“When our words are few, God receives our groans as honest prayers before Him.”- Esther Fleece
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”- Romans 8:22
Esther Fleece concludes Chapter 3 of No More Faking Fine with five words that apply to your adversity: “Trust me- God gets it.” Jesus lived beloved and with purpose. He lived a life of love. Yet, He didn’t blame the ones who rejected Him. Can we, Esther asks, live in the same way? As we admit our depth of pain could our suffering be sanctifying?
In 1867, Scottish minister and author George MacDonald wrote:
“The Son of God . . . suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His, and lead them to His perfection.”
Thus, we need to recognize our circumstances as an opportunity for us to relate to our Suffering Servant. However, sometimes our pain is so great, we only cry out with groans. Ms. Fleece explains:
“To groan is to lament from the core of our being. Sometimes the pain is so deep that we can only cry wordlessly. Our bodies store trauma and sometimes groaning is the only way to get it out. When our hurt is too deep for words, this is precisely when God sits with us and Jesus becomes our translator . . . . no other God . . . offers this type of intimacy for our pain.”
In addition, Esther believes, God speaks as well as understands the language of tears. So, when we refuse to allow ourselves to cry, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to build intimacy with Him.
Today’s question: Believing that God receives our groans, how do honest prayers strengthen you during your desert, land between time? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Maintain some semblance of control”
