There are times in life when we don’t know how to pray. We may not fully understand God’s will in a situation, and words often fail us. But the Bible reminds us that praying in the Spirit—praying in tongues—helps us pray according to the perfect will of God.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26–27)
When we surrender a situation to God and pray in the Spirit, we can trust that His will is being established, even when we don’t fully understand what’s happening.
A Testimony of God’s Faithfulness
Sister Linda once shared a powerful experience:
“One day, I felt an urgent need to pray for my father. I didn’t know why, but I immediately stopped what I was doing and prayed in tongues for 45 minutes. Later, I found out that he had been in a terrible accident on a rural country road at that exact time. He suffered serious injuries, but thankfully, a young man found him, cared for him, and kept him from going into shock. God’s hand truly protected him.”
This story shows how the Holy Spirit intercedes through us when we yield ourselves in prayer. Even when we don’t know the need, God does.
Speaking Directly to God
St. Paul says:
“For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 14:2)
When we pray in tongues, our spirit is in direct communion with God, who is Spirit. It is a divine prayer language that bypasses our natural understanding.
In Greek, the word “mysteries” (musterion) means a “hidden thing,” a “secret,” or “the secret counsel of God.” When we pray in tongues, we are speaking mysteries—things that God understands but are hidden from human knowledge.
A Gift for Every Believer
Many people have experienced comfort, breakthrough, and peace by praying in tongues. Often, we struggle to find the right words in prayer. In those moments, praying in the Spirit becomes a powerful tool that allows God to work beyond our limitations.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church beautifully describes this truth:
“The Holy Spirit, whose anointing permeates our whole being, is the interior Master of Christian prayer. He is the artisan of the living tradition of prayer. To be sure, there are many paths of prayer as there are persons who pray, but it is the communion of the Holy Spirit that Christian prayer is prayer in the Church.” (CCC 2672)
Conclusion
Praying in tongues is not just a spiritual gift—it is a lifeline. It is God’s way of giving us words when we have none, strength when we are weak, and assurance when we feel uncertain.
So whenever you don’t know how to pray, surrender your heart to God and allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you. In those moments, heaven and earth connect, and God’s perfect will unfolds.
