A Prayer for Sitting Without Words
On Stillness, Presence & Deep Rest
Sometimes there are no words left. The prayers have run dry. The requests feel repetitive. The praise feels forced. You have nothing left to say. This prayer is for that wordlessness — not as problem to fix but as invitation to a different kind of communion.
Words are not the only language between you and God. Presence speaks too. Silence communicates. Sometimes the most honest prayer is simply showing up with nothing to say.
These brief words acknowledge the wordlessness. Then silence becomes the prayer.
When Words Run Out
Losing words for prayer happens for many reasons. None of them disqualify you from communion with God.
- Exhaustion that leaves no energy for language
- Grief too deep for articulation
- Repetition that has drained meaning from usual prayers
- Confusion that does not know what to ask
- Intimacy that has moved beyond the need for words
- Simple emptiness with nothing left to say
If words have left you, you are not failing at prayer. You may be entering a deeper form of it.
Communion Beyond Language
Think of human relationships. Sometimes the deepest moments happen in silence — sitting with a friend in grief, holding a loved one without speaking, being present without the need for words. If human communion can transcend language, surely divine communion can too.
God does not need your words to know your heart. Your presence is itself communication.
A Prayer for Wordlessness
These words name the wordlessness. Then they stop.
Lord, I have no words. The prayers have run out. I do not know what to say. I have nothing to request, nothing to articulate, nothing that language can carry. So I sit here, wordless, in Your presence. Let my silence be prayer. Let my presence be petition. Let my simply being here communicate what words cannot. You know my heart without my explaining it. You understand what I cannot articulate. Meet me in the wordlessness. Let sitting here be enough.
Now sit without words. Let the silence extend. When you are ready, return gently to ordinary awareness. You do not need to conclude with words.
Practicing Wordless Prayer
When words fail, these approaches may help you continue in prayer.
- Show up even when you have nothing to say
- Let breath be your only language
- Trust that presence speaks louder than words
- Release guilt about not having eloquent prayers
- Use a single word or image if complete silence is difficult
- Remember that the Spirit intercedes when we cannot
Wordless prayer is still prayer. It may even be the truest form — stripped of performance, empty of agenda, simply present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really prayer if I am not saying anything?
Prayer is communion with God. Words are one medium for communion, not the only one. Scripture says the Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words. If even the Spirit prays without words, wordless prayer is entirely legitimate.
What if I cannot stop my mind from chattering?
A chattering mind is normal. Wordless prayer does not require mental silence — only that you are not directing words at God. Let the mental chatter continue in the background while your intention remains wordless presence. You are not trying to empty your mind, just to stop verbalizing.
How long should I sit without words?
There is no required duration. Even a few minutes of wordless presence is valuable. Start with what is comfortable — five minutes perhaps. As the practice becomes familiar, you may find you want more time. Quality of presence matters more than length.
What if words never come back?
Words usually return. But even if they do not, wordless communion can sustain your relationship with God indefinitely. Many contemplatives spend years in wordless prayer. The loss of words for prayer is not a crisis — it may be an invitation to deeper intimacy.
Related Reflections
- On Prayer That Feels Like Silence — When God seems quiet.
- A Silent Christian Contemplative Experience — Deep wordless practice.
- A Prayer That Doesn't Ask for Anything — Presence without petition.
- Browse All Reflections — Find more quiet spaces for the searching soul.