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In Romans 8.18-30, Paul outlines a theology of Christian optimism. The first pillar of this theology is the salvation of creation. The second is the redemption of our bodies. And the third is the intercession of the Holy Spirit.

Hereâ..s what Paul writes about the Spirit in Romans 8.26-27:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

For far too many Christians, the Holy Spirit is the unknown member of the Trinity. We know that God the Father created and sustains the world. We know that God the Son entered the world to die and rise again for our salvation. But what does the Spirit do?

Paul answers that question with three statements:

First, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. The Greek word for â..spiritâ. is pneuma, which also means â..breathâ. or â..wind.â. When I was in high school, I played basketball. If the pace of the game was fast, I ran the length of the court many times. Doing that repeatedly tired me out, so occasionally, the coach would pull me out to let me catch my breath. Thatâ..s what the Holy Spirit does. When we are tired out in the game of lifeâ..because of suffering or conflict or the exertion of our best spiritual effortsâ..the Holy Spirit gives us a â..second wind.â.

Second, the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Just as we get winded in the game of life, so also we find ourselves at a loss for words in lifeâ..s conversation. Sometimes, our thoughts and emotions and desires are so confused and confusing that we simply donâ..t know how to pray to God. This happens especially during times of crisis and suffering. At those times, the Spirit intercedes for us with God. To intercede means â..to go between.â. And thatâ..s what the Spirit does. He goes between us and God, articulating our inarticulate thoughts to God, so that God might answer the innermost prayers of our hearts.

Finally, the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. I donâ..t want to give the impression that the Spirit merely tells God what we want. Rather, the Spirit asks God at all times for what we really need. And what we really need is for â..Godâ..s willâ. to be accomplished in our lives. God sees all and therefore knows best. When we are going through difficult moments in our lives, we need his guidance more than ever.

Knowing that the Spirit intercedes for us before God should make us optimists. God knows both where we are and where we need to be. Through the Holy Spirit, he is leading us safely from the one place to the other.