December 18, 2025
Romans 8:26 (ESV)
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
George Matheson (1842–1906), a Scottish pastor and theologian, became nearly blind in his early twenties while training for ministry. Much of his devotional writing reflected that place of limitation, where his dependence often exceeded his ability to produce words. Unable at times to name his needs or give them language before God, Matheson came to trust that his wordless turmoil was not prayer’s failure. It was its truest form. For Matheson, Romans 8:26 was not comfort in theory but a reality lived: Weakness received. Silence interpreted. His longing carried to God by the Spirit Himself.
And so he wrote this prayer:
“My Father, I have moments of deep unrest-moments when I know not what to ask by reason of the very excess of my wants. I have in these hours no words for you, no conscious prayers for you. My cry seems purely worldly; I want only the wings of a dove that I may flee away...But you know what I ask, O my God. You know the name of that need which lies beneath my speechless groan. You know that, because I am made in your image. I can find rest only in what gives rest to you; therefore, you have counted my unrest unto me for righteousness, and have called my groaning your Spirits prayer.” - G.Matheson
Our desire for meaning and depth is a bottomless pit. And so we wrestle with articulating our deepest pain and suffering.
And its in these moments that the Word tells us He is not only there teaching us to pray, but quite literally interceding and praying for us – with the wisdom of infinity, everlasting.
I heard a pastor recount a story recently of two college football teams in a high stakes game. One team was up with only twenty-five seconds remaining. All they had to do was get in what’s known as the victory formation – a play you use when you’re want to run time out on the clock – securing a win.
It’s simple: the center hikes the ball to the quarterback, who immediately kneels to the ground. Does nothing. The clock runs out. That victory formation is called “taking a knee”. Instead, the quarterback in this game decided to run a play. His player fumbled the ball, the other team recovered it, scored a touchdown, and won the game with no time left. All that quarterback had to do was get into the victory formation, and they would have won. Instead, he ran another play.
Sometimes, as this pastor put it, this is what we look like. Not just in our personal life, but in business.
So I've been doing just that. Spending more time with Him. Quite literally, taking a knee. Praying and not knowing what to say or what to ask for. And that has led to everything becoming clearer. And with that clarity, I took some action. Removed a meeting. Cancelled plans. Took a deep breath.
But God doesn’t need your words or your work. Your groaning is enough. He sees you. He knows your struggle. And when you’re taking that knee, He’s doing the praying and interceding for you.
