Imperfect Prayer: Learning From Biblical Examplesნიმუში

When Words Fail

The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (v. 26)

Times of prayer can be full of sweet conversation with our heavenly Father. There are also times when words do not come. We simply do not know what to pray. Our pain and suffering find dissonance with the eternal glory promised in Christ. We cry. We sigh. We long for all to be well and whole. In the silence we may feel alone. We are not. Verse 26 is a precious gift when words don’t come in our time of prayer.

The Spirit “helps us in our weakness” (v. 26). The force of the verb indicates that the Spirit takes on to himself our burdens. Next, the Spirit “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” The adjective alalētos literally means “wordless words.” Somehow these intercessory groans of the Spirit bear up the groaning of creation (v. 22) and our own groaning (v. 23). The Spirit bears the dissonance of our pain and longing, bringing it all to the Father in a wordless prayer that is “according to the will of God” (v. 27).

When words fail, our part is to be in God’s presence and allow the Holy Spirit to do the heavy lifting. John Calvin observed, “This is a remarkable reason for strengthening our confidence, that we are heard by God when we pray through his Spirit.” Perhaps this is what Psalm 46:10 implies: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Let us take heart to know that God hears all our cries and all our sighs. We are not alone.

As you pray, bring your silent longing to God.

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