I have had my share of deep despair. In times past, I’ve sung my pain in a sigh. These are silent, helpless times. This brings me to the questions: How do you pray without words? In life’s hardest moments, when we can’t speak, does God hear silent prayers?
Maybe you too have had your share of praying without words. How did you feel, and what were you thinking? In my own moments of unspoken prayers, I have had to hold to the fact that faith is more loud than a thousand words.
Faith closes the gap between God and our prayers, and makes way for them to be heard. Jesus taught that it is not through the many words that we pray, that our prayers will be heard. The truth is that God hears our words even when we don’t speak them. He also knows out needs before we ask him for them.
7. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9In this manner, therefore, pray:
In this blog post, let us dig deeper into the question; does God hear silent prayers? Let us look through the Bible to see if there are any instances of unspoken prayers that God answered, and see how they can bless our lives today. Join me and let’s get better together.
What Are Silent Prayers?
Let’s use Matthew 6:7-8 to answer this question. In this verse, the Greek word used for “prayer” is “προσευχή” (proseuchē). This term refers to prayer, supplication, or an offering of worship to God. It is commonly used in the New Testament for earnest communication with God.
The term proseuchē (προσευχή) does not specifically imply spoken words. It refers to prayer in a broad sense, which can include spoken, silent prayers. It might also refer to groanings of the Spirit, as used in (Romans 8:26 – “The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”).
So now we can come up with a definition for silent prayers. We can say that it is when we pray to God without any words.
Understanding Silent Prayers: Do They Reach God?
First of all let me say that God does answer our silent prayers. Now let’s continue. Silent prayers are important because they give us the opportunity to communicate with God when we run out of words.
Imagine if God didn’t hear our silent prayers. How would the person who cannot speak communicate with Him? When we are critically broken, we often can’t find the words to say. In these times, we are most desperate, and our need to reach God is even more.
Many times we are so deeply wounded, that the only thing we can do is moan and groan. For me, there are times when all I can do Is moan, but deep down in my heart I’m really saying “God help me please.”
Hannah knew the importance of silent prayers. She was so bitterly broken that all she could do is cry and pray in her heart. The Bible says that her lips were moving but she did not have words.
Have you ever been like this? When you are so broken that all you can do is cry and pray down in the silence. Have you ever also asked; does God hear silent prayers?.
Biblical Examples of Silent Prayers
There are numerous examples of silent prayers in the Bible. I shared about Hannah, but there are also other characters who have had the need to reach God in the silence. They too have had to learn that God can hear their unspoken words.
1. Abraham’s Servant Prays for a Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:45)
“Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder…”
2. Nehemiah’s Quick Prayer (Nehemiah 2:4-5)Why it’s powerful:
Before responding to the king, Nehemiah sent a quick, silent prayer to God—showing that even in urgent moments, unspoken prayers reach Him.
“The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king…”
3. Jonah’s Prayer in the Belly of the Big Fish (Jonah 2:1)
Jonah was trapped inside a fish, in complete darkness, with no one around. It’s unlikely he spoke his prayer out loud—but God still heard him and delivered him.
“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish.”
Be Encouraged When You Ask: Does God Hear Silent Prayers?
Maybe you have been praying silently for a long time and wondering if God ever hears your deep spiritual whispers. But be encouraged and don’t lose hope. The most powerful part of our prayers is our faith. By our faith we can speak to the hands of God to move for us and act on our behalf. Our faith is so potent that Jesus said by it we can say to the mountain be moved, and the mountain will be moved.
Remember we all have moments when all we can do is moan unto God. He understands our moaning, and He is able to hear our whispers from the darkest places. Finding faith through whispered prayers might be difficult, but know that with God all things are possible.
I pray you find the strength to go on and go the distance. Extend the measure of your faith, and keep pressing until the day you meet with God.
Concluding Thoughts: Answering the Question; Does God Hear Silent Prayers
There is power in our silent prayers. Whether we pray them from deep within, or we utter them with our moaning, our silent prayers are just as effective in reaching God, as long as we pray by faith. We can be assured that God does hear our silent prayers, and He answers them just as much.
It is by faith that we speak to God, and not so much with our spoken words. As we struggle with the question; does God hear silent prayers?, know that He hears you, and He cares for your to the utmost. God bless you and keep you as you remain resilient in this warfare called life.
If you’ve experienced silent prayers, share your story in the comments.
