Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 8:26

"And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for [us] with groanings which cannot be uttered;" — Romans 8:26 (ASV)

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

And especially our infirmities in prayer, for there is where infirmities are mostly seen.

For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

See what little worlds we are. Microcosms (to use a harder word); for as there are groanings and travailings in the whole creation, so are there such in the little world of our own heart. Only nature's travail is but natural; but our travail is supernatural. It is the Spirit himself groaning within chosen breasts with groanings that cannot be uttered.

Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities:

Oh, how many these are! Want of memory, want of faith, want of earnestness, ignorance, pride, deadness, coldness of heart — these are some of our infirmities; but, thank God, we have the omnipotent Spirit of God to help us.

Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities:

Our weaknesses, our insufficiencies, our inabilities: the Spirit of God comes in to be a helper to the children of God.

For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

These groanings are too deep, too full of meaning to be expressed in words. There are some things the Christian wants for which he cannot ask; perhaps he does not even know what it is that he wants.

There is a vacuum in his heart, but he does not know what would fill it. There is a hunger in his spirit, but he does not know what the bread is, nor where the bread is, that can satisfy his wants.

But the Holy Spirit can articulate these unuttered groans, and the deepest needs of our soul can thus be brought before God by His own Spirit.

You, then, who find it difficult to pray, do not give up praying. The devil tells you that such poor prayers as yours can never reach the ear of God. Do not believe him.

The Spirit helps your infirmities: and when He helps you, you shall, you must prevail.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

You must, I am sure, as children of God, often have felt that Spirit within you groaning in prayer what you could not express.

How often have you risen from your knees feeling the utter inadequacy of words to express the desires of your heart! And you have felt that you had larger desires than you have been able to interpret. There have been mighty pangs within you telling of the presence of this wrestling spirit.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).

Groanings, then, are prayers, and prayers which the Spirit of God most certainly hears. And those desires that completely exhaust language, or that cannot be put into language because of the exhaustion of our sorrow, these are nevertheless heard by God, for the Spirit of God is in them.

For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:

We do not know our own infirmities. Perhaps we think that we are strong, where we are exceedingly weak. The Spirit of God spies out the infirmities, and puts the help where the strength is required.

"We know not what we should pray for as we ought."

For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

There seems to be a good deal of this groaning; it is only in heaven that there are: "No groans to mingle with the songs which warble from immortal tongues." But down here, a groan is sometimes the fittest wheel for the chariot of progress. We sigh, and cry, and groan, to grow out of ourselves, and to grow more like our Lord, and so to become more fit for the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)

There is much in this chapter about groaning, and that is only natural, for it so largely concerns our present imperfect state; but, soon, there will be "No groans to mingle with the songs
which warble from immortal tongues."

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities;

Especially our infirmities in prayer. I think that if our infirmities come out anywhere, it is in prayer; even the strongest are, on their knees, comparatively weak.

How few there are among us who prevail with God, as Elias did! We ought to do so. We need not, any of us, stop short of the fullest stature of a man in Christ Jesus, and a man of full stature in Christ would surely carry the keys of heaven's treasury at his girdle.

He would only have to ask, and he would receive—to seek, and he would find. May the Spirit help our infirmities.

But the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Those great things in prayer that we cannot ask for, which can never be expressed in human language, the Holy Ghost translates into groans, and so we are made to groan when we cannot speak; and those groanings bring us blessings which words cannot encompass. Have you been into your prayer-chamber lately, pleading with God, and have you felt as if you could not pray? We often pray best when we think that we are praying worst. When there is the most anguish, and sighing, and crying in prayer, there is most of the very essence of prayer.

For we knew not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

I should have thought that it would have read, "But the Spirit itself teaches us what we should pray for." But it does more than that. He goes beyond teaching us what we should pray for. He maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Do you know what those groanings are? I am afraid that those who never had groanings which cannot be uttered will never know anything of that glory which cannot be expressed, for that is the way to it. The groanings that cannot be uttered lead on to unutterable joy.