Prayer without words

Romans 8:18-39 contains some of the most comforting words in the Bible, in my opinion. Take v.18, for example.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

What we are looking forward to is so amazing and glorious that when we dwell on it, our present sufferings melt away as insignificant. Sometimes that hope even dissipates my sympathy for others' sufferings, which may not be good. But if I love those who are suffering around me, I am compelled to struggle in prayer for them. Should I ask God to take away their sufferings (or mine)? Or should I pray that he may sanctify them (me) through the sufferings? I know not. But I pray all the more in hope that he will do the second then the first.

This struggling in prayer is the matter dealt with in the RBC's Our Daily Bread for Mar 15. The final closing point was a most excellent summary:

"When praying, it's better to have a heart without words than words without heart."

Which is exactly where I found myself last night. I thought about reading the Bible or doing daily bread, but didn't. I just knelt in prayer, unable to ask God for anything. Catholics might call this a "dark night of the soul". But God was there. It's just that I had no words, only a cry in my heajavascript:void(0)rt, mostly for my daughter. What can I do but pray for her? But what can I ask? She doesn't tell me her struggles or problems.

The prayer of the Spirit, helping me in my weakness, was sweet but very tiring, so tiring that I could barely get up this morning. As Paul writes,

"Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

So I am still groaning and moaning inwardly AND outwardly today. Not knowing how to pray isn't the problem, thankfully, since the Spirit intercedes for us "with groans that words cannot express". And even though, to me, my prayer was totally futile and unfruitful, a new hope arose in my heart through it: the hope that I cannot yet see, but which I am resolved now to wait for patiently: the hope that all my children will be saved. It may take many years of wandering in the far off country for them. But I shall not give up praying, nor give up hoping. "In this hope we were saved," that is, the hope of "our adoption as sons" and of "the redemption of our bodies".

What can I do then? Trust in God. He will save souls. That is what He cares about. And he may care about nations and schools and businesses and economies. But I don't think these things matter very much to God if they are not useful in saving souls. How can I save my business? Only by saving souls who work here. How can I save my campus, city and country? By making them into the hallowed ground where God's word is growing and bearing fruit. If I care about the people there, I must lift up Christ, who will draw men to himself. [Jn 12:32] God will work through THEM to save the business, campus, city or nation. In this way, not by direct intervention, we become "more than conquerors" [v.38], even though we "face death all day long." [v.37]

So I resolve to go on groaning in prayer, heart without words, but never words without heart.

O God, too weak and worn for words, I shrink
From trials that deeply wound, and yet to think
Your Holy Spirit helps me as I pray

And gives a voice to what I cannot say!
[Gustafson]
Dear Father, speak your Spirit groans through me
To save and draw the souls I love to thee.
Amid frustration help me to go on
Until my family and friends are won.
[me]