I Realised I Was Praying… but Not Asking
I’ve been struggling lately with what the Lord has given me, so I decided to start fasting. I wasn’t seeing the results I hoped for at the start of this year, and fasting felt like the right step. And as you know, fasting isn’t just about not eating — it’s about praying more intentionally.
This morning I saw a pin on Pinterest explaining what fasting really is, and the last line said something like, “If you don’t pray while fasting, you’re just on a diet.”
Honestly… true. So I’ve been praying more.
And here’s where I need to be honest.
I talk a lot on Wayfinding in the Dusty Bible about prayer — especially about taking the pressure off, keeping it simple, and acknowledging God in the small moments. But while I was praying this week, I realised something that shocked me:
I talk to God about my issues…
but I rarely ask Him for help.
I never actually said, “Father, can You help me with this?”
If I was struggling to concentrate on Scripture, or unsure what to do with my day, I would vent, process, or reflect — but I wouldn’t ask. Not specifically. Not directly.
And I can’t believe it took me this long to notice.
Scripture actually speaks to this. In James 4:2, the last line says, “You have not because you ask not.”
That verse hit me differently this time
Why Asking Matters
Asking is the one part of my walk with God that I’ve neglected. I’m not sure if it came from some belief I made up — that if I asked God for things too often, I’d be selfish or self‑focused. But James 4:3 gives clarity: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
So there is a heart posture involved.
We can’t ask God for things that go against His character or His commands.
We can’t pray, “Lord, help me win big at gambling,” and expect that to align with His will. (Not the best example, but you get the point.)
But asking for wisdom, clarity, strength, provision, direction — these are things God invites us to bring to Him.
And I’m not the only one who struggled with asking.
King Ahaz did too. In Isaiah 7, God literally tells him, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
And Ahaz responds, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.”
It sounds humble, but it was actually disobedience.
Because God had told him to ask.
Jesus tells us the same thing in Matthew 7:7–8:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you…”
God is not vague about this.
He invites us to ask — whether it’s something small or something as high as heaven.
Jesus even says in John 16:24, “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
So we have both the Father and the Son telling us to ask.
What We’re Allowed to Ask For
If you need wisdom or clarity, James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach…”
If you’re praying for God’s will, you can echo Jesus in Matthew 6:
“Father, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
If you’re overwhelmed, confused, or unsure — ask Him.
A Simple Challenge
So here’s my challenge to you:
Ask God for the small things.
Many of us have never built the habit of asking God for help unless things are dire. We cry out when life collapses, but we don’t ask when life is simply… life.
Start small.
If it’s about to rain and you need to go out, ask God to hold off the rain.
If you’re down to your last $20 for the week, ask Him for favour, provision, or unexpected help.
The Lord wants to help you.
You’ve probably cried out to Him about your struggles, and maybe He’s been whispering back, “Child, you need to ask Me.”
So I hope this encourages you to look at the areas of your life where you haven’t asked God for help — and to begin asking.
Prayer
Father, I come before You and ask for Your forgiveness. I’ve doubted Your willingness and even Your ability to help me. I’ve believed my problems were too small or too insignificant for You to care about.
Lord, remove every trace of disbelief from my life. Any habits, thoughts, or words I’ve spoken over the years that have fed that disbelief — take them away now.
Mold me and shape me into a child who runs to You for anything and everything. Help me grow more comfortable each day in asking You for what I need.
Amen.
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