An honest prayer for help
Crying out is prayer without pretending. It is what happens when trouble is real and you bring it to God rather than hiding from him. Sometimes that prayer may be spoken aloud. At other times, it may be a quiet thought, a few broken words, or tears when you cannot explain what hurts.
David cried to the Lord while surrounded by danger, and he described God as hearing his voice and coming to his aid (Psalm 18:6). Israel groaned under cruel slavery in Egypt, and God heard their cry and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 2:23-25). Their pain was not ignored.
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
You can bring the truth
Crying out to God is not the same as demanding that he do exactly what we want. It is coming to him as he really is, and coming as we really are. Hannah was deeply distressed because she had no child, yet she poured out her soul before the Lord rather than concealing her anguish (1 Samuel 1:10-11).
That kind of prayer can include grief, fear, confusion, repentance and longing. God knows the heart already, but prayer draws us into honest dependence on him. A broken and humbled heart is not something God despises (Psalm 51:17).
When you don't know what to say
There may be moments when even a simple prayer feels beyond you. The Bible makes room for that. Paul says the Holy Spirit helps believers in their weakness, including when they do not know how to pray as they should (Romans 8:26).
So you do not need impressive language. You might begin with, “Lord, help me,” “Lord, have mercy,” or “Lord, I don't understand.” Jesus himself prayed with strong crying and tears during his suffering, bringing his request to the Father (Hebrews 5:7). He understands sorrow from the inside.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Keep turning towards God
Crying out to the Lord is an act of faith because it turns your attention towards God in the middle of need. His answer may bring rescue, wisdom, peace, endurance, or a call to take the next faithful step. Jesus encouraged his disciples to ask, seek and knock, continuing to come to their Father (Matthew 7:7-8).
If you are carrying something heavy, try praying plainly today. Tell God what has happened, what you fear, and what you need. Then keep reading the Psalms, where many people found words for pain and hope. And if you are struggling right now or feel unsafe, please speak with someone you trust or contact a local crisis support line as well.