Verse: Romans 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 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. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Devotional:
Once we become believers, our lives don’t automatically become easy. It doesn’t take away hardship. We continue to encounter moments of weakness, uncertainty, and even despair. Sometimes in prayer, we find ourselves at a loss for words, not knowing how to express our deepest longings, fears, or desires before God. In such times, we can take great comfort in the assurance that the Holy Spirit is interceding for us. In my personal life, I struggle with shutting down when I’m emotionally overwhelmed. I lose my words and retreat into myself, and unfortunately God isn’t immune to my poor coping skills. There’s been seasons of my life where I don’t have the words to talk to God for literal months on end. Sometimes life throws us a heartbreak so deep that we end up with a “groaning too deep for words”. When I lost my career that I’ve worked my entire life for, knowing that I won’t be going back, I had no words for God. I had no words for a long time. I was angry, hurt, heartbroken in a way that I’ve never experienced before. Thankfully, I didn’t need to have the words. I could just come to Him, angry, upset, hurt, numb, sobbing, no matter what it be, and He still met me where I was at. I didn’t need to have the words because He saw my heart and soul. He knows the deepest of our hurts and draws near to us in our heartbreak. (Psalm 34:18)
In these verses Paul reminds us of the incredible role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. He tells us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. This means that when we feel inadequate, overwhelmed, or unable to articulate our prayers, the Spirit comes alongside us as our divine Helper. He understands our limitations and steps in to bridge the gap between our words, (or in my case lack of words) and the perfect will of God.
Paul say that the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. This displays the depth of the Spirit’s intercession on our behalf. When we are unable to find the right words, the Holy Spirit communicates with God on our behalf, expressing the unspoken longings of our hearts. He knows our deepest needs, our hidden pain, and our unspoken desires. God is not limited by our human limitations; He transcends our understanding.
Paul also assures us that the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. The Holy Spirit is not just a random mediator; He is intimately and directly connected to the mind and heart of God. He knows the perfect will of the Father and aligns His intercession with it. This means that even when we are unsure of what we should pray for, or don’t have the words to bring our hurt to God, the Spirit can intercede in perfect harmony with God’s purposes for our lives.
I’m so thankful we serve a perfect God, who’s ways as higher than our ways. He knew how heavy and hard this world is, and He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us through it. Sometimes, we only have the capacity to come before God in our brokenness and hurt. And friend, that is enough.
Prayer:
God, thank you for sending me the Holy Spirit to be my constant companion. Thank you for interceding for me, over and over again. Thank you for knowing and seeing my heart. Thank you for understanding my hurt, even when I don’t have the words to express it. Thank you for always working on my behalf and never leaving me alone in my brokenness. God, help me to surrender everything to you today. Hear the unspoken prayers that come from the most uncertain, broken, angry parts of my heart. Holy Spirit, help me to find comfort and assurance in knowing You will always intercede on my behalf. Help me to just be still and to allow You to work on my behalf. We love you Lord, thank you. Amen
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