I don’t know about you, but I’m not necessarily confident when I pray out loud in front of a group of people. It’s as though I cannot find the “right” words. I tend to focus more on the fact that others are listening to the words stumbling from my mouth, than I do the fact that God is listening.

I think I also have a difficult time praying aloud because when I pray privately, I do so in moving pictures. I actually visualize the person I’m praying for doing the thing I’m praying about. For example, if I’m praying for someone who is sick, rather than using words for healing, I literally imagine them getting up from bed with joy and vitality. 

For whatever reason, my brain thinks in pictures when I pray with my thoughts. I didn’t even realize I did this until I started being asked to pray aloud and had to come up with expressing clear thoughts. Goodness gracious! I had to come up with actual sentences!

Regardless of how we pray, do you realize that when we struggle to find the words to express our concerns, Jesus actually steps in on our behalf with the prayer? In fact, Romans 8:26-27 affirms this: 

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” 

Even more than stepping in and praying with us, He pleads with the Father for us. He groans. The wordless groans of Jesus for those of us who serve God are powerful. As we come to the alter with our direct-line petition to God the Father, it does not matter how lacking our words (or pictures) are. It simply matters that we come to Him.

Jesus will groan on our behalf to God the Father. 

The next time you think you don’t have the words as you pray, bow in silent reflection of the wordless pleadings of Jesus that are being lifted up to the Father for you. Let His heartfelt moans permeate your being. Then wipe the tears as you smile knowing that sometimes God doesn’t even need to hear words. Tears and groans are all He needs.

by Shawna Russeau-Franklin