When Words Fail
Luke 19:28-42
Have you ever sent an email or a text message that someone read in a way you didn’t intend? Sometimes our words are ambiguous, or shrouded by double-meaning, or sometimes we project a tone that we don’t mean to convey. Other times, we just don’t have the words…
My words fail me most when I try to express my sympathies. Everyone has that day in their life when their world stood still; maybe it was the death of a loved one, the unexpected rejection of a loved one or a dream job, or maybe you got life-altering news from the doctor. Did anyone say anything to you to make that life-shattering moment better? Or instead, was there a friend who came over and brought some comfort food and a listening ear?
My wife loves home improvement; we’re always fixing things around the house. So on the day when we had our life-altering moment, my first instinct was to fix it. I offered solutions, I tried to find a reason for the tragedy, and I looked for something I could control, to keep it from happening again. When I saw how fruitless this was, my wife made it clear to me that she didn’t need any fixing or input. I just needed to listen.
In Luke 19, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem as a King in unorthodox form, on a colt with no saddle. Many were appalled by His apparent pride, especially the Pharisees, and they asked Jesus to rebuke those worshipping him like a god. But his reply was that of fact, not pride: “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Whether his enemies knew it or not, Jesus was God, and no words could alter this fact. He then wept for the city that wouldn’t listen to His words, that would choose to kill Him rather than receive Him.
Our world is full of distractions: Our phone buzzes every time someone calls, our watch vibrates when we’ve been sitting too long, our tablet dings when we get an email. These are indeed wonderful inventions that help us maintain connections with our friends and family, but how often does it help us listen to the Lord? If we make a sincere effort to listen in this season of Lent, we can receive Him in a new light. Maybe that means turning off the devices for a few minutes, or going to the beach for a walk, or sitting alone in a quiet place. When we can truly listen and receive the Lord, we’ll find comfort and rest when words fail.
- Dan Tenpas
