Ruah: Sigh and Groan

Ruah, written in Hebrew above, is the Hebrew word translated with three different words: "wind" or "breath" or "spirit".  I use it here, a name for God the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ruah.

Romans 8:26-27

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.

You are
the Sigh and Groan,
O Ruah,
Pray for us.
Intercede for us.
Sign and Groan for us.

When words fail you are there,
O Sigh and Groan,
revealing our hearts
to the very heart of God.

In the silence,
at our wits end,
beside the hospital bed,
in the dark spiral of depression,
in the loneliness,
Sigh and Groan,
You are there,
and you know us,
our pain,
our fears,
our longings,
our numbness,
our hurt.

O Sigh and Groan,
speak for us
speak to us
God's love for us
God's care over us
too deep for words
just pure love
wave after wave
of love washing over us.

O Sigh and Groan,
Ruah of God.


__________
Sunday, May 15 is Pentecost Sunday, the day the church celebrates the gift of the Spirit to the church. This week's prayers will reflect on the Holy Spirit, God's Ruah.