Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (ESV)

I think sometimes as 21-century people, we forget to take a historical view of the Bible. A lot was going on as Paul wrote his letter to the Romans…

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In AD 57, the year this letter was written, Nero was emperor of Rome. The Jews had just been allowed to return to Rome after being exiled. The empire had just gone through a time of expansion and economic growth under Emperor Claudius, and then…here is Nero. Most contemporary sources describe him as tyrannical, self-indulgent, and debauched. The historian Tacitus claims the Roman people thought him compulsive and corrupt. In fact, there is speculation that the great fire of Rome (AD 64), which Nero blamed on Christians, was started by Nero himself to clear land for his overly extravagant bath house. Can you feel the political tension in the history of ancient Rome? Can you relate?  

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In our passage today, Paul starts off with an acknowledgment; he says, “in our weakness.” I think Paul understood the stress of the times. He knew the tension the people were feeling, so he reminds his audience that they are free from the oppression of sin. Then he follows up by reminding them of the blessings that come from being a child of the true King! In Romans 8:26-27, Paul reminds us we are not alone, but we have the Spirit, who, in our weakness, intercedes for us.  

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Maybe we can phrase it this way: In our frustration, in our utter despair over what’s going on, in our anxiety of coming days, when we just don’t have the words…we have the Spirit who steps in for us and brings it to our Father, who knows un inside and out.  

I love the line that says the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. In Eugene Peterson’s The Message version of the Bible, it says it this way: “He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves.”  

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Can you feel that? The constant bombardment from news, from politics, from what the world says we need to do and say… How many of us are just done? We are so overwhelmed by everything, that we don’t even have words. We sit in whatever solitude we can find, and the words escape us because our brains are on overdrive. I can honestly say, yes, that’s me. I try to talk to my Father and all that I manage is a groan of exasperation over this world.  

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Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us there is nothing new under the sun, though. What we are going through is not a surprise to God; the utter absence of words doesn’t confuse him. When we are in that place, we can rest in the peace of the Spirit, who knows exactly what you need, has the exact words, and is taking them to a God who knows us so much more intimately than anyone, anything, or even ourselves! We have a God who is for us, and in our exhaustion, he brings us peace. When we are weak, he remains strong.  

God, you are so good, you know me in my deepens depths. God, you don’t only know me, but when I’m at the end of my rope, you also provide peace and rest. When I don’t have words, you see my soul. God, I praise you for who you are. Amen.