The Spirit's Intercession

Romans 8:26
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.


I think we’ve all had those times in our lives when we go to the Lord in prayer, and nothing comes out. We know we are in need, and that God can fulfill that need, and yet we cannot utter a word when we are on our knees.

It is so good to know that in those moments, as Christians, we have the Spirit within us interceding for us according to what we need. I would imagine that there is no purer prayer than that of the Spirit within us. When we are at a loss for words, the Holy Spirit is not. There are even times when I wish I could learn to just be quiet before the throne, and let the Spirit do the praying for me. You’ll notice, however, that this is not talking about letting the Spirit do all the praying for us at all times. The Spirit will not pray for us if we never go to the Lord in prayer. This is talking about times when we desire to pray, to go before God with our troubles and our weaknesses, but we are at a loss for words. The pain is too deep, the grief too heavy, and our minds are too fogged. It is then that the Spirit will take over, and we can just rest before the Father.

I also love the first part of the verse, that "the Spirit helps us in our weakness." The KJV says "the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities." In other words, He helps our weakness – not just helps us in our weakness – whether physical, spiritual, or emotional. The Greek word for "help" is sunantilambanomai (quite the tongue twister, if you want to give it a try), which means, "to lay hold along with, to strive to obtain with others, help in obtaining; to take hold with another." Wow! The Spirit actually takes hold of our weaknesses with us, He doesn’t just help us to take hold of them – He actually takes hold of them Himself! What relief! To know that the Spirit of God is taking hold of our weaknesses is almost more than I can handle. But it helps me feel stronger, somehow, because now I know that any and every weakness within me will be no problem, because God is in there turning that weakness into a strength. Just like a wound becomes a scar, and that scar is tougher and more durable than the surrounding tissue, so too our weakness become a source of great strength, when we allow the Spirit to take hold of them and heal them.

So, the next time you’re feeling weak, helpless, lost for words, take comfort in the fact that the Spirit within you is lifting you up the Father. Get down on your knees and let the Spirit do the talking. Go to the Father, and allow Him to show you how the Spirit has laid hold of your troubles with you, as you kneel quietly before Him.