Sometimes the words don’t come.

Sometimes I bow my head and confusion clutters, sorrows shadow, and problems persist. Burdens press down on my heart. I try to pray, but

there.are.no.words.

No words to convey my heart or my loved one’s need. No words to express the hurt, the fears, the uncertainty that fills me. No words.

Those are the times that I cling to the promise in Romans 8:22 – 27.

Romans 8: ²² For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. ²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? ²⁵ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The promise appears in verses 26-27:

When I don’t know how to pray, or what to pray, or the words get lodged in my soul,

THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYS FOR ME.

He is always making intercession for me with the Father.

I may not have words, but when I bow my heart before God,

I can rest assured that the right words are reaching the Father’s ear.

This passage speaks of the travail, pain like a woman giving birth, that is taking place in this world, but it also states some truths that are important to my heart.

I know that –

• All creation is groaning, suffering, under the effects of sin (verse 22).
• God’s children agonize as we await God’s final redemption (verse 23).
• The hope we have is not yet seen, but it gives us patience to wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled (verses 24 – 25).
• The Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of God that indwells us, sees our weaknesses and problems, and He prays for, intercedes, for us (verse 26).
• God, who searches our hearts, hears His Spirit and works out His will in our lives (verse 27).
• God will work ALL things together for the good of His children according to His will (verse 28).

The well-known promise of Romans 8:28 –

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

is the culminating promise of the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart and life. No matter what this world may hurl at me, He is in control, and He will work it for my good.

Life in this fallen world throws curves and confounds me with its complexities, but I have a great High Priest Who knows, Who understands, Who hears, Who cares. He intercedes for me.

He prayed for me before He went to the cross (John 17:20),

and through His Spirit He still prays for me today.

That is reason to rejoice even when my heart has no words.

Romans 8:²⁶ And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷ And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers^[c] in harmony with God’s own will. ²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together^[d] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)

Photo – “Following the Sun“, Leslie Moon