Unspoken prayers

At Church, they always ask if we have any thing or anyone we want to pray for. In Sunday school they pass around a sheet asking us to write our prayer needs down. Always there is at least one person that writes "unspoken." At first I didn't really know what that meant but over time I have come to realize and appreciate that word.
Unspoken means that the request is too private or painful for that person to share with the entire group...BUT God knows what that need is. God knows what all of our needs are without even having to name it out loud.

In Romans 8:26-27 the Bible says: " 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." Which I think sums up the whole meaning of prayer being UNSPOKEN.

Oh, the trials and tribulations that my fellow church friends are going through at the moment. Fortunately for us, the Lord helps us THROUGH these troubles and does not make us dwell unnecessarily in those troubles alone. And it seems right now that a common thread that seems to be afflicting our friends is mental health. Sadness, lack of hope, depression, anxiety (due to a lack of a job or money is most common), loss of self confidence, anger and angst. It almost seems that a physical affliction is so much easier to deal with. If you break your arm, just put a cast on it. Sure it hurts, but it does not necessarily have an effect on anyone else. But mental illness (I just love that phrase...makes us all sound like we should be in Central State Hospital) effects every aspect of our lives including our physical well being, friends, family and work. There has to be a delicate balance found with medication, counseling, support and lots of prayer.
I found a verse in the Bible that feels very reassuring; Romans 8:18-21
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in Hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." The phrase BONDAGE TO DECAY probably sums up the mood of many people I know right now. How painful.
So, I ask that you pray for four people that are on my heart and that have been on my mind a lot lately. I know I don't have to mention names or circumstances because God already knows what their needs are. Their needs are UNSPOKEN. But how awesome that God and the Holy Spirit allows us to not even have to speak whats on our hearts, but instead helps us THROUGH these trials and tribulations anyway.