Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:26-28 (ESV)

It is easy to underestimate our need for God.  We try to live life by our own plans and with our own strength.  Hard times strike.  Struggles arise.

And we find ourselves feeling confused, alone, unsure of where or how to begin praying.

This is one of the wonderful aspects of God’s grace: He is faithful, even when we are not.  When we stray down our own path, He waits patiently.  And, when we do turn to Him in prayer, the Holy Spirit – who lives inside every believer in Christ – intercedes on our behalf.

God knows our every need.  And what we may perceive as a “need” may not be in the Lord’s eyes.  God works all things for our good.  Good in the sense of God’s will: whatever good thing that will equip you to draw nearer to Him, to seek him, to fulfill His plan for your life.

And we humans, frail and imperfect and infirmed as we are, don’t always know what’s good for us.  But the Father does.  So does the Holy Spirit,  Who goes to the Father on our behalf to pray the things – the truly good things – that we cannot even find utterance for.

How wonderful that our loving Heavenly Father knows what we His children need, and knows how to get it to us (in spite of ourselves).  It boggles the mind the lengths our Father goes to to love us, to help us, to save us and guide us.

We may think we know what’s good for us.  But, the simple truth is, it is God Who knows our every true need, Who changes our hearts’ desires to line up with His will.  It is God Who is ready, willing, and able to guide us through even the roughest of patches in life, and work every detail out for our good.  Maybe not always comfortable or fun, but good.

And what better good can there be than God’s?