When Words Fail
My daughter and I love musicals. Most recently, we watched “Dear Evan Hansen” a musical about a boy with anxiety dealing with the death of a classmate and making some bad decisions along the way. Although I don’t love everything about the musical, there was a key moment my daughter and I were both in tears… a moment when he has come to the end of his rope and all he can manage to say is…words fail.
Many single moms know that feeling—the weight on their chests as they come to full realization that life is not going to look how they expected. Maybe it’s the realization that divorce is unavoidable. Maybe it’s an unexpected pregnancy. Maybe it’s a child that is hurting in ways you never thought possible. And many times that leaves them speechless.
Two writers of the Psalms, David and Asaph, weren’t single moms, but they went through great moments of despair and heartache. Sometimes by their own hand, but often through no fault of their own. Regardless of which circumstance you find yourself in, our God doesn’t need our words—just our hearts. Here are three psalms that have a lot to teach us about what to do when words fail us.
1. Psalm 13 shows us we can be honest with God. David asks God how long he will be forgotten and have God’s face hidden from him. He wrestles with his thoughts and daily sorrow. Despite feeling abandoned, David trusts in God’s unfailing love and believes his heart will rejoice in God’s salvation.
2. Psalm 77 shows us we can find comfort in God, even if we feel despair. Here, Asaph cries out to God, seeking comfort but feeling troubled and overwhelmed. He feels held captive by pain, and he questions if God has forgotten to be gracious or has shut up his tender mercies. In his despair, the psalmist remembers the years of the right hand of the Most High. He remembers and meditates on God’s works and wonders of old. By remembering God’s powerful acts in the past, such as the parting of the Red Sea, the psalmist is reminded of God’s power and faithfulness, leading him out of his despair and back to a place of trust and renewed strength.
3. Psalm 39 shows us that God is in control, even when we are speechless. David writes, “Lord, I’m left speechless and I have no excuse, so I’ll not complain any longer. Now I know you’re the one who is behind it all.” This prayer demonstrates an understanding that even in the face of despair, God is ultimately in control.
Praise God that we don’t have to have the words. We can sit with him and find comfort even in the most difficult challenges we face. Rest in him today, single mom.
