A letter to God is what it sounds like. You write to God the way you would write to someone you trust. You start with “Dear God” and say what is actually on your mind. It is prayer on paper, and you do not need special words, a certain amount of faith or a tidy life to begin.
By the end of this guide you will know how to write your first letter in about 20 minutes. You will also know what to do when the words will not come, and how to write honestly when you are hurting, doubting or not sure anyone is listening.
Why write to God at all
Many people find that silent prayer drifts. You start with one worry, end up making a grocery list, and wonder where the time went. Writing slows you down. You finish each sentence before the next one starts, so your thoughts get a little more room.
A letter also lets you be honest in a way that can feel hard out loud. The Psalms are full of this kind of honesty, and one of them invites it directly: “Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:8). Pouring out your heart is not the same as presenting a polished self. It means letting the real thing out.
If you are unsure about faith, a letter to God can still be a place to start. You might write, “I don’t know if you’re there, but I want to tell you what this week was like.” That is an honest sentence, and honesty is a fine place to begin.
How to write your first letter
You need a pen and paper, or a notes app if typing feels easier. Give yourself about 20 minutes somewhere you will not be interrupted.
- Settle for a minute. Breathe slowly a few times and let the day catch up with you.
- Write the greeting. “Dear God” works, and so do “Lord,” “Father” or simply “God.” Use the name that feels true to you.
- Say what is going on. Start with plain facts: what happened today, what you keep thinking about, who is on your mind.
- Say how you feel about it. This is usually where the letter opens up. “I’m tired of pretending I’m fine” is a complete prayer.
- Ask for what you need. Be specific if you can. “Help me” is honest. “Help me stay calm when I talk with my sister on Saturday” gives you something to look back on.
- Name one thing you are thankful for, even a small one.
- Close however feels right, and sign your name.
Paul’s letter to the Philippians gives a similar shape: “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6). In that verse, asking and thanking sit side by side. They can sit together in your letter too.
On a full day, try a five-minute version. Write three sentences: one about what happened, one about how you feel and one about what you need.
When you are angry, doubting or feel nothing
Some letters come out gentle. Others come out sharp, and that is allowed. Psalm 13 opens with a complaint many people recognize: “How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1).
That psalm does not stay in one place. In just six verses it moves from complaint to trust, ending with this: “But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.” (Psalm 13:5). Your letter does not have to make that move in one sitting. Some days you will only get as far as “How long?” and that is still a prayer.
Here are a few honest openings for hard days:
- When you are angry: “I’m angry, and I’d rather tell you than pretend.”
- When you are doubting: “I’m not sure what I believe right now. Here is what I do know.”
- When you feel nothing: “I don’t feel close to you today. I’m writing anyway.”
- When you are grieving: “I miss them so much I can hardly write this.”
Dry seasons, when prayer feels flat or unanswered, are a normal part of a life of faith. Writing through one does not mean you are doing it wrong. If doubt is where you are, our prompts for seasons of doubt offer gentle places to begin.
Shapes your letter can take
There is no wrong way to write a letter to God. When the blank page feels heavy, try one of these shapes.
| Shape | What it looks like | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| The everyday letter | A plain account of your day and what you need | Most days |
| The one-line letter | A single honest sentence | Busy or tired days |
| The psalm letter | The pattern of a psalm, in your own words | When you cannot find a starting point |
| The thank-you letter | Only gratitude, nothing asked | When you want to notice what is good |
If the psalm letter appeals to you, our guide to using the Psalms as journal prompts walks through it. For more on writing before God without holding back, see journaling the heart.
Keeping, rereading or letting go
What you do with a letter after you write it is up to you. Some people keep every letter in one notebook and reread them months later. It can be moving to find a request from a hard week and see how things changed, or how you did.
Others prefer to write and let go. You might fold the page into a drawer, or tear it out once you have prayed it. Both are fine. If your letters hold tender things about yourself or other people, our guide to keeping a journal private has practical ideas.
If letters become a regular part of your prayer life, how to keep a prayer journal covers simple ways to pray on paper most days.
Three prompts to try
- Begin with “Dear God, what I haven’t said out loud is…” and keep writing for five minutes.
- What would you write to God if you only had to be honest, not polite?
- Write about one specific request, then add what you hope to notice about it a month from now.