Hope in a Groaning World

“I want to let you all know that I am doing fine today. Last night though was very, very scary for me and the people I love. I had an attack of Vertigo apparently, which then kicked in my anxiety, as I wasn’t sure what exactly was happening. I took a ride in an ambulance after my full-blown panic attack left me unable to stand and so terrified I could barely speak.”

“My mental health has been at an ebb and flow for the last few years. As those who know me well know, I do better when I have a plan. When there are explanations, and there is reasoning that makes sense. Living in our country, and what is happening nationally and internationally surrounding politics and public health has made this bit very difficult.”

“As Elsa so eloquently says “Let it go”, I wish it were that easy for me. I hold everything inside and so tightly often that I can’t break away from it. It becomes so heavy and overwhelming it seems like my body just wants to shut down. It also in it’s worst times brings back all of my feelings of loss, abandonment, and the fear of the unknown. I just want to make the world a better place for everyone. I don’t want anyone to suffer. I want people to experience the world in a way that can help them thrive. I want systems in place that help care for our brothers and sisters that need help.”

“Let’s make the world a better place! Also, I once again love you all so much. I am always humbled and so appreciative to have you all be a part of my life! If anything ever does happen to me please take care of each other, and make sure my girls get the advocacy and hope we all deserve to have. Here is to a hopefully brighter and kinder world that focuses on all of us in the future!”

The guy that wrote that was our upstairs neighbor for a year when we first moved to Fargo.

He managed a coffee shop we spend time in and we got to know him pretty well.

Over the course of several years, we would see Mike around town and would always invite him to the things we were doing as a church, but he never showed up.

The last time I invited him to something he made it quite clear that he appreciated the invite, but was never going to come to our church, so I could spare the effort.

He, like so many of us, has experienced a lot of loss, pain, struggle, and suffering in life. Not to mention the constant flow of horrible news of death, evil, and despair all around us.

BUT we all desperately long for something to HOPE in.

Something to give us answers to and relief from the questions, complexities, struggles, trials, and pain that are so much a part of this life we live.

We all believe there is something better and that what we see around us and feel inside us isn’t the better we desire.

This is Paul’s focus in our verse for today?

What do we do with all the pain and suffering in our world and in our lives?

Where do we find hope? Is there any hope?

Paul’s answer is a resounding YES!

Today I want to look at Christian hope in a broken world.

How do we persevere in the faith in a world of suffering with hope?

Let me remind you of my 2 goals/desires/prayers in this study:

That those of us who are truly believers in Jesus will understand more fully the glorious reality of our salvation and identities in Christ Jesus. And that we would LIVE in these realities, embracing the freedom, joy, power, and hope they bring to our lives.

That those who have yet to come to faith in Jesus would be struck with the glorious goodness of our Lord and savior, will realize the hopelessness of their lives without Him, and will come to genuine faith in Jesus and RECEIVE the freedom, joy, power, and hope He brings to lives submitted to Him.

Romans 8:1–25 CSB

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you. 12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

To PERSEVERE in suffering with HOPE requires...

1) We surrender to the REALITY and INEVITABILITY of SUFFERING.

Romans 8:17–18 CSB

17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Verse 17 and 18 are connected by the word “suffering”

To “suffer with Christ” is not pointing to his death on the cross, but His life on earth.

Christ “humbled himself” as Paul says in Philippians 2, taking on the likeness of sinful flesh (8:3), and He suffered the pain and trials of the curse just like you and I.

To live in this world then, is to live in the presence of suffering.

The logic of Paul here is, in order for us to persevere in this world, we must come to terms with (surrender to) the reality and inevitability of suffering.

We live in a broken world, a world infected by sin, a world cursed because of the rebellion of our Father and Mother, Adam and Eve.

Romans 8:20 CSB

20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope

“Subjected to futility” means the world is under a curse, all aspects of our lives are effected by this curse.

The struggles we face that cause us to feel and respond like my buddy Mike are a result not of something we have done only (though that is there as well), but as a part of the “system” that is “subjected to futility”.

It was subjected to futility by God, not because he is a vindictive jerk, but because he is a holy creator with a glorious plan.

But the curse that plagues our world is not a permanent curse, as Paul finishes the verse with “in the hope..”

There is hope that exists in this broken world that creation itself feels and that we feel personally.

And that HOPE is spoken of as a “groaning”

Romans 8:22–23 CSB

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

We and all of the created world we live in groan for redemption, correction, restoration...

We feel it in our bodies, our minds, and our souls.

We see it in the news, in the lives of people around us, and in our own lives.

We groan because 10 million people die ever year to cancer.

We groan because of the violence we see played out again and again in the news.

We groan because of the children, families, and loved one gripped and destroyed by drugs and the abuse of alcohol.

We groan because of broken marriages, broken homes, and broken lives.

We groan because of natural disasters that destroy homes and take lives.

We groan because the world we live in is broken, corrupt, and riddled with pain.

We could never really appreciate the goodness and glory of his promises without acknowledging the horror and ugliness of a sin-cursed world.

We brought this world into existence, we broke it, and yet, he plans and promises to restore it.

2) We FIX our GAZE on the GLORIOUS PROMISES of God.

Romans 8:18–19 CSB

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.

In the same sentence he is pointing out the reality of suffering, Paul is drawing our attention toward a greater reality.

The very idea of “groaning” means there is something to long for.

We groan because we are longing for relief and know that what we are experiencing isn’t “right”.

He compares it to a mother giving birth.

She is in intense pain as she labors and groaning is very much a part of her response.

And yet, the joy of the child taking its first breath overshadows the pain of the labor (as many of you ladies have shown in having more than one).

Romans 8:21–23 CSB

21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

We long for comfort from pain, but that longing is pointing deeper than just immediate comfort. It is a longing for Gods eternal rest

We must "consider the greater" and focus our attention on it as adopted children of God, and understand the nature of our groaning, our desire.

We desire healing for cancer, but that is only a glimpse of what we truly long for, complete healing.

We desire love and acceptance from others, but deeper down we desire to no longer be strangers and aliens, but cherished children of God.

We desire peace and security in this world, but it isn’t just national peace we desire, we long for God to intervene and bring peace in the midst of chaos and defeat evil once and for all.

We desire freedom from our broken hearts. We mourn deeply, because our loved ones are gone, but even deeper because we know that death is not the end and is not what we are designed to do.

The promises of god, so beautifully described in revelation 20-21, are the fulfillment of what we ultimately desire in life, we just don't think large enough or know that there is a greater fulfillment promised to those in Christ.

We see it in the miracles of Jesus:

The paralytic walked, but he still cut his feet on sharp rocks, still got sick from dirty water, and still ultimately died.

The crowd of 5000 got their bellies full, but hours later, their bellies were again in need of another meal.

Even Lazarus, who died and began to rot, though he was raised once again came to the end of his earthly life and succumbed to death.

What we long for isn’t just the temporary relief from the struggles and pain we feel here and now, it is the full, complete, and perfect restoration from this broken world.

And if we are in Christ, that is ours to claim.

Keep your eyes fixed on the promises if you want to persevere in this world.

3) We wait with EAGER patience for HOPE to be REVEALED.

Romans 8:24–25 CSB

24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

J. D. Phillips’ translation here is so good.

He says creation is “standing on tiptoe” as though trying to peer over the wall, over the fence of futility to the hope that resides in Jesus.

But this hope is something that is “not yet fully seen”.

We catch glimpses of it.

The beauty of God’s creation.

The love we share with our spouse and for our children.

The joy of music and entertainment.

And the fun of community and friendship.

All these things are aspects of life that we love and long for, that make life worth living.

And yet, if we see the world in the way Paul is describing it here:

Even the good and beautiful things we experiences in this life are stained by the curse of sin, effected by the futility this whole world have been subjected to.

But imagine when they are not!

Imagine the mountains and oceans and lakes rivers and forests and canyons and all that we find beautiful about this earth when it is liberated from the curse and restored to its original glory.

Imagine relationships and friendships void of conflict and free from selfishness.

Imagine how much better music will sounds, food will taste, and smells will smell when the corruption is overturned.

Imagine a world without war, without death, with our tears, and with out pain.

But brothers and sisters, this is not our world, YET.

Paul’s words in verse 25 made me think of the 20 somethings in the world who are struggling with patience as they long to live like their parents on the salary of an entry-level job.

There is an eagerness to have it all NOW, but there is a reality that is just isn’t possible.

So many of us try so hard to create heaven here.

All the while we are either denying, avoiding, or just ignoring the reality of the brokenness that so permeates everything around us.

Paul is calling us to eagerly WAIT, meaning don’t let this world beat you down to the point you lose hope and settle.

But he is also calling us to eagerly wait WITH PATIENCE, finding joy and contentment in the moment, yet with our eyes fixed on the glorious hope of the promises yet to be revealed in Christ Jesus.

We are to wait neither so eagerly that we lose our patience, nor so patiently that we lose our expectation, but eagerly and patiently. — John Stott

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