Weak Week

Well, my sick day turned into a sick week. Thinking back over the last few years, I do not think I have felt that bad in a long time! My wife convinced me to go to the doctor so I begrudgingly made an appointment and found out I had Influenza B. I’m not really sure what that meant, but I knew I was in pretty bad shape. They gave me some medicine and told me to drink lots of fluid and get rest. As each day passed, I felt more and more tired. Even since I have been back at work this week, I still feel exhausted. In talking to others who have had the flu this season, they were able to confirm the normalcy of my symptoms. (it may sound like I am complaining a lot, but I am headed somewhere with this!) Times of prayer this week have yielded little as I struggled to find the strength to verbalize my thoughts to God. I found my mind wandering and just asking God for strength to make it. Don’t get me wrong…I know there are many people out there facing much more serious situations than myself, but I just felt weak and void of power. I began to contemplate whether God even cared that I was praying because I couldn’t understand myself, so I’m pretty sure He had no clue what I was saying…or did He? I am reminded of Romans 8:26 where Paul writes “the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Okay…I know Paul is not specifically referring to a person being sick, but I believe there is an overriding principle in this passage. Earlier, Paul mentioned that our bodies groan because they are awaiting redemption from the fallenness of sin. Because of sin our bodies experience corruption, shame, weakness, and limitations (1 Corinthians 15:40-44); however, those who have experienced the forgiveness of sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will receive new bodies at the rapture of the church. So, what about now? How does God help us through times of weakness in this life. Romans 8:26 holds the key. Sometimes we don’t know how to pray or what to pray about, but the Spirit understands the mind of God and prays on our behalf. The Spirit is said to pray with “groanings which cannot be uttered.“ This simply means that the Godhead expresses communication amongst themselves which cannot be translated into words, but are clearly understood by them. In those times when you find yourself empty before God and uncertain about the words you need to speak, remember the Holy Spirit is constantly praying for you to follow God’s will. Maybe silence before God is a regular occurrence for you…an unavoidable circumstance or looming temptation leaves you speechless. When you have no words to speak to God, He takes those yearnings of the heart and prays to God the Father for you to do the will of God. Take comfort in knowing that God prays for you and is begging Him to give you the strength to accomplish His will, even when you feel weak.