Top 5 Reasons Why You’re Feeling Drained After Prayer

Prayer is a vital part of the Christian faith, and it’s an essential tool for connecting with God, hearing His voice, and experiencing His presence.

But, sometimes, we may feel drained and exhausted after dedicating time to prayer and intercession. This can leave us wondering and questioning the cause and effectiveness of prayer.

Prayer is a powerful and meaningful act. It can change the lives of the people and cities we’re laboring for, including our own lives. Prayer shapes history, but prayer is labor, and labor can leave us feeling drained, intercessory prayer especially.

We engage in the spiritual realm as we pray and release God’s will on earth. It’s straight-up spiritual warfare. So naturally, the enemy doesn’t like it and will try to exhaust us and discourage us from continuing to pray.

Why you are feeling drained after praying

Someone recently asked, “why do I feel drained after prayer.”

Causes of spiritual fatigue and exhaustion from prayer:

1. Engaging in spiritual warfare
2. Intercessory prayer: Carrying the burdens of others
3. Experiencing Warfare of People You’re Praying For
4. Being in a season of spiritual warfare
5. Not having a proper balance

Engaging in spiritual warfare

We enter the spiritual realm when we worship, exalt Jesus, and pray for others. It’s a spiritual act, and the enemy doesn’t like it. When we release God’s will on earth, It cancels the activities and plans the enemy had in mind to do. Because of this, it’s all spiritual warfare.

Brief Note on Spiritual Warfare

I want to note that spiritual warfare is rarely done by specifically going after demons or principalities. Sometimes, God may lead us to do those things, but doing it outside the Holy Spirit’s leadership is dangerous.

So, if you’ve been confronting demons or going after principalities and God has not led you to do that–that right there could be a sign of why you are going through trouble.

As we pray, we actively fight against the devil and his fallen angels, who want to hinder our relationship with God. They don’t want us to release His will on earth.

In Ephesians 6:12, the apostle Paul reminds us that we are not fighting against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Daniel 10 – Biblical Example

One biblical example is Daniel 10, where the prophet Daniel fasted and prayed for 21 days. During this time, he encountered an angel who described the spiritual battle that was taking place.

He told Daniel that his prayer was heard from the first day Daniel set his mind to gain understanding and humble himself before his God.

The angel also tells Daniel that he was delayed for 21 days in coming to him because the prince of the kingdom of Persia (fallen angelic principality) hindered him. However, this principality was so strong that Michael the archangel, one of the chief princes, came to help him.

It’s important to make the connection between Daniels’s fast and the timeline of the 21-day spiritual battle that took place.

In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.

Daniel 10:2-3

In verse one, a word was given to him, something like a vision, and it says that he understood it. This experience caused him to mourn, not eat, and forsake pleasure.

Unknown to him, his prayers made a difference in the spiritual realm during this fast. It was the same timeframe as the spiritual battle the angel described to him.

The angel also mentioned that there was still a conflict between the holy ones and the prince of Persia but that he would come to help Daniel when needed.

We who would be Christians must surely expect to have the devil with all his angels and the world as our enemies and must expect that they will inflict every possible misfortune and grief upon us. For where God’s Word is preached, accepted or believed, and bears fruit, the holy and precious cross will also not be far behind.

Martin Luther

Keep Pressing Into Prayer & Don’t Give Up

If we are contending for breakthroughs in our own lives or interceding for someone else, it can be normal to feel drained and tired during prayer.

It’s important to remember that we are not alone in the battle.

God is with us and fighting for us.

As we read in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might.” When we feel weak, we can draw on the strength of the Lord to help us keep going.

Remember, our prayers are powerful and effective.

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:16

Even when we don’t see immediate results, we can trust that our prayers are making a difference. In times of spiritual warfare, we must surround ourselves with a community of believers who will pray with us and encourage us to keep going.

Intercessory prayer: Carrying the burdens of others:

Intercessory prayer is when we pray for others, taking on their burdens and pains as if they were our own and bringing them to Jesus–pleading on their behalf. Again, we stand in the gap.

Interceding for someone can be emotionally and spiritually taxing, as we feel the weight of others’ struggles and hardships.

It can be just as emotionally and spiritually rewarding at times too. We get to feel God’s heart for others, experience his perspective, and perhaps, like Daniel, have visions or encounter angels from time to time.

The burden that comes with intercession is not a burden that we bear alone.

Jesus himself, in his humanity, felt the pain and suffering of the world and took it upon himself to the cross. He bore the sins of all mankind, and we are saved through his death and resurrection.

In the same way, when we pray for others, we bring their burdens to Jesus, who can carry them in a way that we cannot.

When we do this, we are participating in the redemptive work of Jesus. So the Bible says in Colossians 4:12, “always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

It’s important to remember that empathy and feeling the pain of others can be a powerful tool God uses in intercessory prayer, as it helps us to pray with a greater understanding and compassion for the person we are praying for.

It can also be draining, so it’s important to pray and ask God to give you the strength and grace to keep going if he has genuinely called you to intercede for someone/something and hasn’t released you.

Experiencing Warfare of People You’re Praying For

The enemy has a specific assignment against every individual believer. You have you’re own unique warfare and spiritual assaults in your life, and I have mine.

When we engage in intercessory prayer for someone else, we can sometimes experience the spiritual warfare of the person we pray for.

Sometimes when we feel the warfare surrounding another person, it can be the gift of discernment in operation (which I won’t cover in this post).

Other times, the enemy will try to intimidate you, and suddenly you’ll find yourself tired and fatigued, trapped under the similar warfare as your prayer target. You may also get hit with any sinful strongholds in that person’s life.

For example, if you don’t have an issue with lust but find yourself struggling with it suddenly, and the person you are regularly interceding for struggles with it, you may find yourself experiencing their warfare. Just trust in Jesus, and let the Holy Spirit lead you in what to do if this happens. There are times the Lord leads us to pray and intercede for someone, and times he doesn’t.

Boundaries & Balance In Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayer can profoundly impact the lives of those we are praying for. It can break the hold of sin and oppression in their lives and bring healing and freedom. But it’s also important to remember that this type of prayer can take a toll on us if we don’t have God’s perspective and are unbalanced.

It’s important to be mindful of our limitations and to set boundaries for ourselves (with the help of the Holy Spirit.) in what we pray for and when we are willing to take on a serious prayer assignment.

Prayer can be a powerful tool for bringing healing and freedom. Still, it can also take a heavy toll on us and leave us spiritually, mentally, and emotionally drained–if not physically.

It’s important to set boundaries and maintain balance in your prayer life, as with all areas of life.

Boundaries look different for everyone, and we sometimes need community and mentors to help us recognize and set limits if you have an extreme personality and go ALL IN when you are committed to someone–its especially important to get feedback from people that know you and whom you trust.

Ask God to help you discern when to step back and take a break and when to press in until you see the breakthrough.

Boundaries can involve setting aside specific times for intercessory prayer and ensuring that we are not neglecting other important areas of our lives, such as our relationships and responsibilities.

Being in a season of spiritual warfare

As believers, we sometimes find ourselves in a season of heightened spiritual warfare. This can manifest in various ways, such as increased temptation, car breaking down, problems in relationships, depression, or just a sense of oppression or heaviness.

Recognizing when you are in a spiritual warfare season and knowing how to stand is important. Because after you’ve withstood, you’re called to keep standing, to put on the armor of God.

God allows bad things to happen in life. However, those times of intense warfare, our refusing to sit down, and our continual standing teach us how to use the armor God has given us. How to use the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, etc.

Exhaustion after spiritual warfare can be overwhelming, but we are not alone in the fight. God has equipped us with everything we need to overcome. Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We are victorious in Jesus, and His victory is our victory.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ephesians 6:13

In moments of spiritual struggle, praying and immersing ourselves in God’s teachings is one of our most important steps. When we are grounded in God’s word, we can be sure that we are not basing our beliefs and actions on the enemy’s lies.

The word of God is the most powerful tool in times of warfare.

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ

Corinthians 10:4-5

We can’t tear down strongholds in our lives and minds if we don’t know the truth. So we need a renewed sense, and we renew our minds by meditating on God and filling it will truth (scripture).

DO NOT ISOLATE YOURSELF IN SEASONS OF WARFARE

It’s important to surround ourselves with the church. Other believers who can support us in prayer, cry with us when we call, encourage us, and warn us if we are in danger of going off or being deceived.

They can help us stay accountable and discern when the enemy is targeting us. We are not meant to fight this battle alone but with others who can help us to remain strong in the Lord.

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Put on the Armor of God

Another way to navigate through a season of spiritual warfare is to be intentional in putting on the spiritual armor that God has given us (Ephesians 6:10-18).

We must recognize our thoughts and emotions and reject any negative thought, feeling, or worldview that conflicts with scripture.

We must remain vigilant against the deceptions of our adversary and protect our hearts and minds.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Proverbs 4:23

It is important to remember that every season of spiritual warfare is an opportunity for growth and God to reveal more of Himself to us. As we trust in Him and rely on His strength, He will be victorious over us to the other side.

We can walk in confidence and assurance, knowing that God is with us and He will never leave or forsake us. He will bring us through the battle and into the victory He has already won for us.

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Not having a proper balance.

Intercessory prayer can be a powerful tool for bringing about spiritual breakthroughs and change. Still, it can also take a toll on our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being if we are not careful to maintain balance.

One of the most common ways this can happen is by taking on too much responsibility for the burdens of others. It is important to remember that as believers, we are called to pray for others, but it is not our job to solve all of their problems or to take on their burdens as our own. Therefore, it is important to discern when crossing the line from intercession to co-dependency.

What may begin as a genuine burden for intercession could turn into taking on things God has not called us to.

The Important of Rest, Self Care, and Physical Health

Another way that balance can be thrown off is by neglecting our own spiritual and physical needs. Therefore, it is important to ensure that we take care of ourselves and maintain healthy boundaries, even as we engage in intercessory prayer. This means setting aside time for rest, exercise, and self-care, as well as making sure we are maintaining healthy relationships and engaging in regular fellowship with other believers.

Additionally, it is important to ensure that we are not becoming consumed by an intercessory burden to the point where it begins to dominate our thoughts and emotions. It’s good to be in the Spirit and pray at all times without season.

It’s one thing if God has given you a burden for someone or something. It’s another thing to take the burden and let it negatively affect your life and relationships.

Some people need wisdom when it comes to this. I learned by making a few mistakes. 😉

What is Balance in Intercessory Prayer?

Ultimately, maintaining balance in intercessory prayer means being mindful of the needs of others while also being mindful of our own needs and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It means listening to God’s still, small voice and being open to His guidance and direction in our intercession. It also means being willing to step back and take a break when necessary.

Scripture also reminds us of the importance of balance in our spiritual lives. For example, in Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This means prioritizing our relationship with God above all else and allowing Him to lead us in all areas of our lives, including intercession.

Balance & perspective is needed to maintain a lifestyle of prayer and fasting and to avoid spiritual burnout.

The root cause of burnout is the failure to draw on the power available from our union with Christ. The heart is continually a battlefield for the spirit and the flesh. If the human spirit does not draw on its union with Christ, it defaults to the flesh. During these battles, the devil whispers in the believer’s ear, “If God really loved you, would He make you suffer like this?” This can cause doubts that may move believers to try to do God’s work for Him.

Archie Parrish

Overcoming Intercessory Prayer Burnout

Final Thoughts

Prayer is a powerful tool that can be used to transform lives, set captives free, and shape history. However, it’s important to remember that it’s not something that should be taken lightly.

Prayer can be physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing, and it’s important to take care of ourselves while engaging in it.

By understanding why we feel drained after prayer, we can arm ourselves against the ongoing spiritual battle.

Remember to take care of yourself, renew your strength in the Lord, and seek God’s guidance and strength as you engage in your prayer times with him.

Related Questions

What should you not do when praying?

• Use prayer to show off and impress others by looking spiritual or piety.
• Pray with a judgmental or critical attitude towards others.
• Use prayer to escape difficult situations or responsibilities rather than facing them with God’s guidance.
• Pray with a sense of entitlement or expectation for God to fulfill our desires rather than seeking to align our hearts and wills with His.
• Pray in a way that is not in line with the teachings of the Bible
• Pray while engaging in sinful or ungodly behavior without repenting and seeking forgiveness.

Prayer is a powerful and intimate communication with God, but it’s important to ensure we approach it with the right mindset and intentions. Avoiding these common pitfalls will help ensure that our time in prayer is productive and meaningful. Remember that prayer is about building a deeper relationship with God and aligning our hearts and minds with His will, not impressing others or getting what we want.