When You’re at A Loss for Words
I had zero desire to work on editing my book. Feeling a bit edgy and at a loss for words, I moved to my next blog post early. I imported the image into the document and stared at it.
Nothing. For a really long time.
Feeling doubly dejected, I walked away and performed a few chores. Sometimes doing something resulting in tangible results puts me in a better frame of mind. I returned to watch racks of plants sit there on the screen. Nothing.
I enlarged the image. Even considered cheating and deleting it to select something more inspiring.
The photo, selected in chronological order from the photo-a-day contest years ago, mocked me and challenged me to share something hopeful. I’m not kidding when the following words came to mind. “Go ahead. Pretend you’re hopeful. Make something up.”
There have been weeks where I needed to spend time away from the post. During those times I considered the image, prayed about it, and mined the memories of when I took the photo. And, usually, God brought His Word and my experiences together for good. This time, it wasn’t coming, and I became frustrated.
So, what did I do?
When You’re at A Loss for Words #hope #joy #amwriting Share on XI went to God with a different question. “God, I don’t have to tell you my state of mind. What do I write when I’m at a loss for words and no desire to find them?”
Listen By Reading
God didn’t speak to me through a vision or a still, small voice. I didn’t fall asleep and have a dream. I opened His Word and listened by reading.
Mark 14 tells the account of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, just before his betrayal and arrest that eventually led to his crucifixion. The story tells us that Jesus was in a terrible state. Here, I’ll let Mark tell us, from Mark 14:33-34 (NASB).
“And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, ‘My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.’”
Philip Yancey, in his book, “Prayer, Does It Make Any Difference?” talks about this moment in Jesus’ life. I will quote Yancey here.
“Jesus could have put an end to evil—and to all human history for that matter—by praying for heavenly rescue forces, but he elected not to. Instead of a triumphant victory by force, he opted for a much more arduous (for him and for the rest of us) path to redemption.”1
After asking His disciples to stay and keep watch, see what Jesus prays in Mark 14:35-36.
“And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, ‘Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.’”
What an example! God’s Son prayed and shared His deepest gut-wrenching desire—to remove the cup from which He was about to drink. All the while knowing full well what would happen if God didn’t grant his request. He would be despised, ridiculed, beaten, and eventually nailed to a cross.
Not What I Will, but What You Will.
Knowing all that, He prays, “Not what I will, but what You will.”
I’m humbled by Jesus. I can’t imagine being in His situation. So much power yielding to the One in control. Such trust.
Jesus has known before time, that I, along with the rest of the world, would struggle with feeling out of sorts in a time like this. Searching for relief from the virus and its hold on humanity.
I’m humbled by others. I know, but do not fully understand, what so many others are going through by putting themselves on the front lines of managing our crisis or providing essential needs. I don’t understand how the so many lonely feel. So many sick. So many.
And, here I sit, searching for words to bring hope. The answer has been there all along. It hasn’t changed since before the foundation of the earth. We find hope in the example of Jesus. He’s been through it all, plus more than we will ever experience. He prayed. Not His will, but the Father’s.
May we follow His example.
Thank you for walking through this with me and may God bless you in your prayer time.
Feel free to tell us what you do when you find yourself at a loss for words.
Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.
1 https://philipyancey.com/books/prayer-does-it-make-any-difference
Outstanding
Thank you DiAnn!
Tim, I’m always surprised when I find myself at a loss for words . . . sometimes even my opinion about something flounders for a lack of relevance.
There are some things – for me – which I know without a doubt will leave me at a loss for words when I think about them: e.g., GOD’s choice to create everything there is; Jesus’ choice to climb upon the Cross to settle the accounts of everyone willing to accept His payment; and – filling me with hope – that He who said “Let there be . . .” chose to “knit me together” for “such a time as this.” At those times I can do nothing but wallow in a familiar unworthiness.
Some things, however, catch me off guard, surprising me into silence and forcing a joyous tear too great to hide: e.g., the miracle of birth; the profundity of death; and – filling me with hope – that my wife choses every day to love me despite my serial lack of merit. When caught off guard at those times I can do nothing but stagger under the weight of humility by witnessing such sacredness.
Then of course there are those times at which I SHOULD be at a loss for words – e.g., answering unasked questions; trying to solve non-existent problems; giving unsolicited opinions or advice; etc., . . . but during which I don’t seem to be able to stop my lips from entering the fray before my brain has had the chance to assay the arena. At times like those I usually just slam my teeth on my tongue IF I realize my error or – most frequently, which also fills me with hope – obey my conscience to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.
Good post my Brother, and a timely reminder about finding our hope where it has always been since the foundation of the earth was laid – Jesus (love the phrase).
Guy, I appreciate your words so much. You’ve given awesome real-life experiences of being at a loss for words. I’ll bet most of us have gone down one of those roads once or twice. Here’s the thing I believe is key–if we’re in close communion with God, on a regular basis, we are more likely to speak words pleasing to Him. And, that is you, my friend.