How can I pray to God in difficult circumstances, and is prayer alone sufficient to confront problems without action, and what is the difference between taking means, reliance (on God), and supplication?

There is no specific formula for supplication (Du'a), but among its manners are to begin by praising Allah and invoking blessings upon His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) heard a man supplicating without glorifying Allah the Almighty or invoking blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him). So, he said: "This one was hasty." Then he said: "When one of you supplicates, let him begin by glorifying his Lord, Exalted and Glorified is He, and praising Him. Then let him invoke blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), and then supplicate for whatever he wishes."

Some times are better for supplication, such as the last third of the night, at the time of the Adhan (call to prayer), between the Adhan and the Iqamah (call to commence prayer), after the prescribed prayers, when the Imam ascends the pulpit on Friday until the prayer is concluded, and the last hour after Asr (afternoon) prayer.

Supplication is a great means of achieving what is desired, and it does not depend on taking material means. Rather, it is the strongest of means, and it is by Allah's decree that means lead to their effects. Ibn Al-Qayyim said: "Supplication is among the strongest of means."

Reliance on Allah (Tawakkul) does not contradict taking means, for Allah created both the means and their effects. Sheikh Taqi al-Din said: "Turning to means is shirk (polytheism) in Tawhid (monotheism), and obliterating means from being means is a deficiency in intellect, and turning away from means altogether is a flaw in the Sharia."

A person should have a good opinion of Allah, accustom himself to patience and contentment while taking all possible means, and trust that Allah's management for him is better than his own management for himself.