The words of Romans 8 are very precious as we consider the year—more than a year—we have all just endured.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
More than ever before, at least for me, these words of Romans 8 are very precious as we consider the year—more than a year—we have all just endured. It helps me to know that the Spirit is waiting and groaning with us.
Tomorrow we celebrate Pentecost.
All of Romans 8 is a beautiful, amazing testimony to the power of God’s love and forgiveness.
But why do we look at this passage as a preparation for the feast of Pentecost? Well, in this passage, we learn something very important about God’s Spirit. In the moments when we are weak, in the moments when we groan, in the moments when we do not know what or how to pray, the Spirit is with us. The Spirit groans and sighs with us as we wait in patience and in hope.
More than ever before, at least for me, these words of Romans 8 are very precious as we consider the year—more than a year—we have all just endured. There has been an awful lot of waiting and groaning in pain during the coronavirus pandemic as we hoped for a day when COVID would finally be behind us. There has also been waiting and groaning in pain for justice as we reckoned with our country’s long history with issues of race. It helps me to know that the Spirit is waiting and groaning with us.
I have seen the work of the Spirit even amidst great suffering. I have felt the Spirit groaning along with me, interceding for me with sighs too deep for words. I have learned to have hope, and to wait in patience.
May you, too, feel the Spirit in the deep places of your heart.
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