Prayer as Groaning

One would think, being in a program called Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, your prayer life would flourish. It's actually the opposite. It seems that right now Keri and I are asking a lot more critical questions about prayer and how it "works" in our Christian walk.

Sometimes this leads to frustration in our own walks with God. Oh, we want to be so committed, and would like to direct souls into a perfect Christian life. The truth is though, that Christians, just like anyone else, are very messy people. As a couple and individuals, we are at times messy, distracted, unreliable, confused, doubt-filled, immature, irrational, fearful, complain-y and tired. And, with Jesus' death and resurrection in view, this is where prayer must begin.

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit,groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies...


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. (Rm 8. 22-23,26-27)

So the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. What are these groanings? They are our groanings as a created being underneath the reign of sin--a world rebelling against its Creator. As Christians we "groan inwardly" as the Spirit works into us the truths gifted to us through Jesus. It may be hard to understand, but think of it this way.

Find and understand the areas in your life where there is the most groaning (pain, dryness, unutterable-ness, un-clarity, un-comfort, loss, grief, fear,weakness, insecurity, disruption, sin, anger, bitterness, selfishness). It is in those places of groaning that the Spirit is doing the deepest most intimate and powerful work because of our faith in Jesus' death and resurrection.

Recognize those areas as the groaning places of the Spirit. Since the groaning places are where the Spirit is moving, it might be good for us to pay those some attention! We may be groaning because of the Spirits work. We may be, even unintentionally, groaning against the Spirit's love and instruction (this is something to clarify). In prayer we can join with the Spirit's work in those uncomfortable areas. They are really areas where God's presence, love and power can heal, free, calm, sooth, untie, break, ground and renew our souls.

Do you find that your prayer life is hard like ours? Take confidence, God is already doing a work in everything and anything that would keep us from Him.

He has already anticipated our weakness.

He has helped our helplessness.

He has understood our obstacles. 

He has planned for our inconsistencies. 

He has dealt with our sin. 

He is undaunted by our fears. 

He is careful with our cares. 

He is wise in our foolishness.

He is perfect in our imperfections. 

He is secure in our insecurities. 

He is strong in our weakness.

He is able in all our inability.

He is love in our unlovely-ness.

He has come to us when all we do is run.

 And He remains steadfast, strong, wise, powerful, holy, just and loving--and dispenses all of His power to the care of our souls. He is the means and end of our prayers. He desires to be with us.