Ever noticed that we pray the more as pressure builds? Why is that? Why do we wait till things get really tough to pray seriously?
I’ll tell you one reason… nothing is important until it is personal. Thus something has to happen TO US that drives us to really start praying. Until that happens we usually aren’t all that serious about prayer. Till then we think about it with a nod toward God but we don’t literally hit our knees or face in prayer to God.
God knows this about us and so… because He determines that we learn to pray… He allows/puts us in positions where all we have is Him. He puts/allows us into circumstances that our only option is to cry out in desperation in prayer to Him. Thus what is written in 2 Cor 1:8b-9…
We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to MAKE US rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
God is so serious and concerned about our holiness and being conformed to the image of Christ that He refuses to leave it to chance (Romans 8:29)! He will MAKE US rely upon Him. And thus the reason for hard… harsh… and difficult circumstances. THEN we rely only upon HIm… the one who raises the dead.
My desire and suggestion to every Christians is BE a person of prayer NOW… before hard times come… so you are that much more comfortable in praying as you pray.