Really—what does that look like when my heart is broken and my spirit is screaming? Really, you would look at me in the middle of a meltdown and tell me to pray about it? Well, what if I told you I don’t want to? What if I told you I can’t find the words? What if I told you I’ve been screaming and praying to God until my throat is sore and my heart is broken? What now.

Oh… you’re talking to me?
Well, the first thing I want to ask is: Can I hug you? Let’s start there.

The next thing I want to say is: keep screaming at Him. Keep yelling, and tell Him I said it was okay. He knows me — and sometimes I scream and cry too. When your heart is overwhelmed and you can’t find the words, screaming works.

When you don’t know what to say to God, I’ll give you the words Jesus gave me. They’re enough.

We have to stop thinking we need fancy words or the right words to speak to our God. He told us that if we look for Him, He will be there. He told us that when we can’t find the words, the Holy Spirit will speak for us. His Word tells us He already knows what we need — so there’s no need for fancy language. Just tell Him what you want and what you need. Tell Him you’re hurting and you need release.

God promised you peace in the midst of it:

“I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.”
John 14:27 ERV

He promises to be there when you look for Him:

“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV

And Jesus taught us how to pray. Just say these words — over and over, like a litany if you need to:

“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
Matthew 6:9–13 NIV

There are times when I feel overwhelmed too. I’ve learned a few scriptures that help me. I am not a Bible scholar, nor am I a trained minister, but knowing just one or two scriptures can make a difference. This is one of my favorites:

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.”
Psalm 61:1–3 NIV

And this one gives me assurance that even when I don’t get it right, the Holy Spirit will:

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We do not know what we ought to pray for,
but the Spirit himself intercedes for us
through wordless groans.
And he who searches our hearts
knows the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people
in accordance with the will of God.”
Romans 8:26–27 NIV