When Your Prayer Life Gets Unplugged

Margaret Gartlgruber explains how an unplugged lamp helped her understand a problem with her prayer life.  

My brother went through a phase in which, thinking he'd save money on his electric bill, he unplugged every single appliance when not in use. The only problem: He failed to mention this to me when I was there for an overnight visit. So there I was in the guest room, struggling to turn on a lamp that wouldn’t work. I tried all sorts of things to get it to turn on. I checked the knob, screwed the bulb in tighter, then remembering a stash of replacements in the utility room, I even changed the light bulb.

Nothing.

I gave up and went to bed.

Lying there I could not let this go. It finally hit me: “Is it even plugged in?” Feeling around in the dark for the cord, I discovered it was not. I felt pretty stupid.

Obviously, I should have checked the plug first.

This has been my prayer life lately. The light was just not working. I was doing all of the right things but for some reason my prayers were not connecting to my heart. Praying at church recently, I wondered what was wrong.

Then I remembered that lamp.

Just like that lamp was not plugged in, neither was my prayer life.

My prayer had become unplugged. Have you ever felt like this?

What Unplugs Prayer? How Can We Plug Back In?

I know what you are thinking, “What do you mean? Just plug it into the outlet. How hard can that be?” While sometimes this is all that is needed, other times it is a bit more challenging. Why did my prayer become unplugged?

Time Is Money

My brother unplugged the lamp thinking it might save money. Could the same be said in prayer? Money motivates. And if time is money, then is prayer a waste of time? Shouldn’t we do something more productive with our time?

I have actually discovered the opposite in my own life. Taking the time for prayer, especially in the morning, can make us more productive. When I prioritize morning prayer, I am actually getting a lot more done! I am more focused and energized, less prone to fatigue and anxiety. I am not the only one. I have heard many others also say, “Time seems to multiply when we make time to pray.”

Jesus even demonstrates this need for prayer many times:

But he would withdraw to deserted places to pray. (Luke 5:16)

Out of Reach

Sometimes it just seems that God is just too far away. Like when the lamp cord just doesn’t reach the outlet. How could something as simple as a small prayer reach Him?

Some people say that this is when our prayers reach Him the most! We don’t need to “feel” anything to reach out to Him. When I whisper (or shout), “Jesus, help me,” He reaches back.

Jesus proves this to us with Peter. Peter is boldly walking on the water in a storm to Jesus but suddenly gets afraid and starts to sink:

He cried out, "Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him. (Matthew 14:30-31)

Outlets Are Full

Have you ever run out of places to plug things because they are all being used? Our lives can be like this too. We are simply too busy, too distracted.

The devil doesn’t only tempt us with bad things. Sometimes he dangles bright shiny objects like service, ministry, and volunteer work. We tell ourselves it is “ok” and “good.” After all, we are “serving Christ!” We can get so bogged down with our apostolates, ministries, and good works that we no longer have quality time to spend with God — or anyone else, for that matter.

Something has to be unplugged. Not everything we do is needed or necessary.

Jesus teaches this to us with Martha and Mary. Martha is super busy serving the
ACTUAL Christ. She gets super mad at her sister for just sitting there with him and not helping her. She goes to Jesus and he helps her understand:

"You are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part." (Luke 10:41-42)

Bent Prongs

I always get frustrated when I can’t get the plug in the outlet. When I finally look at the plug, I discover the prongs are bent.

Maybe I am bent.

Maybe it is time for Confession.

Jesus shows us this with the poor woman who was crippled and bent completely for 18 years. When she encounters Jesus, she is healed and made straight:

When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. (Luke 13:12-13)

Plugging Back In

Finding a way to plug my prayer life back requires examining the plug and the power source, then making the adjustments necessary to reconnect.

Here are some ways to begin:

• Reach out to Jesus, saying, “Jesus, I need you!”
• Prioritize morning prayer.
• Go to Confession.
• Take something off your plate.

There was nothing wrong with that lamp. When I plugged it back in, it worked just fine.

The same is true of our prayer life. We just need to plug back in.

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Copyright 2026 Margaret Gartlgruber
Images: Canva