Why Is Praying So Difficult?

In Matthew 26:36-46 we read about Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane just before He is arrested, goes through the mock trial, beaten, and crucified.

While He is praying, He leaves His disciples in one spot and asks Peter, James, and John to continue on with Him. Then, He tells these three to keep watch with Him. Jesus goes a little farther by Himself and prays, calling out to His Father.

When He comes back to Peter, James, and John, He finds them sleeping. He rouses them and asks them again to pray for Him. Jesus goes again and communes with His Father through prayer. When He returns to the men again, they are sleeping again. Why was it so difficult for Peter, James, and John to watch and pray? Why is it so difficult for us to watch and pray?

Here are three things we can learn:

1. They didn’t understand the enormity of the situation. Peter, James, and John did not fully understand that Jesus was heading to the cross. Jesus did. But they did not. When we underestimate the enormity of what we are praying about and the need for prayer in every situation, we tend to having trouble praying.

Our nation is in desperate need for prayer. But, are we praying desperately? Do we see the huge need for prayer on behalf of America? Your family is in desperate need for prayer? But, are you praying desperately? Your friend that does not know Jesus in a personal way is in desperate need for prayer. Are you praying desperately?

When we lose sight of how desperately we need God to move in our lives, we struggle praying.

2. They were not hurting for what hurt Jesus. Verse 37 says that Jesus was outwardly showing His sorrow and troubled heart. Verse 38 records Jesus saying: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”

They could not mistake how much Jesus’ heart was carrying at this moment. And for some reason, they were not hurting for Jesus to the same degree that Jesus was hurting.

When the things that break the Lord’s heart don’t break our heart, we have trouble praying with fervency. Those things that break God’s heart should break our heart, too. When we lose sight of what breaks God’s heart, we struggle praying about those things.

3. They were letting their flesh get in the way. Upon returning to the Peter, James, and John, Jesus says: “Watch and pray so that you don’t fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41, NIV).

When we are more concerned about getting what we want rather than seeking what God wants, we have trouble praying.

Prayer can be difficult when we miss the enormity of the situation, we forget about those things that break God’s heart, and we fall into the temptation of the flesh.

Overcome those so that you can watch and pray.