"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words."
Romans 8:26 NLT
Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you don't know what to pray?
I sure have. Actually, I'm there right now.
Sometimes I just can't see the way forward.
The path is foggy.
I can't see the forest for the trees.
I don't know what's over the next hill or around the next bend.
I want to fulfill God's purpose, follow His will, trust, and obey Him.
But what exactly does that look like?
Does God have an elusive plan that I don't know about?
Or does His plan look suspiciously like mine?
Is He leading me in the direction of my desires? Or is that too easy? Too good to be true?
I know God gives us the best desires of our hearts.
To help humankind and love one another and create good things are desires from God.
To get payback or puff up our pride or pursue earthly pleasures are not desires from God.
That's not to say God doesn't want to grant justice or appreciate our accomplishments or bless us with His abundance.
He does want those things.
On His terms, in His timing.
Sometimes we mere humans have difficulty discerning God's terms and timing.
Even when we read His word.
Even when we seek His face.
Even when we outright ask Him.
Sometimes we still have more questions than answers.
Sometimes He is silent.
Sometimes that means, "Not yet" or "You're not ready" or "Wait".
And sometimes we don't want to hear the answers.
Yet these things I know:
God loves and cares about me.
God has the best plan for my life.
God has ultimate authority to bring His plan to fruition.
"The Lord will work out His plans for my life -- for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever."
Psalms 138:8 NLT
And God cares about those around me.
God cares about the work He has done.
When God sends me on a new mission, He will take care of whatever is left behind.
He has a perfect plan.
So much better than mine.
"For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55:9 NLT
For all these reasons, I can trust that God will bring about His plans.
He will lead me.
He will open doors where I need to go, and close doors where I need to walk away.
And when I don't know what to pray?
I ask His Holy Spirit to pray for me in groans that words cannot express.
No wonder I don't have the words.
Sometimes there are no words.
Our groans for God are all we need.
Heavenly Father, Your will be done.
"And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will."
Romans 8:27 NLT