Use your words

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (Romans 8:22-24)

Do you sometimes struggle to find your words? I do. It’s not that I don’t have any thoughts to share; it’s that I can’t find the words to express them. To find words to express my observations, feelings or emotions. To explain a truth that the scriptures are revealing to me. To express something the Holy Spirit is teaching me or shifting my perspective on. My spirit seems to catch on quicker than my head as my spirit doesn’t need words to process an experience or encounter. A transaction happens, beyond my control or full understanding, and I receive it. But when I try to formulate words to try to express what’s happening, they vapourize, and slip beyond my reach. The words were forming, taking shape, beginning to bring expression, but then they fade; they’re not quite there. I go quiet in myself. The process is not complete, I’m not ready to share yet.
 
It’s like a contraction in labour. Tension and pain begin to build, they reach an unbearable moment, surely this will bring the baby to birth? But no, not this one, it’s coming but not yet. This is a natural process, one that God created. Paul uses the analogy of childbirth to express the groaning stage of creation when he writes “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8: 22). It’s the stage without words, the groaning stage and often a long process. As part of God’s creation, filled with his spirit we go through these contractions, these difficult circumstances. Paul goes on to write in verse 23, “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” These uncomfortable pains, our difficult circumstances, are for a purpose, one that we can have certain hope we will be delivered from. It’s an important process that we are partaking in, part of God’s plan to bring redemption to the whole of creation, to save us. Paul goes on in verse 26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” He gives us words to pray to him, to intercede for our situations to bring to birth new life.
 
What uncomfortable situations are you experiencing that are bringing forth new life?
 
With this blog, I am experiencing an uncomfortable situation. I’ve had several things really close to my heart that I have wanted to write about. I have changed my title and plan several times. I’ve half written on a theme and then struggled to find the words to express what I’m really trying to say. And then, because I couldn’t find the rest of my words, I’ve lost track of what I set out to say. So I start again and chase down various trails of thought. I’m alert, watching, absorbing what’s happening around me and asking the Holy Spirit to help me, to give me clarity, some revelation, to give me the words I want to express. I feel a stirring, words begin to form, sentences appear. A crescendo of thoughts, a title pops into my mind, scriptures jump out of the pages, memories of moments emerge, it’s all coming together and then … no. The words have gone again.
 
Or maybe they’re still there but it’s not time to use them. Maybe my words are being formed; they are being honed, refined over time and the words I want to use will come. We can be encouraged to take time, to live in the moment, to absorb, to wait, to ponder. I love that in the moment of Jesus’ birth, many were being told about it, word of his birth was being passed on to others and people were expressing the truth about what it all meant. In the busyness of it all, one line of scripture gives us permission to sometimes pause for thought - “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19)
 
Maybe you are in that moment of waiting for your words to come or waiting for a resolution of a situation. Whatever stage of labour you are at, be encouraged. Each contraction is achieving something, has purpose, is bringing you closer to the birth.
 
So perhaps the words I thought I was going to bring in this blog are not ready to be born yet. However, other words did come and with them, a little bit more understanding of our walk and relationship with God. I will leave you with a picture God gave me and I hope you can apply it to your situations and get some comfort too.
 
A still small voice says “use your words”. I have a picture of a child, upset, getting loud, agitated and beginning to flail around. A calm and reassuring adult cuts across the noise and says “use your words.” The adult is calm. Firmly, they are encouraging the child to give expression to what it needs, to what is bothering them. The child manages to spit out a word - “drink” or “ouch”. They accompany this word with an action and point to a sore body part or a spilt drink. Connection comes into the situation; they no longer feel alone or overwhelmed by what’s happening. The adult is using words to reassure the child and the child is able to hear as their own noise and agitation subsides. The child begins to calm down and find more words as the adult is able to bring remedy to the problem. The child’s emotions change, from desperation to exuberance, joyful words and sounds bubble out. They are not struggling to use their words anymore. They have found them, and peace is settling again for a while.
 
A prayer - Father God, thank you that whatever we are experiencing, you are on that journey with us. Thank you that even when we can’t find words to express, you understand our groans and utterances and your spirit gives us the words to say. Thank you that you use difficult situations to teach us and that we can be encouraged that each painful experience will bring new life. Amen