BOOK RECAP:

Do you struggle with prayer? Many of us do to one degree or another. Praying is a common weakness in the church today. We assume everyone knows how to pray, but nothing could be further from the truth. Most people feel uncomfortable and use excuses such as: “I don’t know how to pray,” “I’m too tired to pray,” “My prayers are too immature,” or “Prayer won’t help my situation.” Sadly, many of us walk away from prayer rather than drawing near to the Lord. We are unable to experience its full power because our insecurities, anxieties, and self-doubt hold us back. The silent magnitude of our struggle begs the question, “Is prayer really that important, or am I fine without it?”

“Distant From God: Why The Struggle To Pray Is Real” is a 40-day devotional designed to address the importance of prayer, why we struggle to pray, and how we can build a deeper relationship with Jesus. Using examples from the author’s life, each chapter unpacks twenty popular lies the enemy tempts us to believe while also providing answers from Scripture to refocus our attention on the Holy Spirit. Whether you are someone who doubts the power of prayer, or someone who is looking to deepen your spiritual life, this book will challenge and encourage you to lift your heart to God and grow in your understanding of prayer.

FOREWORD:

As a wilderness survival instructor, I teach people the essential skills they need to survive in wild and unforgiving places. The truth is that the wilderness isn’t limited to the woods. Each of us is thrust daily into the wilderness of life. There are seasons of uncertainty, hardship, and challenge. And just like in the backcountry, we need survival skills to make it through.

For the believer, prayer is at the top of that list. Like any skill, it must be practiced, refined, and relied upon, especially when the storms roll in. Not the polished kind of prayer. I’m talking about the real kind. The kind that comes from deep places. The kind you whisper when you’re tired, scared, or standing at a crossroads. The kind that isn’t scripted, but sacred. It’s raw. It’s honest. It’s survival-level soul talk.

For over twenty-five years, I have taught people how to meet their basic needs—shelter, water, fire, and food. But long before I teach anyone how to trap a rabbit or purify creek water, I try to help them understand that survival isn’t just about the body. It’s about the mind, and it’s definitely about the spirit. When you’re cold, wet, and alone in the woods, it’s not your survival gear that will sustain you. It’s your perspective. And for the follower of Jesus Christ, that perspective is shaped by a life rooted deeply in prayer.

This devotional meets you right where you are. It’s not lofty or filled with theological jargon but raw and real. It offers forty simple but profound reflections on prayer with honest examples from Dan’s life to help you navigate your wilderness. These reflections guide you on how to approach it, grow in it, and return to it when life gets unpredictably wild. It covers everything from gratitude and trust to confession and waiting. Each day, it gently reminds you that prayer isn’t a performance—it’s a relationship. A daily, ongoing, open line to the Father who created you, knows you, and loves you.

CREEK STEWART | Survival Instructor, Keynote Speaker, Author & TV Host