Romans - Part 4: SPIRITSample

Help in Our Weakness

Romans 8:22 states that the whole creation groans. Verse 23 also says that we who have the first fruits of the Spirit also groan within ourselves. These groans are not complaints, but rather they are the sighs of one who longs for glory. Now, as we come to 8:26, we see that the Spirit makes intercession (defined as rescuing someone in trouble) for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered.

We tend to try to avoid any signs of weakness and thus, we have the false assumption that we are pretty much self-sufficient. That is until God allows trials in our lives that drive us to seek Him out in times of desperation, need, loss, sickness, and the like. And it is often in times of these predicaments that we are at a loss for words as we approach our Father in prayer.

Ah, but God does not leave us wallowing in our despair. Just as Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him as wheat, Jesus told Peter that He prayed that his faith would not fail. As Paul boasted in his weakness, so we should follow his example, as difficult as it seems.

What a comfort it is to know that we have Jesus interceding for us in heaven and the Holy Spirit doing the same in our hearts, with groanings that our Father in heaven knows full well.

Romans 8:26 says:

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession us with groaning's which cannot be uttered.”

-Marty DeJager