Praying T.A.C.O.S. – a Fresh Way to Talk With GodSample

Day 5: Self

It’s often easier to pray for others than it is to pray for ourselves.

Maybe we think our needs are too small. Or maybe we’ve convinced ourselves we should have it all together by now. Prayer isn’t about perfection; it’s about honesty. It’s about bringing our real thoughts, emotions, and questions to a God who welcomes them.

I think of a woman named April, someone I’ve had the privilege of meeting through ministry. She walked through one of the hardest chapters a mother can face: watching her daughter spiral into addiction. After trying everything she knew to help, April reached a breaking point. In desperation, she prayed a prayer no mom ever wants to pray: that her daughter would get arrested before her addiction could take her life.

That wasn’t a moment of giving up. It was a moment of letting go.

April’s honesty didn’t push God away. It invited Him in. That raw, vulnerable prayer became the beginning of real surrender, both for her and, eventually, for her daughter.

Sometimes we forget that God cares about what we’re carrying, too. We pour ourselves out for our families, our friends, our communities… but then quietly fall apart inside, not realizing God is asking us to bring our own hearts to Him.

Jesus modeled this in the Garden of Gethsemane. He didn’t pretend. He prayed from a place of deep pain. What followed was supernatural strength to keep walking forward.

So today, don’t overlook your own heart. Don’t disqualify your need because someone else seems to need more. You matter to God. Your voice. Your pain. Your peace.

It’s not selfish to pray for yourself; it’s surrender.

Reflection:
Where have you been holding things together without bringing them to God? What would shift if you invited Him into your own need, not just everyone else’s?

Prayer:
Lord, You know everything I’m holding right now. I don’t want to pretend. I need You to calm my thoughts, lift my spirit, and carry what I can’t. Thank You for being close to those who are worn out and for caring deeply about me, not just the people I pray for. I trust You with my heart today. Amen.

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I pray that this T.A.C.O.S. devotional has encouraged your heart, and I would love for you to explore more resources designed to strengthen your walk with God. Visit KatieHauckMinistries.com for devotionals, testimonies, and powerful tools to help you grow in your faith.