In Romans 8 Paul writes, “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” (Romans 8:26).
Groanings. A groaning is a deep sound from inside, like a long sigh when something hurts. The Spirit prays for us with feelings too deep for words.
Not alone. The Holy Spirit lives in everyone who trusts Jesus. When you cannot find the words, He is already praying.
God is not in a hurry. You do not have to pray fast or use big words. God is patient with His children, and He waits to hear from you.
The Father listens. Paul says God “searches the hearts” (Romans 8:27). He sees what is inside you, even the parts you cannot say.
Prayers in the Psalms. God’s people have often prayed with tears instead of tidy words. The Psalms show us how.
A prayer with tears. One psalm prays, “Hear my prayer, O Lord, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears” (Psalm 39:12).
Tears speak. The writer asks God to listen to his tears. God understands what our tears mean, even when we cannot explain them.
Day and night. Another psalm says, “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3). The writer felt sad for a long time. He did not hide it from God.
A song in the night. The same psalm says, “in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8). Even in a dark time, he kept praying.
Not a punishment. Feeling sad does not mean God is angry with you. It means you live in a world that groans, and God cares about you in it.
Tell a grown-up too. If you are sad because someone is hurting you, or something at home feels scary, tell a parent or a trusted grown-up. God often helps us through the people He puts near us.
Why we can pray. Our sin once kept us far from God. But Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Everyone who trusts Him can come to God as His child.
What to do. When you do not know what to say, just come to God. Sigh, cry or simply ask Him for help. The Spirit will carry that prayer to the Father.
Romans 8:27 says, “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” God hears the Spirit’s prayers for us. Psalm 116 shows a person who knew God had heard him.
Love for God. “I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications” (Psalm 116:1). Supplications are prayers asking for help.
God leaned close. “Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live” (116:2). To incline your ear means to lean close so you can hear someone.
A picture. Think of a parent kneeling down to hear a small child whisper. That is how God listens to you.
Love grows. The writer loved God more because God had heard him. Answered prayer makes our love for God grow.
A promise. Because God listened, the writer promised to keep praying “as long as I live” (116:2). One answered prayer led to a lifetime of prayer.
Trouble. The writer had been in great danger. He says, “I found trouble and sorrow” (116:3).
A short prayer. Then he prayed, “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” (116:4). Implore means beg. It was a short, simple prayer, and God heard it.
What God is like. “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful” (116:5). Gracious means kind to people who do not deserve it.
For the weak. “The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me” (116:6). Brought low means very weak or in great need.
Rest. “Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you” (116:7). Bountifully means with great kindness.
Tears wiped away. “For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling” (116:8).
God’s way. The Spirit prays “according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27). God hears His children, and He answers in the way that is truly best, even when it is not the answer we expected.
The gospel. We can call on God because Jesus made the way. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is welcomed by the Father.
What to do. Tell God what you need today, even in one short sentence. Then thank Him, as the psalm does, for every time He has heard you.
Complete all sections to finish!
Read each section and answer the questions correctly.