When we’re going through something tough, it can be hard to find the words to pray. We can feel so hurt, disappointed, angry, or overwhelmed that we don’t know how to put what we’re feeling into words. Sometimes there are no words which could explain the pain we’re feeling. The Spirit can take our pain, confusion, and exhaustion and pray to God on our behalf. The Message paraphrases Romans 8:26 like this: ‘The moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.’ It can be helpful to remember this when we’re struggling. God doesn’t ignore us because we’re not sure how to bring everything to Him in prayer. He doesn’t wait until we can eloquently voice our pain to Him. Instead, He meets us just where we are. He brings comfort to the places that hurt. The Bible says: ‘He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3 NIVUK). The thing God desires most from us is our hearts. He simply wants to spend time with us and build a deep relationship. He doesn’t want us to pray because we think that’s what we have to do. He understands that sometimes we can’t express ourselves. And instead He longs for us to simply invite Him to be with us. To sit with Him in the pain. To be still and know that whatever has gone on in our lives, He is still God (take a look at Psalm 46:10). If there are no words, that’s okay. We just need to sit with God, and let the Spirit do the talking for us. 

What Now?

Listen to ‘Comforter’ by Amanda Cook. As you’re listening, simply rest in God’s presence and allow the Spirit to pray on your behalf.