What Prayer Can You Return to on Your Hardest Days?
I recently read something from James Clear that made me stop and think about prayer. When choosing a new habit, he suggests that instead of asking what we can do on our best days, we should consider what we can continue doing even on our worst days.
His advice is simple: “Start small. Master the art of showing up.”
You can read more of James Clear’s reflections on habits in his 3-2-1 newsletter.
When I read those words, I immediately thought about how many of us approach prayer. On our best days, we may imagine ourselves praying an entire Rosary, spending time with Scripture or sitting quietly with God without becoming distracted.
But what about the days when we are tired, worried, running behind or carrying something especially heavy? What prayer can we return to then?
Prayer When Life Feels Heavy
It can be easy to believe that prayer only “counts” when we have enough time to do it well. If we cannot pray the entire Rosary, we may decide not to begin. If we cannot sit quietly for thirty minutes, we may tell ourselves that we will try again tomorrow.
But prayer is not something we have to perform perfectly. It is a relationship, and relationships are strengthened when we continue to show up — even on difficult days.
This is not about doing the least we can for God. It is about finding a simple way to turn toward Him when we do not have much left to give. Sometimes that prayer is one decade of the Rosary. Sometimes it is one familiar prayer. Sometimes it is simply, “Jesus, I’m here. Please stay close.”
Don’t Change Course on the Hard Days
This also reminded me of one of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s rules for discerning the movements of our spiritual lives. His Fifth Rule says, “In time of desolation never make a change.”
Spiritual desolation can leave us feeling discouraged, restless or distant from God. Prayer may feel dry or pointless, and we may be tempted to give up the practices that once helped us remain close to Him.
St. Ignatius advises us not to abandon a good spiritual commitment simply because we no longer feel the consolation we experienced when we made it. If we decided to pray when our faith felt strong, we should not necessarily change course when prayer becomes difficult.
That does not mean forcing ourselves through a long prayer routine when we are exhausted, grieving or genuinely need rest. It means remaining faithful in a way that is possible for the season we are in.
Perhaps the full Rosary becomes one decade. Perhaps quiet prayer becomes one honest sentence spoken to God. The form may be simple, but we continue turning toward Him.
This is where James Clear’s advice and St. Ignatius’s wisdom meet: choose something small enough that you can keep showing up, especially when you do not feel like showing up at all.
One-Decade Rosary Reflection
Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
Jesus carried the Cross knowing the hardest part of His journey was still ahead. Along the way, Simon of Cyrene was called to help Him carry it.
As you pray this decade, bring God whatever feels especially heavy today. You do not need to explain it perfectly or know how it will be resolved. With each bead, you might quietly pray, “Jesus, help me carry this with You.”
Offer the decade for yourself or for someone else who is carrying more than you can see.
A pocket rosary can help make this small beginning more tangible. Keep it somewhere you naturally reach during the day — in your purse, beside your chair, on your desk or in your coat pocket. When you feel the knots or beads, let them remind you that you do not have to pray everything. You simply have to begin.
If praying a decade is new to you, you can follow this simple guide to praying one decade of the Rosary.
Other Prayers to Keep Close
Different prayers may meet us in different seasons. When you need a simple place to begin, choose one familiar prayer that helps you turn your attention back toward God.
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When you feel unsettled or afraid: Pray the St. Michael Prayer. It is short enough to memorize and can be prayed before leaving home, while sitting in the car or whenever you need to ask for protection and strength. If this is a prayer you return to often, the St. Michael Protect Us Traveler Pocket Rosary can help you keep it close in your car, purse or backpack.
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When you are carrying grief or something you cannot fix: Spend a few moments reflecting on one of Mary’s Seven Sorrows. Consider how Mary remained close to Jesus even when she did not understand what was happening or could not change it. Place your own sorrow beside hers and ask her to help you remain close to Him, too.
- When you do not know what to say: Pray one Our Father, slowly repeat the name of Jesus or speak one honest sentence to God. Sometimes a prayer can be as simple as, “Jesus, I’m here. Please stay close.”
These simple prayers are not replacements for a deeper prayer life. They are ways of continuing the relationship on the days when showing up is all you can manage.
A Simple Invitation for the Week
Think about where your hardest moments usually find you. Is it when you first wake up, while driving, during the workday or when the house finally becomes quiet at night?
Choose one prayer that can meet you there. You might keep a rosary near the door, place a pocket rosary in your purse or attach a traveler rosary somewhere you will see it. Let it become a gentle invitation to pause, remember that God is present and begin again.
Some days, prayer may feel peaceful and focused. Other days, it may feel distracted, dry or unfinished. Showing up anyway is an act of faith. It is a way of saying, “God, I may not have much to give today, but I am turning toward You.”
Over time, one decade may lead to a full Rosary. A short evening reflection may become a regular Examen. One familiar prayer may open the door to a longer conversation with God. But that growth does not have to be forced.
Start with the prayer you can return to — not only on your best days, but on the difficult ones, too. God will meet you there.
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Walking with you in faith,
Kathleen
The bottom line….just keep showing up. We all have those days that our best intentions just don’t keep us on track. Sometimes a simple prayers, will keep us going.
Great reflection!
Karen B.
Good advice. Do as much as you can. Just show up! Amen🤗
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