In the OT, God's people were afflicted in slavery in Egypt and groaning in their bondage. God heard: “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them…” (Acts 7:34) He sent Moses to lead them out of their bondage.
In the NT, the bondage of being slaves to sin still makes people groan, and not only those enslaved to it, but all of creation. Yet Jesus Christ gives us hope:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18–25)Some days I groan. Our world is messy and many are enslaved to sin and its corruption. Wars, shootings, and even the earth protests with tornados, flash floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and in other ways seem to express a longing for eternal peace. Yet how helpless we can feel.
I pray, yet I know that my groaning in prayer is a very small voice even though there is comfort in knowing that God groans too! I cannot always hear His groans, but the Word of God says…
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. (Romans 8:26–27)He moans with perfect prayers, words that give an unseen purpose to the worst of our daily news. Who can know it? But the people who trust Him know one very important truth: all of it has a glorious goal, even the things that make us groan:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28–30)Like the NT writer, I can echo his response. I don’t know anything else to say. Because God is for us, even groans on my behalf, so who or what can be against me? He gave up His own Son and keeps on giving me all I need. No one, including Satan, can charge me with anything because I am justified by the wonderful work of my Savior who was condemned for me, groaning on that cross yet victorious over death. He now is at the right hand of God and groans in intercession for me. (Romans 8:31–34) Indeed, I may groan with the world, and with those still enslaved in their sin, but the promise remains and I, with all His people, groan in the Spirit and wait with patience to see His work.
PRAY: Thank You!
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