One of my least favorite things about flying is the take-off. Terry knows how much I dislike this part, and recently when we were flying back to Florida, we were both engrossed in the books we were reading. Without saying a word, he reached over and held my hand tightly. Even better? Our personal photographer was with us on this trip and was able to capture the moment without my even knowing it. Doesn’t that sound so fancy? The fact that we travel with our personal photographer? Yeah. It’s Michala. She’s our personal photographer. The candid shots she takes are always my favorites.
Anyway, the point I am making is Terry knows me, inside and out; backwards and forwards. I did not have to say to him, “I hate take-off. It makes me so nervous,” because he already knew. Later on during that flight when I closed my book and tried to close my eyes for a nap (which never happened, because I can’t seem to sleep while flying) I realized I did not have to articulate my emotions to Terry. He knew. Just like when I am at the end of my rope, sometimes, and do not have the words to pray, The Holy Spirit does it for me. He just knows, and He carries my thoughts, my fears, my worries, my concerns, my frustration straight to God, and He expresses all of it, for me.
“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)
Okay, before you think I am being disrespectful, please do not think I am comparing Terry to The Holy Spirit. I am, however, making a comparison. Sounds as though I am contradicting myself here, but I recognized the analogy that night. Some very trying things have taken place in our lives and I find myself to the point of not having the words to pray about it, anymore. I find myself so overwhelmed with emotions; so dismayed. I cannot tell you how many mornings I sit quietly trying to find the words and have to say, “Papa, I just don’t know how to pray about this,” or how many nights I lay quietly in bed and pray, “God, I need Your Spirit to take this to You, because I am at a loss.”
I have shared this before, but it is not correct to say, “God never gives us more than we can handle.” He most certainly does give us more than we can handle. Several years ago, my precious sister-friend, Jessica, told me in their Bible study one night, they discussed this saying. Jessica shared with me, “God in fact does give us more than we can handle, in order for us to give it to Him. We can’t handle it alone, but with His strength, He carries it all. He handles it, we don’t.”
That is such a beautiful image. Our weakest moments are where His strength is magnified in our lives. Whatever struggle you are facing, imagine The Holy Spirit Himself standing before God, praying for you. Groaning and crying and pleading with God, on your behalf. Isn’t that such a humbling thought? Before the enemy tries to overwhelm you with fear, anxiety, anger, heartache … ask The Holy Spirit right then and there to intercede on your behalf. Then take a deep breath and realize how loved you are, to have The Holy Spirit praying for you.