Cutting Teeth

My daughter is cutting teeth.
I know that many parents have survived teething, but I am currently doubting whether I will survive with my sanity intact. Okay, that is a bit melodramatic, but my once reliably happy, cheerful, giggly girl has all of the sudden become cranky, irritable and mournful. I can only imagine the amount of pain she must be feeling and her frustration with her inability to communicate with her parents what is wrong.
Sometimes, I guess I can sympathize with Marian's teething. There are times when I feel hurt or sad or angry and I do not know just quite how to tell my Father in heaven. I had such an occurrence this last week. I heard horrible news and I cried out in anguish not quite sure how to express myself to God. I am thankful that in that time as in all times, the Holy Spirit was present with me in my weakness to carry to God what I could not in words. "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27, NRSV).
Prayer is powerful. More powerful than we can even imagine. Throughout my time in ministry I have witnessed many answers to prayer that seem absolutely miraculous. I have also been party to a quite a few times when our prayers seem to have gone unanswered. In all of those times, however, it was very powerful to know that the Creator of the Universe was listening to me and somehow that in itself is deeply comforting.
In this life as I cut my teeth of faith, I am thankful that God understands me even if I cannot express how I feel.