On Waiting, Silence, and When we run out of things to say in our prayers

First off, I just wanted to thank you to each and every one of you who have commented, reached out, talked to me in person or in social media about our post on our journey. I am so incredibly blessed and humbled, and I praise God for each of you. Clement asked that I start writing our story on the blog, so that we could give you a glimpse of this journey, but the response has been incredibly overwhelming, and completely unexpected. So, we thank you. 

My family created a tradition that we would gather around once a week (and it’s Thursdays for us) so that we could say thanksgiving and also share our prayer requests. It’s like a weekly check-up of sorts, so we know how to pray for each other as a family. It’s really taught us the value of really looking back at your week and identifying those moments that you are thankful for. Not just major events or accomplishments, just anything that you’re thankful for. Especially at this time of trial, God’s really been opening our eyes to be thankful about everything.

But one thing we’ve found a little challenging is the “prayer request” section. We go do a round-table of everyone sharing what do you want us to pray for you this week?

And I guess because what we’ve been asking for hasn’t changed for quite some time, we can’t help but go…. blank. My friend K, who also suffers from a painful chronic disease, share the same sentiment. That sometimes, when we pray, we just go “Lord, _______.” And we just sit there. We don’t what to say any more. We run out of words to encompass what it is. We’re physically, mentally, psychologically and spiritually exhausted. Our throats are parched from cries and our eyes have ran out of tears – it’s beyond empty that you’re almost numb to it.

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. (Romans 8:26 ESV) 

The greatest comfort is knowing that in spite of our lack of words, is that He still understanding what is going on. In a crazy, roundabout way, I’m really learning what it means to “be still and wait patiently for the Lord” (Psalm 37:7). Since I’ve ran out of things to say, I just sit and wait, listening carefully. In my recent devotions from Jesus Calling, which is a great book btw, I’m learning that waiting, trusting and hoping are all connected. Sarah Young says, “Waiting for Me to work, with your eyes on Me, is evidence that you really do trust Me.” In the silence, I’m learning to wait expectantly that He is in control.

And I think that God is still working. He hasn’t been completely silent. He may not have dealt with the burning issue at hand (haha!), which is healing Clement, but I think He’s healing other parts of us, which I think is more important and more impactful than we’ll ever know. And this is really driving the joy and the ability to be thankful for little thing in spite of these trials.

So, I’m not sure where you are in your life. But when you happen to run out of things to say in your prayers, and you’re tired, it’s ok to be silent… and wait patiently for the Lord to make a move. Ask that He open your eyes to see where He’s working in your life, and to respond to it with a thankful heart.