The coronavirus has confronted us with the harshness of uncertainty. We simply do not know and in that unknowing we can put fear, doubt, worry, anger, frustration and a whole host of other less than ideal reactions.
Or we can put a promise of God into our unknowing …Today, the Lord took me here in prayer:
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. Romans 8:26-27
Now Paul makes an interesting statement that we may not know what to pray for in certain situations (this is what I was feeling today). The context of the text gives the key to understanding Paul’s statement. Romans 8:18-25 deals with the frustrations of living in the fallen world; frustrations that are inevitable until Jesus returns. Coronavirus is a frustration (to say the least).
Our “weakness” (v. 26) is most likely the fact that we do not know God’s secret will (Proverbs 25:2; Deuteronomy 29:29) regarding the frustrations and hardships that befall us. Do we escape them or endure them? Do we need courage or relief? Security or strength? We recall that even Paul wrestled with wanting to die or to continue on with ministry (see Philippians 1:22-24).
The bottom line is that we want Jesus to be magnified, exalted, known, and worshipped but we are uncertain as to how this might come to pass in the COVID-19 crisis. So God offers us a promise: the help of the Spirit in intercession.
Here are 5 encouragements we can draw from this powerful promise (adapted from Desiring God blog):
- I do not have to know God’s will perfectly or worry that I don’t know it. I simply trust the Spirit who “searches” and “intercedes” according to God’s will.
- God the Spirit groans for us in prayer with a deeper meaning than human language can express and human reasoning can understand.
- God is not limited by my limits in understanding. Instead, He does more than I can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
- God will answer the prayers of God. God the Father hears the prayers of God the Spirit for us.
- God answers these prayers of His Spirit for the good of His people as Romans 8:28 promises,
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Rock Bridgers,
Let’s come together for prayer next week at First Wednesday Online, trusting in this promise and banking on the Spirit’s promised groanings FOR us!
First Wednesday — Call to Prayer
April 1st
Online at 6:30 pm