Joni And Friends Daily Devotional 15 July 2022 | Friday Message
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TOPIC: God’s Omniscience & Care for His Children
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:1-2
Joni And Friends Daily Devotional 15 July 2022 MESSAGE
Immediately after church on Sunday morning, a young woman with cerebral palsy approached me in her wheelchair.
Cerebral palsy is usually characterized by paralysis, weakness, or loss of coordination due to brain damage. Sometimes there are uncontrolled movements and slurred speech. This woman’s speaking was especially difficult to grasp. She kept repeating a certain sentence over and over again. Even though I patiently asked her to repeat each word one by one, I still couldn’t understand. The expression on her face gave me no clues at all. I couldn’t tell if she was in terrible trouble or was simply trying to relay some profound experience.
Finally, after many attempts, I was able to piece her sentence together. She was asking me to help her find someone who could assist her to the restroom!
It was such a simple request. But I felt helpless, so inadequate that it had taken me so long to understand her need. Once it dawned on me what she was requesting, I moved quickly to get her help!
Can you imagine the hardship of not even being able to make your needs known? Wouldn’t it be sad if there was no one around who could even understand you?
Ah, and yet that is the very predicament you and I find ourselves in. Listen to the words of Paul:
“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. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
There are times when we want to talk to God, but somehow just can’t manage it. The hurt goes too deep. Fear locks our thoughts. Confusion scatters our words. Depression grips us.
I’m so glad God can read my heart and understand what’s going on, even when I struggle to express myself. As it says in Hebrews 4:13,
“Nothing…is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Words are not always necessary. When we are in such trouble we can’t even find words—when we can only look toward heaven and groan in our spirit—isn’t it good to know that God knows exactly what’s happening? The faintest whisper in our hearts is known to God. Even if it should be a sigh so faint that you aren’t even aware of it yourself, he has heard it. And not only heard it, but he understands it—right down to the slightest quiver registered in our innermost being.
You and I may struggle when it comes to understanding the groans and sighs of one another. And others—even those closest to us—may never be able to hear or interpret our deepest sorrows and longings.
But the One who searches hearts knows and understands. The Spirit is never thwarted by our weakness for words.
Our heavenward groans have a voice before God.
Thank you for reading Joni And Friends Daily Devotional 15 July 2022, Friday
