You may run out of words...

Grandma Virginia Hobbs was a prayer warrior. Awaking every morning at 4 a.m., she would make her way to her living room, where she sat down in what was known as her “prayer chair.” She spent time in the Word of God and then picked up a stack of worn pictures. 

The pictures represented people that she loved and cared for: pastors, missionaries, family, unsaved neighbors, and friends. Every single day, Grandma Virginia took those people to Jesus. How do I know that? I was one of the people that she prayed for day after day.  As her pastor, she poured out her heart to Jesus in the throne room of God on my behalf, and I will be forever grateful.

One day, Virginia called and asked if we could go over some arrangements for what she believed would be her impending funeral. She always seemed to outlive her timeline, but this time, we both knew it was running short. As we were going through some of her favorite verses, I noticed the pile of pictures and her worn-out prayer chair, and I asked her the question, "Do you ever run out of words?"

I'll never forget her response. She said, "All the time, but I never run out of hope."

One of her favorite verses that she requested for her memorial was Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13, NIV) 

You may run out of words, but you don't need to run out of hope! Today, let me pray for you and over you in the same way that Grandma Virginia blessed me with so many prayers over so many years.

Father in heaven, Jesus, mighty Savior, and Spirit of comfort and truth, may the God of hope fill the reader, with all joy and peace as they trust in you, and may they overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray these things in Jesus' powerful name. Amen.

Never forget, my friend, you are a miracle.