--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without faith there can be no prayer, no…" description: "\"Without faith there can be no prayer, no matter how great our helplessness may be. Helplessness united with faith produces prayer.\" — Ole Hallesby" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42a/ole-hallesby-10454_faith_without-faith-there-can-be-no-prayer-no_1092038.png" --- # Without faith there can be no prayer, no matter how great… ![“Without faith there can be no prayer, no matter how great our helplessness may be. Helplessness united with faith produces prayer.” quote by Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42a/ole-hallesby-10454_faith_without-faith-there-can-be-no-prayer-no_1092038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42a/ole-hallesby-10454_faith_without-faith-there-can-be-no-prayer-no_1092038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42a/ole-hallesby-10454_faith_without-faith-there-can-be-no-prayer-no_1092038.png) > “Without faith there can be no prayer, no matter how great our helplessness may be. Helplessness united with faith produces prayer.” [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. Faith is a prerequisite for prayer; without belief, prayer lacks power, yet faith transforms helplessness into prayerful action. **In simple terms:** Faith enables prayer; helplessness alone cannot. Key Takeaway Cultivate faith to give meaning to prayer. Themes faith prayer helplessness spirituality Mood contemplative hopeful Type theological motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - religious practice - meditation - seeking comfort Key Concepts theology psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - How does faith change your response to helplessness? - Can prayer exist without belief? A Different Perspective Faith may be challenged by doubt or suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-prayer/) [Helplessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helplessness/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Faith in the ability of a leader is of slight service unless it be united with faith in his justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-goethals/faith-in-the-ability-of-a-leader-is-of-slight-service-unless-it-be/) George Washington Goethals > [To put into practice the teachings of our holy faith, it is not enough to convince ourselves that they are true; we must love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/to-put-into-practice-the-teachings-of-our-holy-faith-it-is-not-enough/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [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/) > [Prayer and helplessness are inseparable. Only he who is helpless can truly pray. Your helplessness is your best. prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/prayer-and-helplessness-are-inseparable-only-he-who-is-helpless-can/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [By prayer we couple the powers of Heaven to ou helplessness, the powers which can capture strongholds and make the impossible, possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/by-prayer-we-couple-the-powers-of-heaven-to-ou-helplessness-the/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Helplessness becomes prayer the moment that you go to Jesus and speak candidly and confidently with him about your needs. This is to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/helplessness-becomes-prayer-the-moment-that-you-go-to-jesus-and-speak/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Helplessness is the real secret and the impelling power of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/helplessness-is-the-real-secret-and-the-impelling-power-of-prayer/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/helplessness-is-your-best-prayer-it-calls-from-your-heart-to-the/) [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/) > [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/) > [Listen, my friend! Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/listen-my-friend-your-helplessness-is-your-best-prayer-it-calls-from/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [A saint is to put forth his faith in prayer, and afterwards follow his prayer with faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vavasor-powell/a-saint-is-to-put-forth-his-faith-in-prayer-and-afterwards-follow-his/) Vavasor Powell > [The prayer of faith is a prayer willing to believe and prevail for God's answer in a situation that is utterly impossible. Regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-l-duewel/the-prayer-of-faith-is-a-prayer-willing-to-believe-and-prevail-for/) [Wesley L Duewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-l-duewel/) > [The key that opens the door to the faith is prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-key-that-opens-the-door-to-the-faith-is-prayer/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## 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 Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Without faith there can be no prayer, no matter how great our helplessness may be. 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