Relevant Word

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

-Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬‬

Consider This: A newborn baby does not know how to speak. Their only form of communication is crying. They cannot tell their parents, “Dad I’m hungry” or “Mom I need to be changed” or “Grandma I am sleepy”. None of these words are capable of escaping their mouths, yet the adults around them know only a few things could possibly be wrong. The baby has not said a word but is totally understood.

Relevance: Today, we are also like babies to our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we do not know why we feel a certain way or how we should pray or what we should pray. We just know that we are in discomfort and want relief. Fortunately, because God made us and knows everything about us, His Spirit can guide, comfort, and intercede for us. He is a universal language translator who can communicate with anyone and everyone. 

Application: As believers, we can no longer use the excuse of not knowing what to pray or how to pray. When a newborn is hungry, they do not stop crying if the adult changes their diaper. They will not stop crying if the adult tries to put them to sleep. The baby will keep crying until they receive food. They aren’t discouraged that the adult cannot understand them. They just keep crying until their needs are met. Likewise, when we do not know what to pray, we have the Spirit who can intercede on our behalf. And unlike humans, The Spirit does not have to troubleshoot or take a calculated guess on what it is troubling us. The Spirit knows from the beginning what our weaknesses are and what we are struggling with. All we have to do is trust that The Spirit can and will intercede on our behalf.