The Groaning Continues

There is something inside of us, it must be quite natural and expected, that teaches us to groan. From the moment of our birth we know how to groan. We express our inward frustration at being hungry, being neglected, or being uncomfortable with sounds that capture what words could never communicate. We groan. We moan. We use our innate guttural sound machine to communicate to all of creation around us. 

Groaning, since it is such a part of our nature, has an important place in our faith as well. In Romans 8 Paul talks about the groans that define our faith, and our place of expectant waiting. Paul comments that our present sufferings are not worthy of comparison for the future glory that awaits the children of God. As the children of God we unquestionably suffer in our present reality. Be it the physical suffering that accompanies life in the earthly tent or the emotional and spiritual suffering that comes from participating in the sufferings of Christ, we know what it is to suffer. And yet, the future glory of Christ makes any of these sufferings minute and insignificant. Perhaps the tension of this reality is what leads us to groan. How else do we communicate the sense of eager anticipation that is waiting for the glory of God to fully descend upon creation?

 
Paul also notes that all of creation groans along side of us. All of creation groans awaiting its redemption. Creation, which has been subjected to brokenness since sin entered into it, longs for wholeness once again. So all around us creation groans. What does creation sound like when it groans? Good question, perhaps we can’t hear it, or perhaps when creation displays its immensity, its power, and its magnitude it is merely groaning. Perhaps even what we have classified as natural disasters is nothing more than a groan, an expression of frustration as the result of sin, from God’s creation. Perhaps these groans reflect the groaning of God’s own heart at the brokenness of his creation.

So what hope is there for us in our groaning? As we long for the fulfillment of our salvation, what encouragement do we find? If even the creation around us groans how can we express ourselves to God? Paul rescues us once again, amidst our groans. He writes, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” The Spirit communicates on our behalf, searching our hearts and desires and groaning for us. God knows the frustrations of longing and struggle of daily faithfulness and hears us, even when we do not know what to say. What a beautiful picture of God to picture us as infants, crying and groaning our way through existence, unable to coherently utter the words to say what we need, and God, understanding every groan picks us up and gives what we need. If we need to eat, or sleep, or just be held and comforted God knows and seeks to provide what is best.

So be comforted in your groaning, and embrace it. We don’t always know what we need, or know how to express our desires, but God does. He searches us and provides for us exactly what we need. And when he provides something unexpected, or something we didn’t ask for, or something we didn’t want, we just have to trust him. We have to understand that we are often blinded by our longing and frustration. But, God, our ever present and understanding creator provides for more than we could ever ask for or imagine.

 Amen