Romans 8:26: “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.”
By John David Hicks
The Holy Spirit is your teacher, counselor, comforter and guide (John 14:26). God’s Word says that He is inside you to help you in your weaknesses; when you are without strength, He is there to help YOU.
When we don’t know what to pray, “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” When you read this verse, don’t say, “I don’t know what to pray for, so I don’t have to pray. I will let the Holy Spirit make intercession for me. I will leave it to Him to do the praying.”
If the Holy Spirit, without your involvement, prayed for you, then every Christian would live victoriously. But not all Christians are living victoriously and not all are walking in the fullness of God’s blessings. James 4:2 tells us, you have not because you do not pray. Even Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24). So clearly, Romans 8:26 is not saying to just let the Holy Spirit pray for you. So what is this verse saying?
The same Spirit who bears witness that you are a child of God helps us in our weakness and infirmities. In the Greek it is a word picture of someone helping another carry a heavy load; to support, “to take hold together against.” Therefore, “together” means that your participation is essential so that the Holy Spirit and you can take hold together against the problem. Together when you pray the Holy Spirit helps you in your weakness: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
So if you sit back and don’t take hold of the problem, the Holy Spirit has nothing to “take hold of” with you. If you keep silent and don’t pray, the Holy Spirit has nothing to pray. But when you release your prayer even with “groaning you cannot utter” you are actually allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through you God’s will in this situation.
There may be a time when something has happened and you have been devastated, wounded and so hurt you can’t pray, “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” One day you may lie in a hospital bed, sick and exhausted but the Holy Spirit will intercede and express those things you cannot articulate with your mouth. I have cried many times, “Help me Lord with this situation.” The Holy Spirit helps me to get through to the throne of Grace (Ephesians 1:17; 6:18).
PAUL’S PRAYER FOR YOU: “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:16-21 NLT).