How can I pray deeply to God during difficult times?

I have a deep and heartfelt question for you. I've been a Christian for many years. I was once alive with the love of Christ in my heart. But over time, life events got the better of me. I haven't lost my faith in God, but my zest for prayer has dimmed because I've lost friends to sickness and accidents. We pray for people to get better, and still, they die. We pray for people to grow in faith, yet they continue to resist. I've become lost as far as prayer goes. I need a new method of prayer. God has His own plans on how things are going to go, right? My aunt might not get healed from cancer. He might not protect my friends from car wrecks. That friends' son might never see the light. I lost my will to pray. How do you practice prayer? Is there a way to get my heart back into it? I've grown too depressed to ask for healing for people when so many have died anyway. Thanks for holding a space for me to share.