"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body"

- from Philippians 1:20

When we read yesterday about Paul's expectation in v. 19 that he would be delivered, it would be easy for us to imagine that he expected to be released from prison. "You prayed for me. The Spirit's working on my behalf. I'm going to get out of jail."

But v. 20 shows us that he had a different expectation. Paul didn't expect to be delivered from prison. He expected to be delivered from the shame of losing his courage in the face of suffering, and thus failing to exalt Christ in his body.

What do we expect when people pray for us and God goes to work on our behalf? Do we expect to escape suffering?

Many of the most powerful answers to prayer involve the provision of strength to endure rather than provision of a path to escape. Your courage may be a sign that God's people are praying for you and that God's Spirit is at work on your behalf.

Where is an area that you know you need help - from God and God's people - if you're going to endure? Who can you ask to pray for you?

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