The Spirit prays for us

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. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27

Hope helps us through times of suffering (vv. 24–25). The Spirit comes to help us when we find ourselves struggling so much that we are unable to pray as we ought. Paul said that the Spirit “helps us in our weakness.” God is listening; we understand that. But, how many times have we wondered how to pray for a friend suffering a serious illness? Sometimes, out of desperation, we send up volumes of prayer (praying for every possible outcome…covering all our bases), but the response from heaven was not what we wanted or expected. It is in these times, the Spirit himself intercedes on our behalf.

God understands what the Spirit desires even though it is inexpressible in human terms (v. 27). God knows our heart better than we do ourselves. His knowledge of our heart is direct, not dependent upon my inability to articulate my thoughts into words. The Psalmist told us that God is a searcher of hearts; He also knows the desires of the Spirit as the Spirit intercedes for us. The Spirit comes to our aid and takes our concerns to God. Our groans (v. 23) become his (v. 26) as he intercedes on our behalf.