Paul writes “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirits intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Ro. 8:26–27).
I’m groaning! Whether it’s confusing regulations for schools, or stories of hungry learners, or education officials leasing “smart screens” for R538m at vastly inflated prices, or Eskom spending R150bn over budget on building new power plants there is usually something in the news to make one groan with despair. Imagine what our schools and hospitals would look like if resources were wisely and equitably managed!
How do we move from groaning with frustration to groaning in prayer? How can we allow the Spirit to transform sighs of despair into prayers of intercession? I believe that the Spirit invites us into a radically new worldview; an outlook that sees God always at work, with us, through us, in us, working to bring about good in all things (Ro. 8:28). We “groan” with “labour pains” because God has given us a vision of what the world will one day be. We “groan” because we are not yet there. We “groan” because we ourselves are not yet fully given to the work of God.
These Spirit-led groans are not uttered in despair but in hope. In each of the above-mentioned areas, and many others, God has placed principals, teachers, learners, parents, engineers etc who follow Jesus. They are salt and light. They are like yeast a woman hid on the flour – leavening the dough (Mt. 13:33). By God’s grace our groans strengthen them for God’s mission. By God’s grace those sighs of prayer will also lead us into acts of love, mercy and justice.
God Bless,
Sean