Our text is Romans 8:26
“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.”
The standard commentary on this is that “Even when you don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for you, and God answers.” I accept this understanding but would like to add an additional thought.
A small child has no problem knowing what to pray about. If you have ever heard children pray at the dinner table, they will pray for every item on the table. At night they pray for each loved one by name. A simple child’s prayer is surely loved by God. As adults, life is a little more complicated. When one gets older life has more struggles. There are days and times when you want to pray but do not know what to pray for. At times like these, God knows what we need just by hearing our groaning to God.
If that sounds odd to you, I challenge you to think about the knowledge of a mother. A mother with a baby does not need to hear the baby say what it needs. A mother can listen to a baby’s cry and tell whether it is hungry, or hurting. She can even tell when the baby is simply throwing a fit. She knows her baby and can interpret its cry.
This verse is telling us the same thing about God. He knows us and knows our groaning. His spirit intercedes for us to answer the prayer when we didn’t know what to ask or what we needed.
In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice.” That is a profound thought, but isn’t it sweet to know that it works the other way also. My God knows my voice also. Because he does, he answers my prayer. So when you don’t know exactly what to pray, pray anyway. God knows exactly what you need.
Lonnie Davis