Overcoming 5 Hidden Obstacles to Prayer – C.S. Lewis Insights



A softly rendered portrait in pastel tones of a woman in profile. She wears a light blue robe and a white veil, with hands clasped in prayer, radiating a serene and reverent atmosphere.

Drawing from C. S. Lewis’s insights, this message addresses five key obstacles—Pride, Doubt, Fear, Distraction, and Self‑sufficiency—that weaken prayer and hinder intimacy with God, illustrated through real‑life examples, Scripture verses, and Lewis’s quotations. As we learn to recognize and overcome these barriers, prayer is restored as a living, powerful means for transformation and communion with God.

1. Pride – The Invisible Enemy in Prayer

C. S. Lewis once stated, “Pride is the greatest sin and is completely opposed to God.” This powerful declaration reveals how destructive pride can be—especially in prayer.

Pride is subtle. It masquerades as confidence, strength, and control, quietly infiltrating our hearts and altering how we relate to God. Often, we mistakenly think we are spiritually strong, yet this "silent poison" may actually be distancing us from Him.

God does not desire eloquent words—He desires a humble and contrite heart fully surrendered. But pride resists submission. Instead of aligning with heaven, we expect heaven to conform to us. When prayer becomes our attempt to persuade God rather than to submit, it loses its power.

Pride convinces us we know what’s best, that our timing is perfect, and our struggles are most important. It erodes trust, and without trust there is no rest; without rest, prayer cannot be offered in faith.

Lewis describes pride as “a subtle relocation of me at the center.” In Mere Christianity, he warns that spiritual pride is especially dangerous—even religion can become a means of exalting oneself.

We may preach, teach, and pray about God, yet do so filled with self-centered ambition rather than genuine devotion.

God works when we yield. Scripture affirms, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

2. Doubt – Prayer Weakens When the Heart Hesitates

Lewis did not shy away from discussing doubt. He noted that all believers face uncertainty and drew a vital distinction between questioning to understand and doubting that leads to distrust.

Doubt can become a persistent attitude that saps prayer’s strength. It’s not that God isn’t listening; it’s that we have lost our confidence that He is.

3. Fear – The Invisible Wall Between You and God

Fear, left unoffered to God, becomes a silent prison. It hinders prayer, stifles honesty, and robs courage. “Perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18)

4. Distraction – The Quiet Thief of Intimacy

Distraction is one of the greatest adversaries of prayer. Noise, busyness, and worries steal our awareness of God. Lewis described hell not just as fire, but as noise so loud that souls cannot hear God’s whisper.

5. Self‑sufficiency – When Prayer Feels Unnecessary

Self‑sufficiency arises when we only seek God in crisis and lean on our own strength daily. It is a form of pride, treating God as an assistant rather than our source. “The first step toward God is admitting we cannot live without Him.” – C. S. Lewis

Conclusion – An Invitation to Honest Prayer

The five barriers—Pride, Doubt, Fear, Distraction, Self‑sufficiency—may be real and subtle, but none is stronger than God’s love and grace. He does not require perfect prayer; He desires honest prayer. A broken, trust‑filled prayer is powerful.

Today, choose one principle and put it into practice. Invite the Lord to help you overcome it, and begin a journey of renewed prayer with God.


Korean version: https://deposo.tistory.com/110




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis) - 01

Image
  Preface By the time I had read 166 pages—roughly 48.8% of the total 340 pages—I already felt an urgent need to pause. Even while continuing with the rest, I felt compelled to start organizing what I had read so far. Throughout the book, C.S. Lewis’s insights often burst forth unexpectedly, leaving me in awe, accompanied by fleeting reflections. Before those highly volatile fragments disappeared, I felt the need to preserve them as much as possible. That sense of urgency constantly urged me on, for Lewis’s message was powerful and invigorating. Was this man really once an atheist? It wasn’t until his early thirties that he converted to theism. In the latter half of his 65-year life , he made significant contributions as a Christian apologist, writer, and essayist. He was a storyteller who, having spent the first half of his life in his own world and the second in God’s, “understood God with reason, and felt and expressed Him through imagination.” While reading Mere Christianity, e...
Read more

Birth Rate?

Image
Videos glorifying the joys and fun of raising babies are everywhere. While the intent may be to boost the birth rate, they seem to lack seriousness and sensitivity, which is disappointing. Even when adopting a pet, one must consider whether they have the means and mindset to care for it, and whether they can take full responsibility to the end. Then how much more thought and care should be given when welcoming a human life? The babies who bring such joy and laughter will grow into children, teenagers, and eventually adults. Yet these videos promote only brief moments of happiness, with no regard for the many challenges of living as a child, adolescent, or adult in today’s deeply troubled society. I can’t help but ask: “How many children have you actually raised?” Before promoting childbirth, we must first analyze and improve the reasons behind the steep decline in birth rates. The “next generation” is not just a private matter for families—it’s a collective responsibility of society. I...
Read more

Could I Be a Narcissist?

Image
1. Who Is a Narcissist? A narcissist is someone who exhibits an excessive attachment to and overvaluation of themselves. They tend to prioritize their sense of superiority, desire for recognition, and need for control over the emotions of others. The deeper the relationship, the more confusion and emotional harm they may cause. 2. The Root of Narcissism – The Myth of Narcissus The word "narcissist" originates from the Greek myth of Narcissus . He was so beautiful that many fell in love with him, yet he accepted no one's affection. As punishment from the gods, he became enamored with his own reflection in a pool of water. The problem? It was a love that could never be fulfilled. Unable to look away from himself, he eventually withered away and died or, in some versions, was transformed into a daffodil ( narcissus ) blooming by the water.  Despite variations in the ending, all stories share the same truth: He became so consumed by himself that he ultimately lost who he ...
Read more

An Ant's Everest Exploration

Image
What shall we call ourselves? “Man is the measure of all things.” —Protagoras the Sophist— Are we truly the measure of all things, as he claimed? Here, we have captured what can be seen between one meter above the ground and a space one billion light years away. Let us humbly reflect on the size of the “we” we speak of now, and on what the existence of “we” truly means. Just as an ant takes a step to climb Mount Everest, let us too set off into the vast universe with the small power of science.   
Read more

Yunchan Lim's Performance at Van Cliburn 2022

Image
  I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched these performances by now. To be honest, I was never someone deeply immersed in classical music—not in the past, and not even now. But ever since I encountered this pianist’s performance, something in me began to shift. Even when the pieces weren’t immediately moving or familiar to me, I found myself overcome with emotion, shedding tears more than once while listening to music I once thought inaccessible. And I know—this emotion I feel is, in part, shaped by the visual stimulation of the videos, by the contagious admiration expressed by others, and even by my own self-image, swept up in that shared appreciation. Yet despite all that, his playing—so natural and expressive, so clearly flawless even to someone like me—is undeniably extraordinary. The power and passion, the response from the orchestra and the audience… it’s impossible not to recognize the greatness of these performances. Many of the works he plays are among the most icon...
Read more