Megan's prayer: Pillar's "Let It Out"

A while ago I was talking with a friend, and he told me it was okay to be mad at God. Although God already knows all my feelings, I had never really thought about getting mad, or yelling at him, during my time of prayer. Growing up, I always went to God with prayers of thanksgiving or prayers for those in need. I never fathomed bringing my anger to God.

But it makes so much sense now. Who else better to bring my frustration to than God? Whether it’s frustration with my family or friends, or even frustration with God and my faith, I think he will be able to handle it. He is the perfect listener. He won’t get angry at the words I say, because deep down He knows that I love him, and at the end of the day, that is what matters.

Even during the darkest hours, even during times that I feel like I don’t want to talk to God, I feel like he will be saying…

Let it out. Don’t hold back now.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Pillar's "Let it Out"

I don't know if we ever really learned to pray

Prayer is something that I'm not really sure you can exactly teach. The elements of praying are easy - Praise, Reconciliation, Asking, and Yes [saying yes to God's answer]. But how will any of us ever know if we are praying "right"? Is there even such a thing? We can never know the answers that God planned for us until they happen and we will rarely know how strong of an impact they have on our lives. For instance, what if we didn't get something we prayed for but got something better? A lot of times, I feel like I am praying wrong. I'm honestly not even sure what I measure it against. I guess I measure it at my own worth...what would make my prayers something that God would want to listen to? What makes them sincere? Are they even? But God does want to hear us, because He cares. I so often and so easily leave out that detail. My prayer is to pray...not right or wrong...just pray. I think this song is onto something. The best praying is just letting it out.

Chris' prayer: Pillar's "Let it Out"

Can You hear me cry?

The last time I cried, or at least the last time I remember really shedding some tears, was about a year ago. I was in the midst of one of the darkest times in my spiritual journey. For the life of me, I could just not find the words to pray. When I tried using others' words, including the songs we sung at Mass, they just felt hollow and shallow and forced. It really sucked not to be able to have real conversation with my Maker. It felt like it was never going to end.

So I wasn't expecting much out of the Adoration experience on the Spring Retreat with my church's youth ministry program. I figured it would be just like the rest of my prayer life. As I sang the songs like I always do, thinking about how much it hurt not to be able to speak, and a tear rolled down my cheek. A few seconds later, another one. And suddenly I was bawling.

I found that my tears, my crying, pushed me to sing even louder and with more heart, and when Carrie, our music minister, ended one song, I just kept on singing, making up the words as I went along, mixing familiar lyrics with original ones. I began to cry even harder, feeling the blessing that was being poured out on me in that chapel as I was connecting with God for the first time in months. Tears of immense sadness and despair slowly became tears of hope and mercy, and then tears of joy and thanksgiving.

Sometimes, when nothing else in the world is able to fix our problems, all it takes is a good cry.


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Marie's Prayer: Pillar's "Let it Out"

And I cry out, "Can You help me, please?"

I hate asking for help. I feel vulnerable and Helpless and I Absolutely hate it. What I need to realize is That I can't do it All on my own. So, for once, I will cry out For God's help, not because I'm desperate, but because God can and will Help me when I ask for it. Instead of trying everything else first And waiting to Ask God until I'm out of options, I will Call upon God first. Because if He can't help Me, no one can.

Catie's prayer: Pillar's "Let it Out"

Let it out, can You hear me?
Can You hear me cry?
Let it out, don't hold back, all this I got inside?

I've felt like this a lot since last night. I talked to my dad last night to find out that my grandma had probably had a mini stroke. I was a mess this morning trying to just offer it up, to let his will to be done. I talked to my mom later in the morning to find out that my grandma was fine and so that calmed my restlessness. I talked to my dad again a few minutes ago to find out my grandma had had a stroke today. She's stablized, she lives in a nursing home and they are not taking her to the hospital but she is okay but not doing great. I always thought I was good about trusting in God, but I've realized today that I'm not as good at it as I thought I was. I know that God's will will happen either way so it would just be easier to submit to God's will and trust that what is meant to happen will, but it is so much harder than it sounds. Giving up control is easier said than done.

So, when I cry out, are You listening?
I know You can hear me, I know You can hear me
You're my Comfort, can You hear me?
I know You can hear me, You're my Comfort

I know that God hears my prayers. I know that God heals, and that he is taking care of all of us. He wants us to want his will for our lives. God help me to accept your will this day and every day.