Paul is pretty straightforward here: we do not know how to pray as we ought. Apparently, we are wrong about many of the things we beg of God in prayer – things which seem pretty obvious to us that He should do or grant.

Paul reminds us of a most important truth. He teaches us that while suffering is never a good, it can be used for good things.

As I prayed with this, I was immediately struck by how relevant that little detail is for so many of us. How tempted I am to think that many of the things that other people, or other ministries, need I must also need.

Americans don’t usually like bad news. Oh, to be sure, we seem to enjoy reading other people’s “dirty laundry,” as an 80’s song once put it. But confronting the reality of demons who hate and are seeking to degrade, enslave and destroy us…? Uh, no thanks.