The Spirit Prays for Us

One lesson we learn from seasons of pain, darkness, and doubt is that when we’re hurting,

a person’s presence with us is far more significant than any words he or she might say.

Just having someone sit silently next to us when life is hard communicates genuine love and concern. Besides, when we’re hurting, we don’t need clichés (they don’t really comfort), explanations (sometimes there are none), or, at times, Scripture verses (we already know them).

When we’re hurting, we know that no one’s words can make the situation better, the loss less devastating, or the heart less heavy. In fact, we don’t always have words of our own to cry out to the Lord. The pain is just too deep.

In those moments may we remember that the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:26). As we grieve, unable to find words that might release and ease the pain, may we be encouraged to know that the Spirit is praying on our behalf.

The Spirit prays for us even as He comforts us.

And all the while God does His work of healing and sowing seeds of renewed hope.

Holy Spirit, thank You for praying for me, especially in those pain-filled moments when I don’t have any words.

The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. 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

Think of a time you were hurting and someone sat alongside you. Who was that person? What grief were you dealing with? What did that person’s presence communicate to you?

Excerpted with permission from Healing Words: A 60-Day Grief Journal, copyright Thomas Nelson.

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Your Turn

Is someone in your life in a season of grief? Offer them the gift of your presence… not words, not solutions, not platitudes, just your compassion, empathy, and love. Tears are a wonderful message of to a hurting friend that they are loved.