When You Are Struggling to Pray: Praying the Names of God

Sometimes our problems can feel so heavy—and we find ourselves so discouraged—that we don’t even want to pray anymore. Praying the names of God can provide the breakthrough you need to really pour out your heart to God again; to remember who he is, and his power for you.

He is your provider, healer, and comforter. The names of God can restore your faith in him when you don’t feel like you have any. They can remind you that he will move on your behalf and is working things out for your good. 

You don’t have to doubt him. Stand strong in who he is—our God is bigger than any problem you have. 

What Are the Names of God and Their Meaning?

The names of God are listed throughout the books of the Bible. They describe the character and aspects of God. God doesn’t change. He is always the same. (Hebrews 13:8) 

Studying the names of God allows you to know him in a more well rounded way, enabling you to live out the greatest commandment: to love God, to love yourself and to love people.

Praying the Names of God

Praying the names and attributes of God confirms his abilities in your heart when you are struggling in your troubles. You can pray the names of God by just simply calling God by one of his names, praising him for that attribute. This rekindles your faith by reminding you of who he is and what he can do for you, and that will bring you out of discouragement and into praise of him. 

“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” (Psalm 148:13, NIV)

In your prayer, you can just utter one of his names and it will break down walls within your heart, letting you remember he can do what you are asking. For instance, he is Jehovah Rapha, the “Lord that heals.” When you are praying and can’t find the words anymore to ask for healing, call out to God with this name Jehovah Rapha and believe that he can do it for you. 

He is still who he says he is in the Bible today; you can call out his names in prayer when you are struggling and proclaim them over your situation. Praying the names of God in prayer will grow your faith and your relationship with God. 

10 Names of God in the Bible and Meaning

Below, you will find a “names of God” list. This includes 10 names of God and their meanings with a Bible verse reference. The names of God are powerful; I pray that knowing them allows you to find more confidence in who God is, helping you to keep praying when you want to give up. 

This is just a starter list of names of God in the Old Testament; you can find so many more of these in the Bible, as well as names of God in the New Testament.

1. El Shaddai

The Lord can do all things for you… but when you don’t go to him in prayer how can you ask him to intervene for you? When you remember the name El Shaddai (meaning “Lord God Almighty”) you will want to pray.

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.’” (Genesis 17:1, NKJV)

God can do all things. He is above it all. No problem is too big for him. Remember this and keep praying.

2. Jehovah Raah

When you are struggling with a problem and need guidance, call on God as Jehovah Raah (meaning “The Lord My Shepherd”) in prayer to know that he will lead you and tell you what to do. 

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1, NIV) 

A shepherd is someone who leads and guides his flock. We are God’s children, his flock, and you can trust that he will lead you and guide you when you are struggling. He is with you and will not forsake you. You can praise him for being your good shepherd. 

Pray for guidance and he will lead you. He will never fail you. 

3. Jehovah Rapha

If you are discouraged because you are battling with a sickness and in need of physical or emotional healing, you can keep praying because God is Jehovah Rapha (meaning “The Lord That Heals”).

“He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.’” (Exodus 15:26, NIV) 

Know that God does heal and he can do it for you. Praise him for this and call on his name Jehovah Rapha, knowing he can heal you if it’s his will. Pray; he can do it. Your faith in him can move mountains. 

4. Jehovah Shammah

God is always there for you, no matter what. In both good and difficult times. When you feel discouraged and don’t feel like he is there anymore, remember he is Jehovah Shammah (meaning “The Lord is There”). 

We see in the book of Ezekiel he was always there for the Israelites—despite their disobedience—and he is always there for you, too, no matter what. 

“…And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there.” (Ezekiel 48:35, NIV) 

When you don’t want to pray, remember God hasn’t left you, he will come through for you. He is Jehovah Shammah and he is there.

5. Jehovah Mekoddishkem

Maybe you have disobeyed God and you made a problem worse… so you are discouraged. God always wants to hear from you in prayer and is merciful and full of forgiveness. He is Jehovah Mekoddishkem (meaning “The Lord Who Sanctifies You”). 

“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” (Exodus 31:13, NKJV) 

He can change you and transform you as you turn from your sins and go to him in repentance. He loves you, no matter what. 

6. El Olam

El Olam (meaning “The Eternal God”) reminds you that God is forever. He was, and is always here. This allows you to know he will never leave you. So going to him in prayer is always the wisest thing to do in your troubles. 

“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God.” (Genesis 21:33, NIV) 

Pray the name of God, El Olam, and know he is eternal. He will never leave you. 

7. Jehovah Jireh

It is so discouraging when you don’t see God answering your prayers right away. But when praying the name of Jehovah Jireh (meaning “The Lord Will Provide”), you will know he always provides for you.

“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’” (Genesis 22:14, NIV)

The Lord provided a sacrifice for Abraham and didn’t allow him to sacrifice his son. He will also provide for you. He hasn’t forgotten you. Keep praying.

8. Jehovah Shalom

Life can feel so hard when problems are plentiful; you may want to give up praying at times. But prayer changes things and it brings peace in the storms. Jehovah Shalom (meaning “The Lord is Peace”) reminds you of this.

“So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” (Judges 6:24, NIV) 

In the presence of God, there is peace—he brings it even when times feel tumultuous. Praying the names of God brings peace.

9. El Roi

Often you can feel like no one sees you or cares. You can think this about God too… so, why keep praying? But this isn’t true. God is El Roi (meaning “The God Who Sees”). 

He saw Hagar in her troubles with Sarah after becoming pregnant with Abraham.

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’”  (Genesis 16:13, NIV) 

God sees you too. He wants to show you this as he answers your prayers and comforts you in your prayers. He is El Roi. 

10. Jehovah (Yahweh)

When things just feel so out of control and you’re discouraged, you will want to pray when you know this name of God: Jehovah (Yahweh) (meaning “Lord”). 

“This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens…” (Genesis 2:4, NKJV) 

Jehovah (Yahweh) will allow you to recall that God is above it all. He can do it all for you but you have to ask him in prayer. He will work things out for your good. 

Knowing the names of God can be very helpful for you when you are struggling to pray. You can find Bible verses with names of God to help you really know more of who God is, and understand his names better. 

10 names of God in the Bible are El Shaddai, Jehovah Raah, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Shammah, Jehovah Mekoddishkem, El Olam, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Shalom, El Roi and Jehovah (Yahweh). Our Lord is so good; praying the names of God will allow you to want to pray when you are discouraged and don’t want to pray.