our daily bread
Dexu Xia
When Words Fail
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22
Not long ago I sent my wife, Cari, a text message using only voice prompts. I was on my way out the door to give her a ride home from work and intended to send the words, “Where would you like me to pick you up, old gal?”
Cari doesn’t mind my calling her “old gal”—it’s one of the affectionate nicknames we use around the house. But my cell phone didn’t “understand” the phrase, and sent the words “old cow” instead.
We can come to Him with every need, assured that He understands and receives us with love.
Fortunately for me, Cari immediately understood what had happened and found it funny. She later posted my text message on social media and asked, “Should I be offended?” We were both able to laugh about it.
My wife’s loving response to my awkward words that day makes me think about God’s loving understanding of our prayers. We may not know what to say when we pray or even what to ask for, but when we belong to Christ, His Spirit within “intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26) and lovingly helps us articulate our deepest needs before Him.
Our heavenly Father doesn’t stand at a distance waiting for us to get our words right. We can come to Him with every need, assured that He understands and receives us with love.
Abba, Father, thank You that I can come to You without fear of having to get my words just right. Help me to keep company with You today.
God’s love is beyond words
口误
耶和华啊，求祢照着我们所仰望祢的，向我们施行慈爱。-诗篇33篇22节
不久前，我用语音输入法发了一封简讯给我的妻子凯莉。当时，我正准备出门接她下班回家，我想要发简讯问她：“妳要我在哪里接妳，老妞儿？”凯莉不会介意我叫她“老妞儿”，这是我们在家常用的昵称。但我的手机“不懂”这个词汇，结果在简讯中出现“老牛儿”这个词语。
还好凯莉立刻明白其中的关键，而且觉得这很有趣。后来她还把这个简讯放在社群媒体上，问说：“我应该生气吗？”其实我们两个都觉得很好笑。
在那天，我的妻子以爱回应我笨拙的用语，让我想到上帝也是以爱理解我们的祷告。我们祷告的时候，可能不知道该说什么，甚或不知该如何祈求，但当我们属乎基督，圣灵就会“亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告”（罗马书8章26节），并且祂还会慈爱地帮助我们，在上帝面前明确表达我们最深切的需要。
我们的天父上帝并非远远地站着，等我们把话讲清楚。相反地，我们可以将各样的需要带到祂面前，确知祂深爱我们、了解并接纳我们。
阿爸天父，感谢祢，因我可以来到祢面前，
丝毫不需过度小心、字斟句酌，
求祢帮助我今日能继续与祢同行。
上帝的爱不受限于我们的言语。