We're sorry that you get very nervous talking to God even though you became a Christian when you were seven or eight. We wonder if you've been disappointed in your spiritual growth as a Christian since that time. If so, do you expect God to be disappointed in you, also?

Perhaps, you're misunderstanding God's character. God is infinitely loving, kind, gentle, and nurturing. He understands you and your weaknesses much better than you understand yourself. Even though He understands you, He never is impatient with you.

God has been sustaining you in your Christian faith and He yearns to hear you share yourself with Him. He yearns to hear you tell Him that you are struggling to pray. He yearns to hear you tell Him anything that is on your heart -- the joys, the hopes, and the fears.

Jesus did that kind of humble sharing with His Father when He walked on the earth. Jesus did not share with His Father only when He felt strong and capable. In fact, shortly before He was arrested and sentenced to die, Jesus told His Father that He did not want to suffer and die. Jesus was under such strain about His impending death that "his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground" (Luke 22:44). So when Jesus was under stress, He brought it to His Father, and we should do the same.

You wrote that it seems nothing will work to solve your problem with prayer and with your relationship with God. We often face problems which seem so complex that there is no human solution. Billy Graham has said, "When I confront one of these seemingly 'insoluble' questions, I use our Lord's advice. 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you'" (Matthew 7:7). I find that the Lord never allows a problem for which He does not provide an answer.

"Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by the problem itself that we lose the capacity to seek and find the solution He always gives. My advice is: When you have a problem that defies human solution, sit down, lie down, or kneel down, and say something like, 'Dear Lord, this problem is beyond me. But I know it is not beyond you because you are all-wise. And I know you are as concerned as I am about this problem (or maybe even more). So, I come asking you for a solution. Thank you in advance for giving it to me.' Time after time the answer, and a good answer, will come. God has no problems, only plans.

The Bible says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Try it! You'll find that He really does.