Romans 8:26 – “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us …”

And within that verse are 3 words that keep me awake at night “WE DON’T KNOW.” I like to know. I like to know exactly what I should be praying for. I like to know what I should be doing. I like to know how it’s all going to work out. And when I don’t know, I don’t like to admit it.

I’m a natural born optimist. Like die hard, glass is half full kinda girl. And when you come to me with an empty glass and ask me how it’s going to be filled, I want to tell you a million different ways it could happen for you. But ultimately what I have to say is “I don’t know.”

I’m currently praying for a friend’s dad whose cancer didn’t respond to treatment, a friend’s son who tried to end his life, a sister who found a lump in her breast, and a family who lost their child in a car accident.

I don’t know how this is all going to work out. I don’t know how it’s going to be okay. I don’t know how they’re going to make it through. I don’t know.

Do you know?

We’re like the blind leading the blind, grasping at straws, making assumptions and hoping something, anything will work. But ultimately, we don’t know. We don’t even know what to pray for.

And it is this way by design. When we can do it on our own, WE WILL! Watch a child learning how to walk. They want the security of your hand to steady them. Once they have their balance and can do it on their own they resist any help. It’s “look ma, no hands” running wild. And we are the same way. When we feel we can do this life on our own, we push God away and say “I’ll do it myself”, and so God takes a step back and says “well, this isn’t going to end well.” But oh what a loving father he is, continuing to keep his eye on us even when we have pushed him away. Standing by ready to rescue us, pick us up and put us on our feet again.

There’s no room for God in a mind and will that’s full of self. It’s when we know that WE DON’T KNOW that we lean into him. It’s at the end of our rope where we usually find God. It’s at our rock bottom where THE ROCK becomes our firm foundation.

But is there an easier way than coming to the end of our rope and hitting that desperate rock bottom? YES. We can just admit right here, right now, wherever we are that we don’t have this thing figured out, we don’t have it all together, and God if you don’t do it, it can’t be done.

I AM NOT ALL THAT AND A BAG OF CHIPS.

I am nothing without God. I do not know what to do and God, I’m looking to you for guidance. I’m asking you to guide my steps. I’m asking you to make my paths straight. I’m asking you, what should I even be praying? I admit I DON’T KNOW.

And this is where God says “ahhhhh girl, now I can work!” Why? Because we are finally humbled. This is where God’s glory falls, in the middle. In the uncertainty, in the chaos, in the frustration.

So here is our prayer for this day … “God, get in the middle of this.” Get all up in the middle of this God. Butt your way in. Let me get out of the way so you can have your way. I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do next. I don’t even know what to pray here God.

Listen to me sister, God has made provision for your uncertainty and confusion. He’s got you covered. This is where the Holy Spirit can step in and take over. So you’re in the place of “I don’t even know” … great! That’s where God wants you. Now you are humbled. Now you are ready. Now you can be led by his spirit. He has exactly what you need even when you don’t know what you need.

Today God, get in the middle of this. Help us in our weakness.