My granddaughter is almost 3. She is a chatty little soul, and prone to burst out into song at any given moment, and we think she is amazing! We love how she has her own special way of putting things into words. While staying away in a holiday cottage with her family recently, she very seriously told a complete stranger that they were living in a new house now, because they couldn’t find their old one.
These stairs are heavy
One day last week we picked her up from nursery and took her home to her mum and dad. They live in a flat up a set of quite steep stairs. As I followed my granddaughter up the stairs, her little legs seemed to be struggling with the climb.
‘These stairs are heavy!’ she muttered to herself.
Feeling the ache in my own tired bones, I could not help but agree with her. The stairs were indeed ‘heavy’.
Now I know that the description of the stairs was not grammatically correct, but it absolutely encapsulated what we were both feeling at that moment (I think it is a phrase that I am going to remember and use often!).
You know, God
It got me thinking about how we are with God. There are many times when we can’t accurately put things into words. When speaking to God doesn’t come out in neat, grammatical sentences. When it is hard to explain what we are feeling.
I have definitely known this struggle in the season I have been walking through recently, and still do to be honest. I try and tell God what I want Him to understand, but more often than not I fall back on, ‘You know, God.’
The amazingly comforting thing is that He does know. The One who knows us intimately, who knows our thoughts, who knows the words we are going to say before we even do (Psalm 139). He knows. Even when we can’t find the words, He still wants us to cry out to Him. Because that is what relationship with Him means. We speak to Him, and He speaks to us. We cry out, He hears and responds.
Calling upon the Lord
David knew the truth of this. I am sure in all that he went through; hiding in caves and mountains, constantly fearing for his life, having his friends and own sons conspiring against him. In all that he endured, He knew that God would hear Him when he cried out. He knew God as his place of refuge, his defender, his provider.
In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Psalm 18: 6
He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters. Psalm 18:16
For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:31-32
God, this is heavy
Jesus talked about us having a childlike faith (Matt 18:3). I wonder if part of that is being comfortable with not knowing the right words to pray. To be willing to just express ourselves in a way that might not make sense to anyone else, but that will make complete sense to the Father who loves us tenderly and knows us completely.
‘These stairs are heavy. This, that I am dealing with today, God, this is heavy.’
‘I know my beloved, but I am right here with you. Behind you, beside you, all around you. And we will do this climb together.’
Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power.
She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here
beautiful ❤️