But Now. . . Hope

Great Expectation

Share story leading up to Nikki’s birth.

Not my child, but decision to raise as mine

Excitement and worry

Labor, delivery, phone call

Paul uses that illustration in Rom8, creation groans like childbirth because glory is coming.

Scripture Reading

Below is not on the screen, but have someone come and read the scripture

Romans 8:18–22 “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

Romans 8:23–25 “23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

Hope Looks Beyond Present Suffering

Romans 8:18 “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Hope looks forward not backwards.

We can consider another scripture here too 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 “16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” -

Maybe note down Ps30:5- weeping may last or the night but joy comes in the morning.

Or 1Pt5:10 - God will “restore, confirm, strengthen, establish you.”

Paul is not minimizing suffering — he is magnifying glory.

Present pain is read, but it is not final

Remember suffering does not negate hope; it awakes and deepens it,

How does knowing that suffering is not the final word change the way we endure it (pause)? share a testimony here.

When life presses hard, remember (v.18) this is hard, it hurts, but it will not last, glory is coming!

Hope is Rooted in God’s Promise of Renewal

Romans 8:19–22 “19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

Creation itself is longing for redemption

All of creation groans — brokenness is global, not personal only. Creation groans because sin entered the world (Gen3:17-19) but one day creation will be made new.

Revelation 21:1–5 “1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.””

Creation is beautiful but broken

Hurricanes, thorns, storms, disease — signals that things are not yet restored.

Our hope is our anchor, it is not our escape; it is restoration, consider

Hebrews 6:18–19 “18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,”

Storms don’t carry away anchored ships - trials don’t sweep away anchored Christians.

Consider, where do you see the “groaning” of creation most clearly today — physically, morally, spiritually?

Let the brokenness around you remind you, not discourage you, that God has promised a better place, heaven and made a better way, Jesus for all people to get there through Him.

Hope waits with Confident Expectation

Romans 8:23–25 “23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

We groan too because we are not home yet (v.23).

Biblical hope is certain —it rests on God’s character, not our circumstances.

Waiting is part of discipleship: hopeful patience is a mark of spiritual maturity.

I need to put in more scripture here:

Philippians 3:20–21 “20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

People with hope hope for what they had not seen yet

Hebrews 11:13–16 “13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

We have a blessed hope Titus 2:11–14 “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

Consider How do you remind your heart of what is unseen? (pause) share brief testimony here

Bringing it together (Application)

Because we have faith, have assurance of future glory we can

Endure present hardships with courage (v.18)

Interpret the brokenness around us in light of God’s coming renewal (vv.19-22)

And finally wait with confidence, not despair (vv.23-25)

Hope is not passive. It is the daily choice to trust that God’s future is better than our present.

Conclusion: Our passage this morning reminds us that hope is not wishful thinking, it is a confident anchor in God’s promise that

Suffering does not get the last word.

Creation won’t always groan

God will finish what He started

Takeaway: Christian hope is not a “maybe” it’s certain. Live today in confidence of what God has promised for tomorrow.