The Romans 8:26 (NIV)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
You lift your hands to worship, but you cry a stream of tears instead, not knowing what or how to say what is cutting through your wounded heart because words just aren’t enough. You throw in hard and deep sighs while your eyes are trying to stay focused on the road while driving but your mind is just screaming all the why’s and how’s, the could have – should have – would have – been’s.
You whisper these unspoken, desperate pleas to be saved from unbearable situations that seem almost impossible to get out. You swallow pain that thugs your chest as feel the warmth escaping your loved one’s body, you stare blankly in disbelief but your soul is crushed and wailing.
You are at your weakest and in your most vulnerable state, face buried between cold sheets – later lips, almost kissing the floor . . .
Darling, I know it’s not okay. But also believe that you don’t always need to know the words and prayers to say.
You don’t have to travel far or even book a reservation to see Him. You don’t need to set an appointment, you don’t even need to line up and wait for your turn. You are His, you were bought with a price and that price is the cross.
You are too precious for Him to not hold. Your tears, sighs and whispers are prayers too.
You were made to believe at some point that He is unreachable because He is a God who looks down from the throne He sits, and that He only listens to those with offerings at the altar. Sometimes you think prayers are best heard by the Lord when you proclaim them with boldness or sing in majestic hymns.
You think that He hears you more when you are inspired by scripture, or when you pray with eloquence. You think that His presence is most felt when you’re in the zone of focused quiet time with Him and meditating on His word.
You feel He is distant when your words can’t seem to reach Him because there is no response, or sign of comfort. You feel He is not there because you think you’re undeserving of His attention, and that you are forsaken.
My dearest, the Lord is more than who you think, and how you feel. He is not limited by how we see Him, neither is He intimidated by our complaints. He is God yet He cares for you.
He is Lord yet He will rescue you. In the darkest valleys, while whimpering the faintest of cries, you will find Him exactly where you are.
He is there to meet you, He is there to strengthen you. And with eyes full of love and peace, He is there stretching out His scarred hands –
“Come to me, child. My sweet, sweet love…. Don’t you know that your tears, sighs and whispers are prayers too?”
Romans 8:26 promises you that In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
He knows, even before you try to speak. How could He not, when He knows you inside-out? The deepest desires and yearnings of your heart, He knows. The hidden fears you can’t even talk about openly, He knows.
The self-denial and attempts to self-sabotage, He knows. The problems you can’t even share with people closest to you, He knows. The debts you’re afraid to face, He knows.
The triggers and the trauma, He knows. The weakest and most vulnerable parts of you, He knows. The prayers you can’t pray, He knows. Because your tears, sighs and whispers are prayers too.
You can rest in His promises, you can find comfort in His Word, and you can trust who He is, what He has done and what He will do.
Remember that you are fearfully, wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14) He knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb, He set you apart (Jeremiah 1:5). There is nothing you can hide from Him (Hebrews 4:13) He will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6) He will uphold you with His righteous hand (Isaiah 41:10) .
