--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only he who is helpless can truly pray." description: "\"Only he who is helpless can truly pray.\" — Ole Hallesby" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/ole-hallesby-10454_helpless_only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray-2_2679379.png" --- # Only he who is helpless can truly pray. ![“Only he who is helpless can truly pray.” quote by Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/ole-hallesby-10454_helpless_only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray-2_2679379.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/ole-hallesby-10454_helpless_only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray-2_2679379.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/ole-hallesby-10454_helpless_only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray-2_2679379.png) > “Only he who is helpless can truly pray.” [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only those who recognize their helplessness can approach prayer with true humility and openness. **In simple terms:** Helplessness opens true prayer. Key Takeaway Embrace humility to pray sincerely. Themes humility faith prayer Mood contemplative serene Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - spiritual seeking - confession - moments of despair Key Concepts theology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Can vulnerability deepen spiritual practice? - What does it mean to be truly helpless? A Different Perspective If one feels powerless, they may reject prayer altogether. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Helpless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpless/) [Helpless Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpless-truly-2567302/) [Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly/) [Truly Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-pray-2567303/) ## Related quotes > [He only can truly pray who is all aglow for holiness, for God, and for heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/he-only-can-truly-pray-who-is-all-aglow-for-holiness-for-god-and-for/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [“There’s something helpless about truly being in love, the kind of love they write songs about, that inspires poetry and launches ships and wreaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/there-s-something-helpless-about-truly-being-in-love-the-kind-of-love/) [Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/) > [I pray because I can't help myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-i-can-t-help-myself/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-to-open-the-door-unto-jesus-and-admit-him-into-your/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [My helpless friend, your helplessness is the most powerful plea which rises up to the tender father-heart of God. You think that everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/my-helpless-friend-your-helplessness-is-the-most-powerful-plea-which/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Pray to Saint Philomena, What ever you ask from her, She will obtain for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-xvi/pray-to-saint-philomena-what-ever-you-ask-from-her-she-will-obtain/) [Pope Gregory XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-xvi/) > [As the Quakers say, "When you pray, move your feet."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/as-the-quakers-say-when-you-pray-move-your-feet/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [The only people without problems are in cemeteries. If you don't have problems, get on your knees and pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-only-people-without-problems-are-in-cemeteries-if-you-don-t-have/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Anything you pray for, you need to prepare for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/anything-you-pray-for-you-need-to-prepare-for/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Pray, hope, don't worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) ## More by Ole Hallesby > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-to-open-the-door-unto-jesus-and-admit-him-into-your/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [It is God's will not only to hear our prayer, but to give us the best and the richest answer which He, the almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/it-is-god-s-will-not-only-to-hear-our-prayer-but-to-give-us-the-best/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Our prayer life will become restful when it really dawns upon us that we have done all we are supposed to do when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/our-prayer-life-will-become-restful-when-it-really-dawns-upon-us-that/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [To strive in prayer means to struggle through those hindrances which would restrain or even prevent us entirely from continuing in persevering prayer. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-strive-in-prayer-means-to-struggle-through-those-hindrances-which/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Helplessness united with faith produces prayer, for without faith there can be no prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/helplessness-united-with-faith-produces-prayer-for-without-faith/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [The shower of answers to your prayers will continue to your dying hour. Nor will it cease then. When you pass out from beneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/the-shower-of-answers-to-your-prayers-will-continue-to-your-dying/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Praise lies upon a higher plane than thanksgiving. When I give thanks, my thoughts still circle about myself to some extent. But in praise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/praise-lies-upon-a-higher-plane-than-thanksgiving-when-i-give-thanks/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [If God does not give you something you ask for, wait on Him. He will speak with you tenderly and sympathetically about the matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/if-god-does-not-give-you-something-you-ask-for-wait-on-him-he-will/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [We need to learn to know Him so well that we feel safe when we have left our difficulties with Him. To know in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/we-need-to-learn-to-know-him-so-well-that-we-feel-safe-when-we-have/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Praise lies upon a higher plain than thanksgiving. When I give thanks, my thoughts still circle around myself to some extent. But in praise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/praise-lies-upon-a-higher-plain-than-thanksgiving-when-i-give-thanks/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [To pray is nothing more involved than to open the door, giving Jesus access to our needs and permitting Him to exercise His own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-nothing-more-involved-than-to-open-the-door-giving-jesus/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [When we succeed in truly thanking God, we feel good at heart. The reason is that we have been created to give glory to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/when-we-succeed-in-truly-thanking-god-we-feel-good-at-heart-the/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [A humble and contrite heart knows that it can merit nothing before God, and that all that is necessary is to be reconciled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/a-humble-and-contrite-heart-knows-that-it-can-merit-nothing-before/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Jesus is moved to happiness every time He sees that you appreciate what He has done for you. Grip His pierced hand and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/jesus-is-moved-to-happiness-every-time-he-sees-that-you-appreciate/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [If we will make use of prayer to call down upon ourselves and others those things which will glorify the name of God, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/if-we-will-make-use-of-prayer-to-call-down-upon-ourselves-and-others/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) [Explore all 65 Ole Hallesby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) ## More Helpless quotes > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What we need as Christians is to be able to feed ourselves. How many there are who sit helpless and listless, with open mouths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-we-need-as-christians-is-to-be-able-to-feed-ourselves-how-many/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And I feel so helpless here. Watch my eyes are filled with fear.~~~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-i-feel-so-helpless-here-watch-my-eyes-are-filled-with-fear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [I know it's not good to be weak and helpless. But I don't think it's good to be too strong either. In our society,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/i-know-it-s-not-good-to-be-weak-and-helpless-but-i-don-t-think-it-s/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [“Hopeless and helpless doth AEgeon wend, But to procrastinate his lifeless end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/hopeless-and-helpless-doth-aegeon-wend-but-to-procrastinate-his/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Of her own experience she had no memory of the thing happening; but in her instinct, which was the experience of all mothers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/of-her-own-experience-she-had-no-memory-of-the-thing-happening-but-in/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if Ultimate Reality, as if the sustaining frame of existence were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/there-are-always-those-who-take-it-upon-themselves-to-defend-god-as/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [I've never been helpless, I just have powerful enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-ve-never-been-helpless-i-just-have-powerful-enemies/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“But there you are. Helpless. Unable to defend yourself. Vulnerable. Victim.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-laurens/but-there-you-are-helpless-unable-to-defend-yourself-vulnerable-victim/) [Jennifer Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-laurens/) > [To cut off the sinner from all reliance upon himself, his merits and his powers; and throw him, naked and helpless, into the hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichabod-spencer/to-cut-off-the-sinner-from-all-reliance-upon-himself-his-merits-and/) [Ichabod Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichabod-spencer/) > [“Christianity would be helpless without the idea of free will and the idea of free will would be helpless without incongruity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/christianity-would-be-helpless-without-the-idea-of-free-will-and-the/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Children also have artistic ability, and there is wisdom in there having it! The more helpless they are, the more instructive are the examples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/children-also-have-artistic-ability-and-there-is-wisdom-in-there/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Do you feel that you have lost your way in life? Then God Himself will show you your way. Are you utterly helpless, worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/do-you-feel-that-you-have-lost-your-way-in-life-then-god-himself-will/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) [Browse all 806 Helpless quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpless/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only he who is helpless can truly pray.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ole Hallesby" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Helpless" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/ole-hallesby-10454_helpless_only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray-2_2679379.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/ole-hallesby-10454_helpless_only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray-2_2679379.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/ole-hallesby-10454_helpless_only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray-2_2679379.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only he who is helpless can truly pray.” — Ole Hallesby", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ole Hallesby", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only he who is helpless can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/only-he-who-is-helpless-can-truly-pray/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```