greater purpose, there’s no wrong way to pray.