Do you find yourself at a loss for words when you pray? It seems that the closer the burden, the harder it is to find words. How much easier it is to pray for a missionary in Central America or on the continent of Africa than to pray for our own children. Why is that? You and I do not truly have a connection with those far away unless we have met them and correspond with them. Often, we only have a name and a location. However, when it is your grandchild or your son or daughter, the desire to call out to God is great, but words are harder to come by. When trouble steps into our lives and the billows crash time and time again it is hard to pray as we ought.

Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter. Many well-known verses come from this passage in Paul’s epistle to the Christians at Rome. Perhaps the most popular verse is verse 28. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” What is the foundation for this verse that is so often quoted? To understand verses, often we should read the preceding verses for a proper understanding. That will be the focus for us today. Let’s look at verse 26 and 27, then add verse 28 which connects all three.

We are introduced to the Spirit. Notice the capital “S” for the word Spirit in verse 26. This is the Holy Spirit of God. He helps us with our prayer life when our infirmities limit us. When the words escape us and we cannot find a way to utter anything because the burden is so heavy, the Spirit helps us. Here are some truths to learn if you do not already know them or do not remember them.

  1. God knows our hearts (V. 27). “…he (God the Father) searcheth the hearts.” The Lord knows more about you than you know yourself. He knows our frame and that we are but dust. He is so great that without us being articulate He knows the load you are under.
  2. God knows the mind of the Spirit (V. 27). “…he (God the Father) that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit.” There is never a conflict within the Trinity. Each person of the Trinity is perfectly in sync with the other two.
  3. The Holy Spirit prays according to the will of God (V. 27b). “…he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Think about how this works. You ask for a certain result but the desired result is not really the will of God. We might pray for the will of God nevertheless we have a desired outcome. The burden is great and words begin to fail you but the Spirit, using “groanings” that we do not understand, intercedes with a different prayer (V. 26). A prayer that is in accordance to the will of God. Our infirmities (weaknesses) are numerous and glaring, yet the Holy Spirit corrects the petition after we prayed wrongly either with our limited words or just the longings of the soul.

Now with that background add in verse 28. When we understand that God knows our hearts and the mind of the Spirit, along with the Spirit finishing our prayers to be attuned to the will of God, we can have assurances that all things truly do work together for those that love God. God knows all, the beginning from the end. So if you do not get what you want, remember our prayers should be according to the will of God. Even if we cannot verbalize them, the Holy Spirit will do it for us. Let me close with some powerful words from Henry Viscardi. My prayer is that they will encourage you as you travel toward that celestial city.

“I asked God for strength, that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of others. I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life. I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men, most richly blessed.”