I like reading the book of Romans, especially chapter 8. I think I've read that chapter around 500 times, but who's counting? There is a section in that chapter that has always intrigued me. Verse 26 reads, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
There are all kinds of weaknesses that we all can face. Physical weakness (I've experienced some of that). Emotional weakness, some people can suffer from sadness or depression. And there is spiritual weakness, the Bible talks about the weaker brother or sister. But this verse is not talking about any of those. It's referring to prayer weakness. "We do not know what we ought to pray for..." that's when the Spirit strengthens us. But why don't we know what we should pray for? Because we are not omniscient. We don't know everything. Only God does. We don't always know what to pray for because we don't have all the information.
My Pastor friend tells an ancient story that illustrates this concept. A Chinese gentleman lived on the border of China and Mongolia. In those days, there was constant conflict and strife along the perimeter. The Chinese man had a beautiful horse, a mare. One day, she leaped over the corral, raced down the road, crossed the border, and was captured by the Mongolians. His friends came to comfort him. “That’s bad news,” they said sadly. “What makes you think it’s bad news?” asked the Chinese man. “Maybe it’s good news.”
A few days later the mare came bolting into his corral, bringing with it a massive snow white stallion. His friends crowded around. “That’s good news!” they cried. “What makes you think it’s good news?” he asked. “Maybe it is bad news.”
Later that week, his son was riding the stallion, trying to break it. He was thrown off and he broke his leg. The friends came. “That’s bad news,” they cried. “What makes you think it is bad news?” asked the Chinese gentleman. “Maybe it’s good news.” The next week, war broke out with Mongolia, and a Chinese general came through town drafting all the young man. He took them all and they were all later killed, except for the young man who couldn’t go because his leg was broken.
The Chinese man said to his friends, “You see, the things you thought were bad turned out good; and the things you thought were good turned out bad.”
We don't really know the things that are good for us or bad for us. We don't know the future. But God does. The Holy Spirit, being God, knows what is best for us. He knows God’s good and perfect will for our lives. And so he prays for us according to the will of God with intensity, with groanings words cannot express. And God answers. God the Father always answers the prayers of God the Holy Spirit.
Verse 27 reads, "And he who searches our hearts (that's God) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."
When you don't know what to pray, rely on God's sovereignty. Charles Spurgeon once said, "When you can't trace God's hand you can trust His heart."
Pastor Tim