On Our Knees: A 5 Day Devotional on PrayerSample

God Hears Us ... Even When We Don’t Have the Words

In my search to learn more about prayer, I found myself resting in the words of the Exodus story when the people groaned to God. The Bible tells us that God hears His people when we turn our hearts toward Him, and He always responds to what is happening in our lives. I know what it is like not being able to speak words. I went through a short time in my career when I lost my voice and wasn’t sure if it would return. I was told I wouldn’t be able to talk or sing for six months. For me, it was a time of challenges and of spiritual growth. But it also made me realize how much we all take for granted the luxury of expressing ourselves with words.

I have friends who have gone through tragedy in their lives when there weren’t words enough to express their feelings. When I read about God’s faithful response in Exodus, it brought me hope to know that we serve a God who loves us so much and knows us so intimately that words are an accessory to our relationship with Him—He doesn’t need them.

That said, God knows your heartache, your pain, your grief, and your anxieties. He also knows your joy, fulfillment, peace, and contentment. Maybe it’s worth considering that the words we use aren’t what’s most important. Maybe God simply responds to what is in our hearts. I believe that the words we use to pray are beautiful, but they aren’t necessary. Maybe it is time to sit quietly before God and know that no matter what season of life we are experiencing, He will hear and respond to our heart's deepest needs and longings.

TODAY’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, may I remember that my heart is laid bare before You today. Even if I don’t have the words to pray, even if I cannot speak through the grief or the joy I am experiencing, You see me, You hear me. May I truly come to know that You love me and are concerned about every detail of my life. Amen.

RESPOND

Think of how a child cries out when they are in distress and parents run to them. Do you know that your heavenly Father does the exact same with you?