We purchased a beautiful but used, out-of-tune piano last week. I look forward to fixing it and getting the keys unstuck to bring this gem back to life. When we left California two and a half years ago, I had to let my piano go and cried as my neighbor welcomed the piece into her home. I was happy for her gain, but sad for my loss.

This isn’t to say I’m the next Mozart or anything. On the contrary, I’m a beginner, picking up my childhood hobby in recent years and learning to read notes all over again. I pluck away at the keys, making elementary sounds to produce a song at a level just above Chopsticks and Heart and Soul.

My expertise is maxed out with a simplified version of Fur Elise, with which I proudly impress my husband.

My novice piano-playing efforts make me think of how our prayers must sound to God at times. In our desperate moments, they are barely audible, mumbling words as we’re unable to express our thoughts and emotions adequately. Often, we pray without eloquence or elaboration, but like my simple little songs – He can make out the melody.

Not only does He hear and help us through our tired and tongue-tied groaning, but He prays with us and for us. We may not know what to say, but our all-knowing God does. As we pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers (even the messy and chaotic ones), we can be certain we have assistance from the Holy Spirit.

“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:26.

Like a great maestro, He conducts our discordant sounds into a harmonious symphony of prayer and a concerto of heartfelt pleas.

When Jesus prepared His disciples to go out and preach. He told them to not worry about what they would say, for the Holy Spirit would teach them in that very hour what they should say (Luke 12: 11,12). The disciples knew they couldn’t compete with the well-educated Jewish leaders in a religious debate. But Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would give them the necessary words.

I may clunk along on my piano trying to hit the right note, but the Master Virtuoso is by my side enabling me to play beautiful music. He searches my heart and understands my ways. He intercedes for me according to His will.

And, unlike my out-of-tune piano, His pitch is perfect.