In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
Into the Text
Today, as we continue our focus on trust, we find a new reason to trust God. He knows our hearts, needs, pain, and our circumstances so intimately that He prays for us.
When we’re in the middle of a season of deep pain or loss, prayer can be difficult. It can seem impossible to find the right words to express our hearts to God. As we’ve studied the practice of lament, we’ve discovered how God wants us to express exactly what we feel. He encourages us to ask the hardest questions, express our deepest doubt, and verbalize the darkest pain. Romans 8:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit, who is Himself God, helps us in our weakness by praying for us. When we don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit is always interceding on our behalf before the Father.
For believers, the indwelling Holy Spirit is always with us. He also searches our hearts, knowing our greatest desires, deepest longings, and unspoken fears. He is able to pray for us in ways we never could.
This is a stunning truth! When we recognize that we are intimately known and prayed for according to God’s will and our desires, we can see more clearly how God is working. God indeed works all things out for our good. But our good and our comfort are not the same. Our good is to be conformed to the image of Christ.
While we may experience great suffering and pain in the process, we can believe God is always working for our good. For these present sufferings cannot be compared to the glory that is to come.
Prayer
God, thank you for the ways that you are at work in my life, even when I can’t see it. May I continually be made more into the image of Christ. Amen.