Lenten Devotional: March 5, 2026

by Barb Willey

Only Jesus

Scripture Reflection: Romans 8:26 NLT

And 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 with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

The verse tells us that the Holy Spirit interprets our prayers to God.

When I was a young teen living in a very painful time in my home, and being a new believer, I really didn’t know much about prayer. I hadn’t memorized any prayers or recited more than the Lord’s Prayer, which I rarely understood.

Then one very ‘dark’ night I remember being afraid and not wanting to go on any more, but instead of giving in to my fear, I put a pillow over my head, fell face down on my bed and between the sobs, my only prayer was ‘JESUS….JESUS…JESUS.’ The name of Jesus, repeated over and over not only had power, but it caused me to feel a deep peace in the storm that was my dark night. 

Sometimes saying the name of Jesus is all the prayer we need to utter, because HE knows…