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When I don’t know what to say

Have you ever found yourself trying desperately to come up with an idea or solution to what you think shouldn’t be that hard? That’s been me last week.

Have you ever found yourself trying desperately to come up with an idea or solution to what you think shouldn’t be that hard? That’s been me last week.

I’ve been writing these weekly articles for more than 20 years and although it’s never been “a snap”, I usually decide on a topic mid-week and mull on it before sitting down to put my thoughts into words. This past week? Not so.

After a lot of mental scrounging and, I admit, much prayer, I decided to go with the topic of When I Don’t Know What to Say.

Have you ever felt that way about the twists and turns of life? About how God seems to be silent when you feel you need Him most? Again, I have, too.

Thinking about that topic, I realize that’s when I too often put my foot in my mouth. Like the disciple, Peter, his immediate reaction to not knowing what to say or how to react to the appearance of Christ, Elijah and Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration, was to talk. In the face of not knowing what to say, he opted to say something. Anything.

Thankfully, that’s not what why I’m writing this piece. After asking God for thoughts that would encourage as well as challenge you, my readers, and me, the writer, He has been reminding me that His seeming silence is not an indication that He’s not listening but rather that He’s providing an opportunity to trust Him when we can’t figure things out.

As the writer of the beautiful hymn wrote many years ago, “And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.”

“I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 (Amplified)

Phew! Hallelujah!