Why pray when you can worry?

When my brother Patrick McCormack said this to me recently, I didn’t know what to think.

He mentioned that every time he asks someone "why pray when you can worry," he gets the same startled reaction. He added, “I can’t think of a single time when worrying worked for me, so now I ask people, ‘how’s it working out for you?’”

So why do I invest so much time worrying if it never works?

Too busy to pray

For a long time, I was too busy to pray. Though I wanted to make it part of my day, I didn’t. Life was full—work, family, responsibilities—and I figured I’d get to it later. But “later” never came.

Like the father in the old song Cat’s in the Cradle, I kept pushing off what mattered most, thinking there would always be more time, and I’d get to it. Harry Chapin’s 1974 song, based on a poem by his wife, Sandy, tells the story of a father who keeps putting off time with his son. By the time he’s ready, his son has learned to do the same—he’s too busy for his father.

I think I was around ten years old when I first heard these lyrics:

My son turned ten just the other day. He said, thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.

Can you teach me to throw? I said, not today. I got a lot to do, he said, that's okay.

And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed. It said, I'm gonna be like him, yeah. You know I'm gonna be like him.

As the song goes on, the son grows up and doesn’t have time for his dad. It’s depressing but striking. We don’t spend enough time with the people that matter. "When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when." “But we'll get together then, dad. You know we'll have a good time then.”

But “then” never comes.

When “then” stops being “never”

When I discovered the power of quiet, then became now, not never. I stopped delaying it or failing to fit prayer into my packed schedule like another task to check off. Instead, I just set aside moments to be alone with God, without worrying about doing it right. No perfect words, no pressure—just time.

And in that time, something changed.

Jacques Philippe, in his book Time for God, says prayer isn’t about having extra time—it’s about making time. It’s a favorite book of mine because it’s so encouraging. Just like relationships grow through presence, my connection with God deepens when I simply show up. Time with Him isn’t wasted; it brings clarity, peace, and strength—especially when I feel too busy to pray. In one section of the book, Philippe likens prayer to standing in front of a fire to get warm – it’s not about doing it well but getting warm.

The lesson in Cat’s in the Cradle is a tough one: what we delay today might not be there tomorrow. I don’t want to get to the end of my life and realize I built everything but the one relationship that matters most.

Powerful example from people I respect

I’ve also learned from a lot from close friends and colleagues of mine who rely on prayer. Through their example and encouragement, I have found some simple, practical ways to make prayer a real part of my day—not as a task, but as a source of clarity and peace.

Professionally, there’s always something to worry about whether it is change, the economy, setbacks, workplace conflict, etc. The list goes on and on. Just ask my wife Julie.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil. 4:6)

What encourages me from that verse are the words “in every situation.”

By embracing prayer during the day, I’ve made some small discoveries that have made a big difference:

1. Starting Small—Really Small: I used to think prayer had to be long and structured. But I found that starting with just a few quiet moments—before my day begins, in the car, or even between meetings—helped me build consistency. A deep breath, a simple “God, please help me” and that was enough to shift my focus.
2. Letting Go of Doing It ‘Right’: For a long time, I worried about whether I was praying correctly. Should I be more formal? More structured? Say the right words? But I’ve realized that prayer isn’t about performance—it’s about presence. Some days, it’s a conversation. Other days, it’s just sitting in silence. Either way, it counts.
3. Embracing the “Spare” Moments: I used to think I needed a perfect setting to pray. But I’ve learned that prayer fits into the cracks of my day—walking to a meeting, waiting for a videoconference to start, driving, etc. These small, unplanned quiet moments have become some of my favorites because they remind me that God isn’t just in the big, scheduled times—He’s in the everyday ones too.
4. Not Overthinking It—Just Starting: If I waited for the perfect moment, I’d never pray. The biggest lesson? Just begin. Even if it’s messy or short. Even if I don’t feel like it. Because when I take a moment to step away from the noise and be with God, I always walk away with more peace than I had before.

A final thought: why worry when you can pray?

Like the father in "Cat’s in the Cradle," I don’t want to keep saying, “I’ll get to it later.” I’ve learned that quiet prayer is not something I need to find—it’s something I choose. And every time I do, I realize just how much I needed it.

All to say, I take time for prayer because I know God is there for me regardless of the circumstances I face. I can never be too busy to pray.

The BRIEF Lab Jeremy H. Jamie Moses Phillip Brown Matt Yocum Brian Sperling, PhD William Krebs Mike O'Reilly Peter Kruse Brent O’Bannon MCC, ??Gallup Certified Strengths Coach The Quiet Workplace