For we know that the whole creation has been groaning… but we ourselves… groan… but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings…
Have you ever groaned? I don’t mean the kind of whining and complaining that kids do (never us, just kids). I’m talking about the guttural sounds that emerge in response to pain or despair. I can think of only two occasions when I groaned. The pain was so great, it’s hard to think back on.
Paul identifies three groanings in Romans 8: 1) that of creation, 2) that of the believer, and 3) that of the Spirit.*
The groaning for us exists because we live in the already-not yet tension of those who are already children but wait to see Him face to face. We are already heirs of the King but still await the full inheritance. We are already glorified but have not yet been given the final glory. In this tension, we struggle with the suffering and sacrifice of the present.*
The longing that creation awaits refers to a “straining of the neck.”* Creation wants the future hope of restoration so badly that it reaches out toward it. The word Paul uses for awaits also refers to “confident expectation.” Creation doesn’t put hope in what might be, but creation puts its hope in what will certainly be.*
If it’s any consolation, we are not alone in our suffering. Creation too struggles because of the sin in this world. Creation groans in agony because of the pain of decay.* Creation, unable to realize its God-intended potential, experiences the pain of lost purpose.*
Maybe you have felt this kind of pain? Perhaps you have lost your purpose or feel that you never found it. Maybe you groan regularly. There is another who groans: the Spirit.
While the groaning of creation may be outward, and the groaning of humanity may be inward, the Spirit groans toward God.* The Spirit groans with us as expressions of His deep love and concern for us.* When we do not even know what to pray, the Spirit prays with us and for us, praying more deeply for us than we can for ourselves.*
We may experience suffering that is the direct result of sinning. We may experience suffering for the sake of Christ. But, we may experience suffering just because we are in this imperfect world.*
Whatever the case, Paul does not ignore the reality of suffering, and neither does God. The Holy Spirit comes next to us and helps us during these times.
Here is reality: if we share the groaning of creation, we even more intensely share its hope.* This hope is certain.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to groan. Perhaps the one step God wants you to take is to let out to Him all of the pain and despair. Maybe God wants you to rest in Him in the tension between the already-not yet.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 341, 351–352). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 209–218). InterVarsity Press;
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 318-328). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 266). Zondervan Publishing House.