Many times when I am troubled or discouraged, I have no idea what I need. Even when I think I know what I need, I am often wrong, and end up chasing vain hopes and misguided solutions. What a comfort, then, that Jesus knows what I need before I ask him! I don’t have to understand my need in order to obtain divine assistance; I just need to admit it. I don’t have to heap up empty words or have a liturgical formula prepared for every season of need; on the contrary, “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” And in fact, it is often best if we come to God in wordless desperation: “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” So we come in faith that when we pray, Jesus knows our needs better than we do, and will give us what is best. Just as the hairs on our head are numbered, so are our needs! “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
“What is your beloved more than another?” —Song of Sol. 5:9