I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children 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 freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
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 through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:18-27 NIV)
I got to meet with a man from Ethiopia this past week. There is actually an Ethiopian Lutheran pastor here in Tulsa. Can you believe that? I think this is so cool! I’ve gotten to know him over the past two years. I don’t know if we’ll ever be connected as a church, but I’ve learned a lot from him. I hadn’t seen him for four months or so, so he caught me up on things. He’s started writing a book about his life. Not to get famous or anything. He just wants to record for himself and for others what his life has been like. Here’s the title: “Crying seasons.” “Crying seasons.”
He explained why: Life is filled with crying seasons. Seasons in life with lots of tears. With lots of crying. You should hear his life story: His father was an illiterate pastor in Africa. He couldn’t read, but he traveled around starting churches. Sadly, this father died when my friend was 12. A crying season. Then Ethiopia was wracked by civil war. There were severe famines. No food. Crying seasons. Then he came to America. He got to be the pastor of a small Ethiopian church here, but his wife got cancer. Another crying season. His life has been defined by crying seasons.
Before I could say anything, he said, “Of course, it’s going to be a happy book.” I said, “What? That does not sound like a happy book!” He was surprised. “Of course it’s going to be a happy book! Know why? As I look back, there’s something amazing. God was with me. God was always with me. God is always so faithful. As I look back on my life, the faithfulness of God was with me in every single ‘crying season.’” I like listening to this guy. Can you tell why?
When you hear Christians talk today, it can seem like there are only two options when it comes to looking at life in this world. There are a lot of Christians who talk non-stop about how awful the world is. Everything is going downhill. This world is an awful place that’s getting awfuler! Sound familiar? But then, at the same time, there are a lot of Christians who talk non-stop about how if you believe in Jesus, everything is awesome. If you just believe hard enough, if you just pray hard enough, everything is great! This world is great! Do you hear those two sides?
So, which is right? “Everything is awful!” Or, “Everything is awesome!” Which is right? Well, both. Or, neither. At the same time. Listen to what the Bible says. This is a key verse! Maybe you could memorize it: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” As a Christian, is there suffering or glory? Both. It’s not one or the other. “Our present sufferings.” Don’t be surprised at how awful the world is! “The glory that will be revealed.” But don’t ever lose hope in what God has planned! Both. Suffering and hope.
For all creation. Paul says surprising things about the world: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” It’s not just people who long for something better. Creation itself does! Why? “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it.” It’s not just people who get frustrated. Creation does too! “In hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay.” It’s not just people who want to be free. Creation does too! “The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of children birth right up to the present time.” All creation is groaning.
Why? Sin impacts everything. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, all of creation was impacted. God told Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you” (Genesis 3:17). Weeds grow and plants die. Why? “Because of you.” Because of sin. Animals kill each other and starve to death. Why? “Because of you.” Because of sin. Sin has impacted God’s entire creation, not just human beings. Creation itself is longing to be “liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” Have you ever thought about this?
It’s true! “The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Hurricanes wreck sea and land. Can you hear creation groan? “Uggh!” Fires scorch acres and acres of trees and plants and animals. Can you hear creation groan? “Uggh!” Floods devastate. Then droughts follow. Can you hear creation groan? “Uggh!” Heat waves bake, and then cold fronts freeze. Can you hear creation groan? “Uggh!” It’s not just people who look forward to the “new heavens and the new earth.” The whole creation has been groaning.
Just like us. “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly.” What’s it for you? What “crying seasons” would you write about in your book? Joints screaming from arthritis or side affects from cancer treatment? Uggh! Why? Because of sin. Sore from surgery or back pain that makes it hard to sit still? Uggh! Why? Because of sin. Headaches that explode or depression that hits you for no reason or anxiety that races here and there? Uggh! “We ourselves groan inwardly.” Isn’t that the truth? Life is filled with crying seasons.
And hope. Both! To face suffering isn’t a sign that God is against you. Actually, it means you’re a Christian waiting for redemption in a sin-filled world. Remember: There’s hope in suffering. You have the Holy Spirit. God is in you and with you at all times. Remember: You are the child of God through baptism. Through faith in Jesus. Remember: The redemption of your body is coming in heaven. No more “mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). This is how the Bible describes living as a Christian on earth: Groaning with hope. Got it? Groaning with hope.
It’s not easy. We want it now, right? We want to be better now! We want to be pain-free now! We don’t want to wait for our food at Braums, let alone for heaven. But this is how hope works: “For in this hope we were saved.” How were we saved? By hope in Jesus. By trusting in Jesus’ forgiveness and grace. “In this hope we were saved.” That same hope is what comforts us in suffering. “But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” The sufferings of life give room for faith. They give room for hope. They make us long for God’s promises. Groaning with hope.
That sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Groaning with hope? Who has ever heard of such a thing? You have. It’s opening football weekend. Football players have been training and practicing for this weekend for months. If you go into a football weight room, do you know what you hear? Groaning. Uggh! Lots of groaning. In fact, if there’s isn’t groaning, they’re not going to be a good football team! But in that same weight room, do you know what you feel? Hope. Hope for the future. The struggle is worth it. The groans are worth it. Groaning with hope! Make sense?
The Bible gives us an even more powerful example: “The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth…” If you go into a delivery room at the hospital, what will you hear? Lots of groaning. And hope. Both. Right? That mother knows that there will be an end to the pain. She knows it will all be worth it. When that baby is finally placed in her arms, no mother says, “That’s it? All of that for this little thing?” No! The pains are mostly forgotten. There’s joy. There’s thankfulness. There’s peace. That’s the picture God gives us: Groaning with hope.
Remember where we started? “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” How good is heaven? It’s like trying to describe a beautiful scene to someone who is blind. Where do you start? Well, if you want to know how good heaven is, look at your sufferings. Pile them all up. Add all the evil in the world together. And heaven’s better. As sad as your saddest day, heaven will be more joyful. In fact, Paul says it’s not even worth comparing. Our sufferings here make the glory there even greater.
All because of groaning—Jesus’ groaning. Jesus groaned too. Remember where? On the cross. Talk about suffering… Jesus knows! Jesus suffered for us. On the cross, he groaned, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). He let God punish him, so that God won’t punish you. On the cross, he groaned, “It is finished” (John 19:30). So that you could know for sure that every sin is forgiven. Every guilt is gone. It’s Jesus’ groaning on the cross that gives us hope. Redemption’s coming. Heaven’s coming. “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Doesn’t that sound good? First the cross, then the crown. Can you say that? First the cross, then the crown. For Jesus and for you and me.
But what about now? It’s great that heaven is going to be great, but what about now? Sometimes Christians are criticized for always talking about heaven. Don’t apologize for that! Heaven is that great! But what about now? God gives you hope now too: You have the Holy Spirit. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Every minute of every day, you have God the Spirit with you. In you. Here’s what he does, “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” The Spirit groans too. He’s praying for you. Today!
When we suffer, when we have those crying seasons, isn’t it true that we don’t even know what to pray for? Have you been there? “Should I ask God to make it better? Or should I ask God to take me home to heaven? What is God’s will for me? I don’t know! I don’t even know what to pray for!” Listen to this: “The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” The Spirit knows exactly what you need today. He’s praying to God the Father for you. So the Father knows exactly what you need today. So you can have hope. You can have comfort.
Do you know what verse comes after Romans 8:27? Romans 8:28. Remember that one? “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” God right now is working all things for your good. Even the crying seasons. He’s proving his faithfulness. Then comes Romans 8:31. Remember that one? “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Then comes Romans 8:32. That’s my favorite: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” There’s hope! It’s okay to groan. That’s life. But groan with hope.
As my friend described his book, he said there will be more crying seasons. But God is always faithful. When the tears come, when the pain shoots through your body, when the heartache fills your soul, remember, “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” The baby is coming soon. The pain will be over. We are groaning with hope.
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