It’s not uncommon to yawn when you’re tired. However, if you feel tired all the time, it could be a sign of a sleep disorder.
Yawning is a natural reaction to being tired or bored, according to Dr. Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist in Phoenix and author of “The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan: Lose Weight Through Better Sleep.” It’s also thought to help cool down the brain and bring oxygen to it so it can work more efficiently.
But why do people yawn when they’re praying? Here are some theories:
You’re bored. Yawning is often associated with boredom, so if you find yourself yawning while praying or meditating, it could be because your mind is wandering or you need to pay more attention.
Your body needs rest. Yawning is also linked with fatigue — especially during sleep deprivation — so if you’ve been up late or haven’t gotten enough sleep lately (which can happen when you’re praying), this may be why your body is telling you it needs rest by making sounds that sound like snores or gasps for breath (and then opening your mouth wide).
There are many reasons why you may yawn in prayer. Here are a few:
- You’re tired or bored. If you’re not energized by the prayer, it’s not surprising that you yawn.
- You’re nervous about what God might say to you in the prayer. If you think of praying as a way to get something from God, then this is understandable. But if you see it as a conversation with God, then there’s no need for anxiety because God already knows everything about you anyway and loves you anyway, so there’s no reason to fear Him.
- You think that God expects too much from you in prayer. If this is true then your prayers will be riddled with guilt over how sinful and unworthy you feel before God and how much effort it takes just to get through them without falling asleep or giving up altogether! This isn’t healthy either because it turns prayer into another burden instead of an opportunity for grace and peace (Philippians 4:6).
Last modified: October 11, 2022