Last week, I wasn’t sure what to write. I started writing on a topic that came to mind, but it seemed as if I was being redundant, as if I had to force words on a page. My intention of this blog is to write what is truly on my heart lately, not something just for the sake of me being able to say, “Well, there’s my post for the week. Mission accomplished.” So, last week I skipped writing a blog. If I can’t give my all into writing an encouraging post, I just won’t write one.

After much reflection this past week, I tried to figure out what this week’s blog was going to be about. As many of my readers may already know, I have Crohn’s Disease, which I highlighted when I first started this blog in February. Last week was one of the worst I have felt physically in quite some time. I felt I had every right to complain about my situation. I was in pain, and obviously, I wanted it to stop.

As I was ready to complain, God placed a song in my head, as if to say, “Hey! I haven’t left you yet, and I’m not going to. I’m right here. Trust in me.” I had tried to find the words to say. I tried to understand with my human mind the situation so that I could ask a precise prayer, but I just didn’t have the words to say and that’s when God reminded me of this song. The song was “Word of God Speak” by MercyMe. As this song played over and over in my head, I meditated on what God was showing me through the words.

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s OK
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Chorus:
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness

Word of God speak

I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

Repeat Chorus twice

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s OK

As I sang this song in my mind, I realized that I don’t always need to have the exact words to say. God knows exactly what I’m going through. As my body felt pain, I began to smile. I smiled because I was reminded of God’s presence. I was overwhelmed with the joy of knowing that my Savior is always there with me. I smiled when I thought of the first two lines. “I’m finding myself at a loss for words and the funny thing is it’s OK.” I don’t need the words to say. God knows them.

Another thing revealed to me in that moment was emphasized by the next two lines, “The last thing I need is to be heard but to hear what you would say.” Sometimes, the best thing to do is to not try and search for the words to pray, but to just listen. Listen to what God has to say. Too often, it’s easy for me to do all the talking to God without listening to what He has to say. Our relationship with God should never be a one-way conversation. There are times when we must speak and times when we must listen.

There are several ways to listen. One, we can just be silent in the midst of God’s presence. Two, we can read His word. Three, we can seek spiritual advice from others. Four, we can listen to what He has to say through others.

Yesterday at church, Bro. Mark talked about going through tests and trials and how those tests help us grow in Christ and help us persevere. He made reference to James 1.

James tells us in verses 2 & 3, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Later in verse 12, James tells us, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Through Pastor Mark, God was telling me that it is the trials that we face that allow us to fully rely on Him, and when we stand firm in our faith and persevere, we can stand the test and conquer any situation.

In one of my first blogposts, I discussed why we should thank God for when we suffer, for when we face trials. We will face trials in our lives, but as Paul tells us “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). These tests that we face help us fully rely on Him and when we persevere through these trials, we build character, and that can give us hope that with God, we can face anything. God showed me these things when I finally decided to listen to what God had to say.

The point I’m trying to make is this: We don’t always need to have the words to say. We just need to be ready to listen to what God has to say to us. The simple fact is that we will never be able to completely grasp any test that is placed in our lives, and we may not have the right words to pray, but that’s okay. God knows exactly what we go through and He is always there with us.

I sometimes may be at a loss for words in any given situation, but the funny thing is, it’s OK!

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MercyMe. Word of God Speak. By Pete Kipley and Bart Millard, 2003. K-Love. Web. 1 June. 2015.

New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 1 June. 2015.

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Word of God Speak by MercyMe

Find You on My Knees by Kari Jobe