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When we go through trials do we talk to God as much as we talk to our family and friends?

Something really difficult just happened, and you’re feeling confused, conflicted, frustrated, and stressed—really stressed. You don’t know what to do to move forward, and you need guidance. The first person you think to talk to is your best friend, who has been through something similar. Surely she’ll have good suggestions. After talking to her, you still feel like you need help. You call your parents, and they give the best advice they have.

We’ve all probably had multiple experiences like that. When we experience trials and times of trouble, the first people we reach out to are those close to us: parents, friends, and leaders. How often do we talk to God in those situations? In “The Supernal Power of Prayer,” Elder Richard G. Scott ways, “It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment.”

Yet, for some members of the Church it’s hard to kneel down and talk one-on-one with God. Perhaps they feel they’re not receiving answers to their prayers. Perhaps they don’t believe that God will listen to them. It’s not uncommon to feel far away from God and from receiving answers. In fact, Elder Scott explains, “I have discovered that what sometimes seems an impenetrable barrier to communication is a giant step to be taken in trust. Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity.”

So, the next time you turn to family and friends for advice, I hope you’ll also turn to God through earnest prayer. It doesn’t matter if you don’t even remember the last time you said a heartfelt prayer. Simply pour out your heart to God. As you open your eyes, you may find that you feel a little better. You may receive direct guidance on what you need to do in your current situation, or you may simply receive reassurance that somehow things will work out. And as you continue to pray, you’ll receive more comfort and more direction, because God will help you when you turn to him.

Read the entire talk “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer,” by Elder Richard G. Scott, to learn more about prayer.

Source: LDS General Conference

—Miranda Christensen, Mormon Insights

feature image by joshua earle

Find more insights:

To explore more about connecting with God when he feels far away, read Marvin J. Ashton’s talk “Know He Is There.”

To learn how to keep God in your life through prayer, read Bonnie H. Cordon’s talk “Trust in the Lord and Lean Not.”