Why Men Struggle with Prayer

I’ve been a follower of Jesus for 35 years now and still struggle with having a deep prayer life – consistently. I have days while praying, when tears are streaming down my face and I feel unbelievably connected to God and alive as a believer. Then come stretches when my mind wanders and my prayers feel lifeless – like I’m just going through the motions.

And most men I talk with have the same struggle. Perhaps women do as well, but men for sure. So let’s explore some spiritual and practical reasons why that may be true in your life.

1. Men are doers!
Men like to get things done. I’ve noticed this about myself; that perhaps 75-80% of the things I set out to do, I get done. I’ve also noticed that a much smaller percentage of the things I pray for “get done.

Sadly, I may have concluded subconsciously, that one of the reasons I work harder than I pray, is that I have more confidence in me than in God to accomplish things. It pains me to admit that sin, but I think it’s true sometimes. If it weren’t true, I’d pray more, wait on God more, and work less.

When I’m lucid enough to realize what’s happening, I’ll cry out to God to both forgive me and ask him to give me eyes of faith to enable me to “wait upon the Lord.”