Spiritual Help and Divine Providence

But at our 11 week appointment we received news we had not prepared ourselves for. Our baby had stopped growing and no heartbeat could be found. We were devastated.

But the sadness was compounded as our best friends and ministry partners, whom we lived life nearly daily with, were expecting a baby at the very same time.

Though we were genuinely excited for our friends, for 7-8 months we were reminded of pain of our loss.

The day Pam went in for the procedure to remove our lost child, I brought a cup of coffee in a travel mug.

Without realizing it, I had grabbed the mug that had Jeremiah 29:11 printed on it.

Pam saw it as we waited for the Dr to come in.

Taken at face value, it would seem, based on our current situation, that Jeremiah 29:11 was myth or a tall tale.

But when you understand the context, it changes everything.

Jeremiah 29 is actually God’s letter to the Israelites (his chosen people) who have been brought into exile in Babylon. Robbed of their homes and brought to a foreign land. It was not a good place to be.

But in the middle of their suffering, their pain, and their discouragement, God speaks a promise:

Jeremiah 29:10–11 NLT

10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

He doesn’t promise an easy road, a road without struggle, loss, pain, despair, and frustration.

We live in a world that is FRUSTRATED by the fall, remember last week.

No, He promises that we can trust Him, that nothing is outside of His control, and that, for those who know Him, love Him, and follow Him, He is working all things out for GOOD.

As we set in that hospital room waiting for the Dr, we were reminded, and are continually reminded, that we can trust in God because NOTHING is outside of His control, that He loves us, and that He is working ALL things out for good, we just don’t see it yet.

As we look at Romans 8:26-30 today, I want to point out three absolutely incredible realities that are true of us who love God and know Him as father.

But first I want to remind us of the 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 8:1–30 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. 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

Three Incredible Realities to Remember

1) There is real HELP when we are HURTING.

Romans 8:26–27 CSB

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Most bible translations do not separate verse 18-30, rightfully making it one interconnected section that is speaking to what was introduced in vs 18, the present suffering we all find ourselves in.

We saw last week that suffering is something that is a reality for everyone because of the cursed and sin-stained world we live in.

We talked about how all of creation and all of humanity is groaning under this curse, and is longing for relief and redemption.

Paul challenges us to wait with patient eagerness for the day Christ comes to fix what is broken, and how that hope will help us persevere.

So, when verse 26 starts off with the words “in the same way,” Paul is helping us to understand HOW we will persevere with eager patience in suffering.

Paul seems to be confronting a thought that most everyone of us battle at some point, or points, throughout our lives.

This destructive thought or feeling that “I am alone in my struggle and God is not listening to me.”

The devil loves to attack believers with lies like this, that God has abandoned you, that He doesn’t care and isn’t listening.

So to those thoughts and feelings, Paul speaks truth:

The truth- the spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us when we just don't have the words to pray.

At our lowest and darkest moments, when we struggle to speak, and struggle to make sense of our circumstances, Paul says the Spirit steps in.

He translates our unutterable groanings clearly to God the Father.

And He takes our groanings and translates them in accordance with God’s will.

"Our insight into God’s will is far short of perfect, and so in many situations, we are puzzled to know what exactly to pray for. But the Spirit comes to our aid, interceding on our behalf with “groans that words cannot express. We may not know what to ask for in a given situation, but the Spirit does. His requests are in perfect harmony with the will of the Lord for us.” NIV Application Commentary, Douglas Moo

Even when we do not know how to pray or do not have the words to say, the Holy Spirit is personally helping our prayers to be answered in and through God’s will. That is the promise.

Maybe that isn’t quite a comforting as you feel like it should be.

The shared human struggle is that what we really want is for God to answer our prayer according to OUR will and OUR desires, not His…all the time.

Suffering creates a collision between our will and God’s will; between what we would ask for and what the Spirit would ask for.

And forces us to deeply evaluate which will is more important to us.

Verse 28 is seeks to satisfy this conflict.

Though we struggle to see how, God is working ALL things out in our lives for GOOD, according to His will, His plan, His purposes.

But the first reality we must shelter ourselves under is that we are not alone, there is help when we hurt.

The second is...

2) There is great PURPOSE in our PAIN.

Romans 8:28–29 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

There is a startling and hope-filled promise here.

Paul is saying that those who are believers in Jesus (children of God) can find hope in the reality that there is no pointless pain in their lives.

God is at work in everything in a believer’s life to accomplish His good purposes.

Two very important points to make:

First, this is a promise made to a specific group of people, not everyone.

Those that “love God”.

Not those that know God, or know about God, or believe in God in some way.

No, those who LOVE God, who know God as Father, as Abba Father.

But also those who are “called” by God “according to his purpose.”

Those whom God has called to follow Him and who have accepted his call.

Those whose lives are marked by a sense of belonging and desire to follow.

Second, Paul is not saying that only good things happen to his children.

This isn’t a promise of prosperity and freedom from pain.

Rather, it means that underneath every event and every situation and every pain is a divine plan that God is working out in the life of a believer.

God’s good purposes never fail or falter in the life of His children.

There is never anything that happens to God’s children that God cannot or will not use for His purposes.

And in verse 29 Paul reveals God’s main purpose.

To mold us and shape us into the image of Jesus.

The promise here is that everything in the life of the believer is working toward shaping Christ-likeness in them.

Therefore, the hope for us as believers is that somehow, some way this pain, this struggle, this frustration all fits within God’s plan and is making us more like Jesus.

What Paul is saying here is an assault on what we naturally believe about the purpose of life.

Paul is saying that life isn’t about enjoyment, prosperity, and the absence of suffering.

Yes there is enjoyment, and there can be prosperity, and there will be times when we don’t suffer, but the purpose and aim of our lives is NOT that.

The purpose and aim of our lives is to be conformed and transformed.

That everyday and through every struggle and trial, blessing and success, we would become more and more like Jesus.

God purpose for you life is to redeem you, restore you, and give you a hope that will sustain you through any and all this life has to throw at you.

3) There is a glorious PROMISE in our FUTURE.

Jeremiah 29:11 CSB

11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

What is that future and hope?

That those He has known and loved long before they ever knew Him, He has predestined.

Predetermined to use every event and circumstance in their life to mold and shape them to be more like Jesus.

And those He has chosen, not because they were good enough, smart enough, or religious enough, but simply because He loved them, He has called;

And those He has called, in a specific and effective way that any of us who have come to know the Lord can attest to, He has justified;

And those He has justified through the blood of Jesus, freeing them from the penalty, the guilt and the shame of their sin, He has also glorified.

This glorification is the goal of verse 29 fully realized, where the children of God are made perfect in all respects.

Do you see a theme in Romans 8?

Over and over again Paul implores us to look beyond our pain, our shame, our sin, and our struggles.

Yes we have sinned and turned our backs on God, but there is no condemnation for those in Christ.

Yes we still struggle with our sin, but God has sent His Spirit to give us POWER over our sin that we may persevere and live differently.

Yes we will stumble and fall, but God has adopted us as His beloved and cherished children so that we are no longer slaves, but we are sons and daughters of the King.

Yes we live in a world that is full of pain, riddled with grief, and frustrated by the destruction of sin, but our groanings are pointing to the promise God has made to restore this broken world, and we live in eager longing for that day to come.

Our future hope is the foundation of our lives, what gives our life meaning and gives us strength and purpose for our days.

“If you live inside this massive promise, your life is more stable and solid than Mount Everest. Nothing can blow you over when you are inside the walls of Romans 8:28. Outside of Romans 8:28 is confusion and anxiety and fear and uncertainty. Outside this promise of all-encompassing future grace, there are straw houses of drugs and alcohol and numbing TV and dozens of futile diversions. There are slat walls and tin roofs of fragile investment strategies and fleeting insurance coverage and trivial retirement plans. There are cardboard fortifications of deadbolt locks and alarm systems and anti-ballistic missiles. Outside, are a thousand substitutes for Romans 8:28. Once you walk through the door of love into the massive unshakeable structure of Romans 8:28, everything changes. There come into your life stability and depth and freedom. You simply can’t be blown away anymore. The confidence that a sovereign God governs your good and bad and all the pleasures you’ll ever experience is an incomparable refuge and security and hope and power in your life.” — John Piper, “Future Grace”

This passage is an invitation to trust in God.

It invites us to trust that he is good and his plans are good.

It invites us trust that everything – absolutely everything – somehow and someway fits with God’s good plan for our lives.