In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. – Romans 8:26-27
In my early 20s one of my church friends – just a couple of years older than me – was diagnosed with a brain tumour. It shook the young adults of our church. What was God doing? Why would this happen to such a young, vibrant, newly-married Christian who was growing so rapidly in his faith? We did not know. We cried. We visited. We prayed. We rejoiced when we found out he was in remission. We thought that God had answered our prayers – our friend would make the miraculous recovery. But the tumour returned, more aggressive than the last. His decline was rapid. And just like that, the crushing message went out. He died.
As our hope for our friend’s recovery waned, we found it more difficult to pray. We wrestled with questions that had never meant so much before. What should we pray? Can we still pray for healing when it doesn’t seem like this is God’s will? What is the point of praying if God is just going to do what He wants anyway? The answers seemed so trite when they referred to our friend’s life.
Many years have passed since my friend died, and though I’ve lived longer and studied more and even done a theological degree, the answers ring hollow in the face of such suffering. And yet, I know them to be true. These are truths that are not welcome when in the midst of trials, but are vital to getting us through with even deeper faith in God. And so, I say some of them now in the hope that they will prepare your heart to face dark times.
As I write this, I go back to that time, so long ago, when my faith was very young. I didn’t know how to pray. I didn’t know how to trust God. I had probably read today’s verses before, but they didn’t mean anything much to me. But they do now.
When we pray, even the fervent prayers of life and death, we can pray exactly what our hearts are crying for, and we can know that God hears every spoken and unspoken prayer. There is no sense in which the “level” of our faith or the fervency of our prayers alters God’s good and perfect will. If we are honest with ourselves, and if we truly believe that God is who He says He is, we would not want for our will to cross His will. We would not want Him to bend to our desires. We do not know all that God knows. We are not perfect in love and holiness. And yet, we pray because God has ordained that it is through our prayers that His will is done (Matt 7:7-8, Jas 4:2, Jas 5:16).
We can pray confidently because we know that the Holy Spirit, who carries our prayers, knows the mind of God and intercedes for us according to God’s will. I don’t need to comprehend all the facts, nor come to the “correct” supplication. But perhaps this is the hardest part to swallow because this means that we need to believe that even the things that are rightly called evil and cause terrible suffering are somehow part of God’s good will. Sometimes, we might find a reason for the suffering, but even this is not guaranteed.
What can we do when we feel that God is being unfaithful and withholding good, or allowing evil, in our lives? What can we do when we doubt that God is really our good Father?
Keep talking to God
What we read particularly in these verses and in verses 15-16, is that God’s heart and mind are brought close to us by the Holy Spirit. His desires for our lives are made beautiful to us as He sanctifies us. Even in darkness, anger, disappointment, confusion, deep sorrow, we can, as the Psalmists, keep talking to God. As we speak, we listen for His response in His Word, and through the Holy Spirit, truths of assurance and comfort and unfathomable peace are pressed upon our hearts.
Keep fellowship with the Family
When I have gone through dark times, my instinct has been to withdraw from all community, including the Family of God. And yet when I have pushed myself to be present, I have found that the words I cannot speak, the truths I cannot sing, find their way into my soul through the word and song of my brothers and sisters. The prayers I can barely pray for myself are prayed on my behalf, even though I cannot tell other how to pray, the Spirit in them speaks. Time and again I have met my Father in the midst of my Family, where in my suffering solitude I have only felt terribly alone.
These are simple things I have learnt, but what they amount to is exposing myself in any way possible to God and His truths. It is only in this way that He can comfort and shape me and deepen my faith, to sanctify my in my suffering, broaden my perspective and reorder my desires.
When all other lights go out, the one Light of the world shines out, showing Himself to be my hope, my deepest desire, my mighty shield and great reward.
Prayer focus:
- Praise God that His will is good and perfect.
- Pray that the trials and suffering that we face would sanctify us and deepen our faith
- Uplift those who are going through dark times now. Pray that our hearts would be filled with grace and compassion for them and that we would show the love and comfort of God to them.
