From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalms 61:2
The word translated “faint” here is sometimes translated “overwhelmed” (NLT, NKJV). It has the sense of anguish, exhaustion, and complete lack of strength or will to go on. It is when one hits bottom, with no strength to carry on. In our lives we generally don’t hit this wall very often—but when we do, it is truly a great opportunity to grow in prayer!
There are times our prayers to God are reduced to a whisper, for we are brought so low and are humbled so deeply:
You will be brought low; from the earth you shall speak, and from the dust your speech will be bowed down; your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost, and from the dust your speech shall whisper. Isaiah 29:4
The very nature of faith is to trust “away from ourselves to another”. So faith is very powerful when the spirit is very low and without strength. Why do you think that it often requires such dramatic “strippings” before we are compelled to look for help away from ourselves?