Too Deep for Words

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ~ Romans 8:26-27

I can't tell you how many people have told me that they either don't know how to pray or don't like to pray out loud or in front of others.

I used to be one of them (maybe sometimes I still am...)

Some of the angst about prayer comes, I think, from all the different ways we are told what it is or how to do it. That's not a scientifically researched idea on my part, but instead something that I've felt along the way and suspect others have as well.

There are two pieces of wisdom that are related that I've found to help me when prayer feels elusive. Martin Luther said about prayer that we are all "beggars." Sometimes all we can do is turn to God with "please" or "help."

But the bit of wisdom that has helped me the most are these words from St. Paul: "for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words."

Paul gets it. He knows that most of us are amateurs when it comes to prayer - even perhaps if we don't think that we are.

But when our groanings are bigger than we can handle, the Spirit is there interceding on our behalf with groanings - or as in other translations, sighs - too deep for words.

Sometimes perhaps that is all of a prayer you can muster or need - a sign, one that words cannot adequately cover.

Dear Lord...sigh. Amen.