When Words Fail

I love words. I’ve made my living using words for a very long time. Being on the air, writing, preaching. There’s a certain joy in finding just the right words to communicate an idea eloquently and succinctly.

But.

Sometimes there are no words. At least no words to communicate adequately what we really want to say.

I ran into that problem a short time ago. A very dear friend had suffered a loss. His mom passed away. Less than six months earlier his father had passed. I’ve known him for longer than I can remember. He’s more like a brother than a friend and my heart broke for him. When I first got the news about his mom, I prayed. Then I went to text him, but the words refused to come.

I thought and I prayed. For three days. Nothing. Finally I texted that I had been praying for him and, “Searching for the perfect words, there aren’t any.”

He texted back that he took a great deal of comfort imagining his parents on their first date night in Heaven.

That is a lovely thought, stated eloquently and succinctly. A thought inspired by an abiding faith in God’s goodness and promise.

God always provides. Comfort, peace, healing. An image of loved ones gone home too soon. And sometimes the words.

When the words don’t come God still provides.

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26

God’s own presence in our lives, His promise of life everlasting and the knowledge that brothers and sisters in Christ join in our sorrow as well as our joy sees us through the darkest hours.

Jerry Williams