Let me share one of the most comforting verses in the Bible.

There are times when we feel as if our prayer life is deflated. In fact, there are times when we feel deflated, generally speaking. Things are not as they should be. We feel as though we can barely do the basics let alone follow Jesus with passion. It’s hard enough to string a coherent sentence together let alone have a crackerjack devotional life.

Enter Romans 8:26-28. Let’s drink it in.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

In other words, God’s love is so great, that even when we are weak, and when we don’t know what to pray for as we ought, the Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. He steps in when you struggle to put one foot in front of the other.

Imagine a crying toddler. He is exhausted. All he can do is cry. He’s not even sure what is wrong anymore. That’s when a loving mother or father picks him up, rocks him back and forth, rubs his back, and says: “I’ve got you. I love you. Everything will be okay.”

This is our heavenly Father to us.

Some chapters of life are great. Others are not-so-great. When we are in Christ, not even moments of abject weakness can separate us from the intervening power of a merciful, compassionate God. 

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

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Notes:

-The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on November 10, 2025.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.