Vital Signs: Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Groaning in Prayer

“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” - ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have you ever groaned when you felt something deeply? All of us have had reason to groan or sigh, but I suspect few of us know what it is to groan in prayer. The Holy Spirit does, and He does it on our behalf. This is a great mystery of prayer, the work of the Spirit in bringing our prayers before the throne in heaven.

We can see what Paul means by groaning through the illustration of a mother groaning while in labor. Though the groaning is both bad and good news, the bad news is that there is going to be hurt. The good news is that something is going to happen. The good news is always worth the bad news. The product of the groan is greater than the pain of the groan. Creation groans as it waits for redemption.

True prayer rises from deep within. Father, teach us that even in those moments when all we can do is sigh in Your presence because we feel overwhelmed, You are listening. You are guiding. You are here with us, right here, right now.

In Jesus’ name.