I. The Word: Romans 8:26-27
26Likewise 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. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, becauseg the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
II. Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever felt something so intense and so deep that you could not articulate it with words?
2. Have you ever struggled to make sense of a trial you are facing and don’t know how to pray about it?
3. How does the Holy Spirit help our prayers?
As Chris stated yesterday, it’s so important that we get a good perspective on our suffering and see it in light of eternity. And of course when Paul lays out all of the things that he’s endured, it certainly leaves us feeling like we don’t have any room to complain. But why do you think the two scriptures we are looking at today follow yesterday’s passage?
Because suffering is hard, that’s why.
And though we should look forward to our future glory to help us endure earthly suffering, we could use some help right now, today, in the middle of our trial. As spiritual and Paul-like that we can try to sound about it, with our best face on, going through trials and tribulations in this life can feel absolutely soul crushing. The gravity and burden of suffering can come with such weight that it can all but overtake us. That’s why God never intended for us to endure all things on our own without empowering and strengthening us to do so. He knows we will get weak, so He promises to help us. He knows that there are times we will be overcome and cannot even articulate the words to form a prayer, so He gives us the assurance that the Holy Spirit is interceding for us and that the He can speak the language of that which is felt so deeply it cannot be spoken. One commentary on these verses I was looking at said it like this:
“Language breaks down in the attempt to express our deepest emotions and our truest love. For all the deepest things in man, inarticulate utterance is the most self-revealing. Grief can say more in a sob and a tear than in many weak words; love finds its tongue in the light of an eye and the clasp of a hand. The groanings which rise from the depths of the Christian soul cannot be forced into the narrow frame-work of human language; and just because they are unutterable are to be recognized as the voice of the Holy Spirit.”
This is the kind of prayer that is born in suffering. It is a deep, deep cry of the heart, where spirit is communicating with Spirit. The prayers in this season bring us closer in fellowship with God as we experience a new and deeper kind of communication with Him, transcending human language.
When we are in the midst of a trial, it can be hard for us to make sense of it, therefore not knowing what God’s will is in it, what He is at work doing, or how to even pray at all. This is why we have such a great comfort in knowing the Holy Spirit helps interpret the groanings deep inside of us and prays the will of God for our lives. This is how we can wait with patience (v25) in what’s to come, because we know we are not left to endure alone without help.
Let your heart be encouraged today by the fact that we have an amazing helper in the Holy Spirit who strengthens us in our weakness and gives voice to what’s deep in our heart, interceding for us before the throne.
City Life Starter 
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