I Can’t Pray

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and there was a moment in my recent battle against cancer, when I felt utterly overwhelmed. I did not even know how to pray. The words just refused to come together, and I had no energy, no heart for it. Finally, though, I got an idea: why not invite the Holy Spirit to please pray for me? He knows when I’m overwhelmed; the Spirit understands what it means to feel like a burden. So, I said to the Spirit, “Oh Holy Spirit, you know how I’m feeling, you know, because you live inside my heart, and you know how best to pray for me right now.” I think God loves that kind of honesty and vulnerability.

When you can’t pray, how ‘bout saying, “Oh Holy Spirit, would you please do groaning on my behalf. I don’t have words for what I’m going through, but you do, so please Jesus, groan on my behalf before the throne. In his name. Amen.”