The Great Eight- Pt 16

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 ESV).

Look again at the beginning of our reading today. Paul says, "Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness." The uncertainty about what we are to pray is because of our "weakness." Now the word "weakness" in the New Testament can be weakness owing to our limited human nature (cf. Romans 6:19), or weakness owing to sickness (cf. Luke 5:15) or weakness owing to adversity (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). However, here it is the weakness of death working in our flesh. It's the problem of our bodies that are not yet redeemed. We are groaning because we are yet experiencing the curse of the fall (v. 20). So here we find help and hope in our struggle. The Spirit prays just the right prayer in this weakness we cannot overcome in our own strength. It is of great interest that this “weakness” the sickness and futility and frustration and decay and misery of life on the way to heaven. Isn’t that the greatest part of our daily frustration? At one time or another we all ask “why?” when circumstance seems impossible for us to deal with. We don't know whether we should pray for healing or for strength to endure. Of course, both are right and it's not wrong to pray for either. But we long to pray with great faith, and we groan that we are not sure what God's way will be with this sickness or this loss or this imprisonment. We just don't know. We can see some examples of this in Paul's life. Consider his “thorn in the flesh” (cf. 2 Corinthians 12). He asked three times that it be removed. And finally Jesus revealed to him that his will was not to take it away. Surely, that experience would leave Paul wondering with every sickness and pain and hardship and imprisonment what God's will was. And when he was in prison in Rome he seemed to be unsure what to pray for, life and ministry, or death with courage (cf. Philippians 1:22-24). Now this is painfully relevant to all of us today. Not only are there many who are sick, but there are some now and there will be many over the next years who are in danger somewhere in the world, and wonder, "How should we pray?" Should we pray for a safe escape? Or should we resolve to stay and pray for protection? Or should we stay and pray for courage to suffer and even die? We look at more detail in the coming days; however, today can I merely encourage you to pray. The Holy Spirit will sort it all out perfectly for you. You cannot pray wrongly!