Romans 8:26   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. (NIV)

One of the most challenging aspects of caring for a non-verbal person is trying to interpret the sounds that they make. It’s frustrating to wonder whether a person is hungry, tired, hurting, or just bored. But let’s admit this: it’s much more challenging for the non-verbal person! God hasn’t given them the gift of speaking a recognizable language, and so they have to devise ways to communicate their feelings and desires. Sometimes the sounds they come up with aren’t exactly socially appropriate, but how can you blame them? If they have urgent needs, it only makes sense that they would try to communicate until those needs are met.

It’s especially heart-rending when a parent discovers that they have been misinterpreting their child’s sounds. Perhaps we thought they liked a certain food or drink, but later we discovered what we thought was joyful exuberance was actually their way of saying, “Please, not this again!” Perhaps we thought that they were merely tired, but later we discovered that they were groaning because of an internal pain.

God the Holy Spirit never makes those sorts of mistakes. As God, he shares all the attributes of the Father and the Son. And he has the special role of being our Comforter, the One who figuratively puts his arm around our shoulder to tell us that everything will be all right.

Maybe we’ve been blessed with people who do that – who cheer us up and say encouraging things to us. If so, we should give thanks to God for them. At the same time, the comforting work of the Holy Spirit is better.

First, unlike our fellow human beings, he understands perfectly. He understands what we are feeling and what all our loved ones are feeling. He is not ashamed of our weaknesses. Even a person who cannot talk is perfectly understood by the Holy Spirit.

Second, he puts himself in a position to do something about our weaknesses. The apostle Paul tells us that he “intercedes” for us – that is, he puts himself between us and whatever challenge we are facing. He translates even unspoken feelings and desires into his own language, a language that is filled with understanding and compassion. And then, in that language, he urges the Father and the Son to act on our behalf.

As parents, we certainly do feel weak and helpless sometimes. At those times, the Spirit reminds us that he has decided to make our challenges his own.

Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, what you inspired the apostle Paul to write is absolutely true: sometimes I do not even know what to pray for. Thank you that you always know. Thank you that you intercede on my behalf. Teach me to pray confidently, and remind me of the wonderful love of God that you have revealed to me through Holy Scripture. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

by Stephen and Margo Schmidt