Walking along the greens across from the harbor last summer while on vacation with my family, my plan was to capture the lighthouse during sunset with my new low-light lens. As it turns out, the sun hid behind the clouds, casting mediocre light at best. I put the lens cap on my camera and turned my attention inward.
I became aware of a deep sadness while standing there in the wind…a longing left unmet. The word “hopeless” darted across the screen of my mind and the feeling that followed was just that. So I sat, and told the Lord what I had so many times fully expecting to get up and walk away feeling a sense of defeat and fear of unmet need.
This time, though, I spoke out loud, my voice carried quickly away on the wind. And somehow, a change…slight and almost unnoticeable. If I hadn’t been looking for it, I may have missed it. But I continued to repeat the truth about God…He is good, He has good things planned for me, He is with me, His loving-kindness endures forever. In that moment, light began to make its way through the darkness and the heaviness began to lift. It wasn’t drastic or immediate, but it was life-giving to hear my own voice speak what is true.
God did it, too. He said, “Let there be light.” And there was light (Genesis 1:3). He could have thought about light in His head, and light would have come. But He chose to speak and He tells us to speak as well. Jesus told His disciples that if they had faith the size of a mustard seed “you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” (Matthew 17:20). He didn’t tell them to think at the mountain. He told them to speak to the mountain.
I’ve thought about that day often in the past eight months. And I am becoming convinced of the creative, healing power of speaking truth out loud. To think, say, and hear the words said in my own voice forces me to stop and get out of my own head…which if I’m honest, can be the scariest place of all to get stuck in.
What a great thought! I say personal prayers daily, but I have not said them out loud for many years…I think today I will.
Thanks for a beautiful post.
If you like to read, I highly recommend “The Shack” by William P. Young. Hard to get through the first part (tragedy involving a child) but MIND-BLOWING in the second half. I just love God
When you and I met last week, I kinda think that is where I was…stuck in my head. I needed a trusted friend to allow me to speak my insecurities out loud. I forget that sometime I can talk to God the same way. Thanks for the reminder.
i love praying out loud…and it IS so very powerful! sometimes we can easily forget and just almost “mumble” a prayer…this post is just a little reminder to always say it aloud.
Great post!
I have also recently read The Shack and would recommend it to anyone. Awsome book!
Now it’s my turn to cry at your post. My head is a very scary place to be stuck in and I get stuck there alot. There have been little reminders in my life during the last few weeks to just be still and know that He is God. He is good. I just have to be quiet and listen. I don’t ever want to miss the change.
You are an amazing person, Emily.
Boy I really needed that after the week I’ve had. My kids have started being “afraid” of God lately–they’re just at that age when they start to notice that bad stuff happens to bad AND good people. It’s tough trying to teach their little believing hearts that He never said it would be easy, He only said it would be worth it.
I feel Him too–just standing outside and letting the cold wind blow on my face at the same time it’s getting hit by a ray of sunshine. He really does have good things planned for all of us– some bad too–but mostly good. Thanks for the reminder of speaking it all out loud.
I’m stuck in my head a lot while I’m at home and the kiddos are in school. If God speaks it out loud, maybe I should give it a try. Great post.
What a beautiful post. As a mom I often catch myself praying “inside my head” only to get sidetracked by so random thought. I have found when I actually speak to God I stay focused. I feel like it is a true conversation. Thank you for reminding me to have a visit with Him more often.
WOW! I love how you so often put into words exactly what has been stuck in my head lately. I’ve been doing a Beth Moore Bible Study lately and have felt like the Lord has been wanting me to do exactly what you have just written about. “Speak” to Him. . .out loud. . .in my own voice. At this moment their are some big mountians that need to be spoken to in my life, and I do believe that God is trying to convience me that there is power in speaking the truth to it.
Thanks, for your words and thoughts on this blog. God confirms alot to me through you.
God Bless!
I don’t think anything moves God as much as hearing His word coming back to Him from mouths of those who love him! Speaking scripture out loud has changed my life! It has smoothed the jagged edges of life, lifted me from the valley of sadness, and brought incredible closeness and comfort for my ever longing-for-God soul! If you really want to get serious about speaking God’s word out loud, I recommend Beth Moore’s “Praying God’s Word” and “The Secret Power of Speaking God’s Word” by Joyce Moore. Phew! Now that I got my sermon for the day out of the way, I’ll think I’ll go read some more blogs! Thanks for your gentle reminders and poignant words, Emily. You are a blessing.
Thanks for the sweet comments, girlies. I’m glad to know my words make sense. You never know until you hit publish and see what happens.
Kimberley, I do have Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore. A great one. I’ll have to check out the Joyce Moore one (Joyce Moore? Is that right?)
And to you who recommended The Shack…I just had someone else mention that book to me today (who just so happened to have “hung out” with the author of that book this past weekend at the National Prayer thing. Well, then.) He recommends the book as well. I think its a must read.
It’s comforting to hear that others have these same thoughts at times. It’s also good to know there is no darkness which our great big God cannot reach.
Just wanted you to know I’ve been thinking a lot about your words here the last couple of days. I too did the Beth Moore study where she talked about the power in speaking God’s Word aloud. I hadn’t learned that before but thought it was so cool. This was a good reminder of what I had learned. Thanks for your vulnerability!