Making Space: Wordless Prayer

I’ve been taking a little longer with making space this month. September has felt like the right time to pause hereand notice what needs to be cleared away and what needs to be held close. Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about the changing season that makes me want to breathe deeper and make room for God in new ways.

So here’s a simple practice to try:

Sit quietly for a minute with your hands open in front of you, palms up.

• In one hand, imagine placing everything hard, sad, or scary that you’re carrying. Picture loading that hand up with anything heavy on your heart.

• In the other hand, imagine holding everything you love—anything beautiful, fun, silly, or sacred that brings joy.

Then slowly lift your hands up, offering them to God.

You don’t even need words. The gesture itself becomes a prayer, an embodied way of saying: “I can’t hold all of this on my own. Please carry it for me.” and “Thank You for all this beauty and for being a God who gives good gifts.”

Sometimes, making space means letting go of so many words and simply being with God in a quieter way.

Try It with Kids

This hand-prayer works beautifully with children, too. You can guide them like this:

• Hold out both hands in front of you, palms up.

• In one hand, pretend to put anything that makes you feel sad, worried, or scared. You can “drop” it in your hand like a stone.

• In the other hand, pretend to put things you love: something beautiful, fun, or silly that makes you happy. You can “pick up” these good things and place them in your hand like treasures.

After a moment, lift up both hands together. Tell God, “Here are the hard things. Please hold them for me. Here are the good things. Thank You for giving them to me.”

If children don’t want to use words, that’s okay. The simple action of lifting their hands is a prayer all by itself.