At a Loss for Words

One day I found my son sobbing in a tree in our backyard. He had just experienced a heartbreaking loss, and there were no words to comfort him. Our outside farm dog had killed 20 of his 25 chickens. Only eight weeks ago, we had brought them home as a school project. Faithfully, he had raised them from small, fluffy yellow chicks to the young, white-feathered chickens that loved to sit in his arms. He had made a roost and a special feeder for them and was just beginning to enjoy gathering one or two eggs per day.

However, that all changed in a moment when our dog broke into the chicken coop. Going on a rampage, our dog killed all but five of his clucking children. Although living on a farm and seeing other animals die had toughened my son's outlook toward death, I knew only God could help him in his loss as he asked, "Why?"

As homeschooling moms and dads, the Holy Spirit offers us the same comfort when we struggle with the "whys" of life. So many days we feel heartbroken by the worries and pain of the world and don't know how to pray. May you find comfort in knowing that His Spirit is lifting you up before the Father even now while you can't find the words to express your heart. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).

Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit who understands my weaknesses. Please, intercede for me today because I don't know how to pray. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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Comments(10 comments)

KIM K 07/30/2009 07:00:56

What a wonderful devotion. This totally touched my heart and spoke to me this morning. Thank you. -Kim

JEANNE M 07/30/2009 11:54:08

Thank you, we have lost 2 Aunt, 1 spiritual Father, 1 18 year old to A Plastic Anemia (family friend) all within 10 months, and my Father has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I will praise His name and thank Him for the encouragement of today's devotion.

Kanani J 07/30/2010 04:37:54

TImely... Thank you for sharing. I am most perplexed when I see things in my kids that I have gone through. I don't want them to experience that pain but I know that sometimes that's the only way to grow. SO I don't know how to pray for them...

SHAHNDI R 07/30/2011 04:07:08

Will be praying for you Jeanne~ Sh.

RUSS P 07/30/2011 05:17:29

Momma died unexpectantly in February. I know she is in heaven!

GWYNETH K 07/30/2012 04:42:04

I don\'t know what to pray for my mom who is undergoing chemo for the second time for metastatic bone cancer... She knows about god and Jesus, but lives her life for things and money, etc. Father, please show me how to pray for her and trust your Holy Apirit to guide her into your everlasting grace and love! Thanks for this timely devo!

KATHY S 07/30/2012 08:10:27

Gwyneth,

I would pray that Jesus becomes the number one priority in her life, that she chooses God\'s will and not her own, and that the Holy Spirit would allow her to see that all these things will not bring her riches in Heaven, the riches will be what is in her heart.

Obviously, I\'m just a Mom writing in, but when I saw your blog it touched my heart.

I will pray for your Mom.

Jeanne and Russ, I will also pray for you both, I am sorry for your loss.

BECKYSUE R 07/30/2012 09:08:34

I know you are connected to the vine because this is the fruit you and God are producing together. Your emails are always on the subjects that we need most. It nurishes our spiritual hunger. Thank you

ALEZA JOHNSON 07/30/2013 15:31:43

3 days ago my husband and I found out that our baby that im pregnant with has no kidneys. The prognosis is death at or before birth. I have not let myself cry (thinking I'll cry when it actually happens). God used this devotional to make me let it out, to cry out to him. I don't know if he will heal our baby and i don't know if we will be able to heal someone else's baby with her heart. I pray that at least 1 is possible, or it will seem like there was no reason. Thankful for sending out these devotionals. Even if they are reused each year, they touch peoples hearts.

Kristie Etzel 07/30/2013 17:45:05

Aleza J,

Your baby has purpose no matter what happens. Jesus loves her and has a purpose for her. Sometimes we don't know the hows, whys, or whens, but what is important is that we trust Him completely to get us through each step of life. I am so sorry that you are going through this. I will be praying for you, your baby, and your husband. Just remember, Jesus is with your baby and with you, always.

-K.E.


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