When You Don't Know What to Pray

Have you ever opened your mouth to pray, but had no idea where to start? Or have you been praying for something and realized that you were digging deep into your arsenal of 'christian cliches' for the words to say? I have to be honest, I've prayed "your will not mine, Lord" countless times all the while having no idea even what my will is, let alone God's. I've caught myself on 'prayer autopilot' more times than I care to admit. You know, that moment when you're in your car praying and before you know it, you're just quoting Chris Tomlin lyrics because you aren't actually thinking about the words that you're praying.

Life overwhelms us and puts us in positions that cause us not to know what to say, think, or pray for. As Christians, we know that prayer must be our first response in times like this. But what do you pray when you don't know what to pray? Thankfully, the apostle Paul sheds some light on those moments for us.

"In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."

- Romans 8:26-28

So, the Spirit of God who searches the depths of your heart and the heart and mind of God actually prays for you. But don't miss the word 'groanings' in this passage. Just a few verses earlier, Paul was talking about all of creation 'groaning' with the pains of childbirth as we wait for our final salvation and the return of Jesus. So the Spirit not only prays for you, but echos your sorrow and groanings to God.

The Holy Spirit knows when you and I are overwhelmed, and He does not just intercede on our behalf, He groans with us and for us. He translates our sorrow into prayer requests "according to the will of God." Do you realize the freedom in this? It means you don't have to know all the right words; you can simply spend time in prayer in the presence of your Father. You can rest because the Spirit is at work on your behalf.

And in that moment, you can also know that the trials you are experiencing are being worked together for your good. Notice the verse doesn't say it will feel good or even seem good, but it will be good because God's purposes always are. Rest assured that your prayers are not just your prayers, but the Holy Spirit given to us by God is also taking your prayers and even your groanings and giving them to the Father in a way that lines up with the will of God for your life.

So let yourself be overwhelmed. Celebrate those moments that you do not even know what to pray because the Spirit is praying on your behalf and God is working through it all. That's why later on in that chapter Paul is able to say "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37