Do Our Prayers Fall Short? - Encouragement for Today - September 26, 2025

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September 26, 2025

Do Our Prayers Fall Short?
CAROLE HOLIDAY

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“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.” Romans 8:26 (NIV)

I felt like a failure.

Over two steaming cups of tea, I leaned into the whispers of the friend sitting beside me. Softly sobbing, her shoulders shook with the impact of the news she was sharing. This was a hard diagnosis with no bumper-sticker slogans to wipe it away.

I’m OK sitting in silence when a hurting friend needs a hand to hold. But often I don’t know how best to pray. In this case, my petition felt trivial for the weight of her broken heart.

It wasn’t the first time I’ve felt helpless like this. Sitting with a grieving neighbor, a despairing young mother, a lonely widow … I’ve felt moved to offer prayer, but I can’t always find the words.

Maybe you’ve been there too. What do we do when we feel powerless in our petitions?

There’s hope in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Paul’s words to this church, afflicted by disharmony within and Roman oppression without, acknowledged their suffering and the inadequacy humans feel during distress: “We do not know what we ought to pray for …” (Romans 8:26).

I’m guessing Paul had sat with a suffering saint more than a few times.

He likely experienced how helplessness quickly arises, whether in the face of devastating diagnoses or dashed dreams. But it’s at those moments when we often slip to our knees with raised hands — a posture reflecting where our abilities end and God's flourish.

For me, wordless prostration acts as a prelude to the Holy Spirit's grand orchestration of music in my heart when the pain is so deep that all I can mouth is one name: Jesus. With that single prompt, the Spirit stitches together a symphony, all the notes in the right place.

Romans 8 explains how that happens. When we struggle to articulate our prayers, the Spirit advocates for us in “wordless groans” (Romans 8:26). Not only does He fully express our desires, but He does so in harmony with God’s plan: “The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27, NIV).

Picture a lawyer in the highest court standing before the supreme Judge and detailing our unspoken needs with every nuance of our hearts perfectly communicated.

I constantly rest in this passage. God knows our inadequacies, and He provides help.

Even when we say …

“I have no idea how to pray.”
“I don’t even know where to begin.”
“How can anyone understand this enough to find the right words?”

We don’t have to understand. When life hurts and we don’t know how to appeal to the Most High, the Holy Spirit will stand in the gap for us.

That’s a great promise of hope and comfort.

Father, when I feel helpless, remind me of the Spirit’s presence. When I can’t find the words to pray, remind me the Spirit will speak for me. Thank You for these promises. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Follow Carole on Instagram @caroleholiday and on her website caroleholiday.com, where she shares stories and recipes from her Cottage Cooking School.

Carole writes about a deep place of helplessness in her book, I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore. Find out more here!

FOR DEEPER STUDY

John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (NIV).

The Greek word parakletos often describes the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. It can be translated as any of the following: Advocate, Helper, Comforter, Counselor, or Intercessor. Read how that word is used in the context of John 15:26 and John 16:7.

How do these descriptions of the Spirit allow you to more easily understand His role in our lives? Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2025 by Carole Holiday. All rights reserved.