Dr. Dan Hayden •
When is the last time you groaned? Something deep inside of you, reacting to some painful experience—some deep disappointment. Well, that’s what the Holy Spirit does when He prays for you in the midst of your suffering. He suffers right along with you—He groans!
Romans 8:26 says, “The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
This verse tells us that when we are weak and don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit is right there with us in our prayers, praying for us with groanings too deep for words. You see, the Holy Spirit is a person and therefore He has emotions too. He knows our struggle, He senses our hurt, and He feels deeply for us—He is emotionally involved.
This word “groanings” is a word that means “a sigh or a groan; an emotional reaction that comes from deep within.”
Actually this word is used only one other time in the New Testament. In Acts 7:34 Stephen tells us that God looked at Israel’s suffering under Egyptian bondage and said, “…I have heard their groanings.” Can you picture the Jewish slaves groaning under the cruel oppression of their Egyptian taskmasters? This is the same word used of the Holy Spirit when He prays for you.
You may be emotionally involved in your problems, but it may encourage you to know the Holy Spirit is groaning right along with you. He feels deeply about what is happening to you and He is making a passionate appeal on your behalf. He “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
You are never alone in your suffering—the Holy Spirit cares and He is praying for you.
For further study, see The Prayer Puzzle.