When life leaves you speechless and you just can’t find the right words to pray, God will always listen to your heart.
No one is exempt from pain and unfortunately there are times in life when we come to the Lord speechless. We stand before God wordlessly muted due to the painful sorrows of life. We can barely breathe, much less give voice to how our heart is broken by loss or paralyzed by great fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Prayer just seems impossible when it feels like we are drowning in despair, fear, pain, sorrow, or shame.
However, when I am made silent or gagged by the circumstances of life, I remember the psalmist’s words: “I am so troubled that I cannot speak” (Ps. 77:4) and realize I am not alone. I read the groans of David and hear them echoed in my own heart, “I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping” (Ps. 6:6). And I realize that what God wants most isn’t necessarily a stream of eloquent words, but “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps. 51:17).
Just the simple act of coming before the throne of grace reveals the contents of our heart. The Lord sees our humble offering and if all we can muster up is “Help me!” that is enough. For as the Apostle Paul encourages, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26-27).
So today my brothers and sisters, when the difficulties of life mute you, remember it is not how well you pray, but that you pray; even with your tears. I hope this message encourages your hearts to know God knows and hears the groans of our heart. When you cry out to him and can hardly string a sentence together, He knows what you long to say. He knows the thoughts and intentions of your heart. He hears beyond the sighs of pain and the tears of brokenness. The Spirit takes our lisps and stutters and makes them holy. Even more, He hears the Spirit interceding for you and me, praying perfect and righteous words on our behalf.
4GIVEN 