28th July 2023
Lost for words
…at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us…pleading to God with emotional sighs…
Romans 8:26 (TPT)
I was handed a small, beautifully wrapped present and when I opened it, there were so many emotions I couldn’t sort them all out, so I simply cried. They were tears of joy, of course, and as I looked into my son’s expectant eyes I could see his concern and love. It was a moment I will always remember, it came unexpectedly and I was lost for words.
I am sure you have experienced something similar. Maybe it was a time of great joy – so much so that you couldn’t find fitting words to fully express your happiness. Or maybe it was a time of great sorrow and pain, and all you could do was groan in the hurting confusion.
How can mere words ever convey the depth of these feelings adequately? Sometimes we can be lost for words when we pray. We know we should pray, and we can honestly say we want to, but we don’t know what to pray for, or what words to use. Either way, help is at hand.
Fortunately, our loving Father in heaven understands our difficulties and if we fall on our knees before him and just simply be there in his presence, the Holy Spirit steps in. Paul tells us: ‘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. 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.’ (Romans 8:26-27 ESV).
This is tremendously encouraging. Our focus is all too often on our physical lives, and it can be difficult to see things through a spiritual lens. This is, of course, one of our many weaknesses, but we don’t need to worry about it. God knows our hearts and the Holy Spirit intervenes with ‘groanings too deep for words.’ You see, there are times when words are not enough, but we are not beyond the understanding of God the Father, neither is the situation we find ourselves in. He knows our limitations and frustrations. He knows our flesh is weak even when our spirit is willing, and he understands our needs even if we can’t express them. In fact, there are times we do not even know what our deepest needs and wants are. We can’t possibly fathom what God has in store for us, or comprehend all that he has ultimately created us for. If we only receive what we ask for, we would get far less than God is willing to give.
When we pray we can be confident that the Holy Spirit does what we cannot do, and that God completely understands us. His will is to bless us far beyond our wildest dreams. Then, once again, we will be lost for words.
Prayer
Loving Father, when we pray we participate in real communion with you Father, Son, and Spirit. Sometimes words may fail us, but we rest in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit will intervene so that our prayers will be like incense rising up to you. In the times of silence let us hear you speak, and may we feel your presence. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Jackie Mill
About the writer:
Jackie Mill is a minister in Grace Communion International and Co-Regional Pastor for Scotland and Ireland.
Local congregation:
GCI, Edinburgh – Edinburgh has a zoom service at the moment. For details email the local congregational contact below.
Local congregational contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church