Lighting Up Our City Video 5: In Step With the SpiritSample

Have you ever had a time in your life when the pain of a situation was so great that you couldn’t even pray? Or, have you had a friend or family member going through something incredibly difficult, so much so that it is hard to see where or how God could possibly work through the situation? I have experienced both scenarios more than once.

What do we do in these times? I take great comfort in the promise in Romans 8:26-27: the Holy Spirit prays and intercedes for me when I cannot pray. He intercedes with “groanings too deep for words.” I receive comfort and peace, knowing that the Holy Spirit understands the depth of my pain, tears, and groanings and prays in the same way.

But sometimes, when the pain is so great that it shakes my faith, I need more than the Spirit’s intercessory prayers. I also need others, my sisters in Christ, to stand in the gap and to have faith for me when my faith is lacking. This is another way that the Spirit intercedes—through the Holy Spirit in my sisters and prayer warriors.

The Holy Spirit knows exactly what people need when they need it, and the Spirit will reveal to us what people need. “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” (1 Cor 2:13).

Most days, when I feel solid in my faith and I am doing my best to walk with the Spirit, I can provide comfort to others. I can pray for and with them. I don’t always have the words, but I know that the Spirit intercedes for me.

Even without words, God knows everything. And I am thankful.

By Teresa Baumbach