STAY: Finding God’s Voice When You Have No Words

No words.

For the past few days I've been struggling to find the words.

"Lord, I don't understand," my insides weep even though my eyes are dry. If one tear falls, I might come undone.

I sort through the laundry. I scrub the scalded pans, but at the bottom of it all, there aren't any satisfying answers, still no words. 

Then, in the aftermath of running in circles, I heard a word from God.

Just one.

"STAY."

Stay?

Lord knows I'd rather move. When questions start, when muscles ache from kneeling too long. When hard conversations and awkward silences surround me, I want to leave. 

I want to move away from the pain.

It's easy to stay when we're feasting, but what if the table’s overturned and doubt is driving us away?

How do we stay in faith when there are so many answers left to find?

The masses followed Jesus early in His ministry when water became wine and the loaves multiplied. But then confusion came.

Jesus withheld the bread and offered Himself instead.

He turned to the stunned disciples and asked the same question that hangs in the air between Jesus and us.

"Do you want to leave, too?"

I wonder how long it took Peter to answer. I wonder how long he held Jesus's gaze while the Lord searched his heart for the answer buried within. Yet Peter stayed as his feet urged him to move on.

Finally, he answered with a question of his own, ”Lord, to whom shall we go?" Peter found that in the staying and the asking, is the answer that brings true peace.

"You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:68

Like Peter, we can stay and declare Who Jesus is before the Why’s leave our minds. Because when all the words and people fall away, Christ remains.

If you've been following Jesus for a while and suddenly, things don't make sense, there aren't any answers, you don’t know why, there's only one place to go.

STAY.

Stay on your knees. Stay in the Word. Stay until you receive the strength to keep going.

Even if you still have questions, bind yourself to the altar with your messy tears and broken dreams because right now, it's the most costly sacrifice you have.

Right now and forever, Jesus is worth it, because He is the answer you seek.

Stay with God.

There is no other Way, Truth or Life, than the One you’ve found in Jesus.

The Living Word is the only word for the “no words” days.

STAY.