Grudem on Prayer (Romans 8:26)

There is a group of us at Pearson going through Grudem's Systematic Theology. It has been great so far. Wayne Grudem makes observations about different doctrines all the time that encourages us. He makes the following observation about Romans 8:26:

In Romans 8:26–27 Paul says: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Interpreters differ on whether the “sighs too deep for words” are the sighs the Holy Spirit himself makes or our own sighs and groans in prayer, which the Holy Spirit makes into effective prayer before God. It seems more likely that the “sighs” or “groans” here are our groans. When Paul says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness” (v. 26), the word translated “helps” (Gk. sunantilambanomai) is the same word used in Luke 10:40, where Martha wants Mary to come and help her. The word does not indicate that the Holy Spirit prays instead of us, but that the Holy Spirit takes part with us and makes our weak prayers effective. Thus, such sighing or groaning in prayer is best understood to be sighs or groans which we utter, expressing the desires of our heart and spirit, which the Holy Spirit makes into effective prayer.”(p. 381)

When we are too distressed or emotionally wrought to pray verbally for ourselves and all we can do is like Job, groan and sigh: the Holy Spirit helps us to make our prayers effective to God. He is indeed our Comforter and our Friend. The point is that we need to pray no matter how distraught we are. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us and to help us articulate our prayers. We have the Son of God to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25). Finally, we have God the Father who loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us (John 3:16). God, the Three-In-One Godhead, is fully involved in our prayer life.