Romans 8:18–30 - 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. 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. 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What does today’s passage say? In today’s passage, Paul compares the suffering of this age to the incredible glory that will be revealed when Jesus returns (vv. 18-21). He explains that all of creation, including our mortal bodies, groans under the weight of sin, death, and pain in this fallen world as we await the future day when Christ redeems all He has made to reflect His perfection (vv. 22-25). The passage then offers comfort - though we do not know how to pray when we face fiery trials, the Holy Spirit Himself prays effectively for us in God’s will (vv.26-27). Finally, Paul gives the assurance that for those who follow Jesus, God orchestrates all circumstances for our ultimate good, to shape us into the family likeness of Christ as we journey toward the climactic renewal of all things when we will be glorified together with Him (vv. 28-30). How can I apply Romans 8:18-30 to my life? Today, the Apostle Paul offers incredible encouragement for followers of Jesus who face the harsh realities of living in a fallen, broken world marred by sin and suffering. Even in painful afflictions like illness, grief, strained relationships, financial pressures, or the general chaos across the globe, believers can have hope. We do not have to pretend struggles don’t hurt or plaster on a fake smile. God never asks us to deny the very real difficulties we walk through. However, Paul presents the life-changing perspective that these present troubles cannot even compare to the eternal joy and liberation that is coming for all creation when Jesus returns! He urges us to set our focus on that victorious, unshakable hope which outweighs all we endure in this temporary lifetime. This alters how we view the hurting parts of our stories today. We can trust that God causes all things – even confounding trials – to ultimately work for good in the lives of His children who love Him as we become more Christlike through them. Here are some basic principles from this passage we should apply to our lives:
Endure Present Sufferings By Focusing On Future Glory (vv. 18-21): The Apostle Paul openly acknowledges that we as followers of Christ Jesus face genuine sufferings and hardships in this broken, temporal world. Yet even so, he strongly encourages us to lift our gaze and shift the main focus of our hope onto the incredible, eternal glory that awaits all God's redeemed children. For the freedom and radiance of that approaching day when we will see our Lord face-to-face makes these current troubles seem light and momentary by comparison. In the difficult seasons of life - illnesses that plague our bodies, grief that floods our hearts once those we love pass on ahead of us, financial strains that squeeze our resources dry, fractures in relationships that cut us to the bone, and all the general chaos and anguish of worldwide brokenness - we must remember that God has promised every pain and tear will prove purposeful. He assures us clearly that this present suffering, as hard as it is, cannot begin to compare to the joy coming when darkness shatters at last before the sunrise of Christ's return. When hurt and disappointed, we can choose to retreat into despair - or we can turn our eyes to the bigger picture of God setting all things right, establishing His unending Kingdom of justice, peace and love where we will reign beside our elder Brother Jesus. Our suffering today fits into this great story of redemption still being written. It is not random or meaningless. So despite the very real hardships we face during these temporary lives on earth, may we fix our hope completely on the future grace soon to be revealed. May we learn to view all pains through the lens of God's victory over evil and suffering. And may we allow the tears and trials of this age to produce perseverance, character and confidence that the best remains yet to come - when we take our place as heirs alongside Christ and inheritors of God's eternal promises (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 Peter 5:10, Hebrews 10:35-36).
Food for Thought: What are some practical ways you can develop a more eternal, heavenly perspective when you find yourself overwhelmed by the troubles of here and now? How might it encourage and strengthen your faith if during difficult seasons, you intentionally chose to view your hardship as God's process of molding you into the image of Jesus for greater works ahead?
Anticipate The Redemption Of Our Bodies At Christ's Return (vv. 22-25): The Apostle Paul explains that all creation, including our physical bodies, suffers under the curse of sin and death in this present age. Yet despite this pain and decay all around, we as believers can live in hope as we eagerly anticipate the glorious day when Jesus returns to fully redeem all that He has made. When Christ comes back, He will liberate the natural world from its bondage to corruption and transform our aging, disease-prone bodies into incorruptible masterpieces that perfectly express His splendor. No more will sickness, suffering and tears plague God's children; only joy unspeakable and life everlasting without shadow. So as we groan under the weight of physical afflictions in the here and now, may we set our sight on future grace where imperishable health and wholeness awaits all who endure in faith. Our living hope is anchored in the Person and promise of Jesus who makes all things new. And through the inner working of the Holy Spirit within us, we can taste firstfruits of that coming redemption even today (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 50-54, Revelation 21:1-5, 22:1-5)
Food for Thought: What are some practical ways you can cultivate an attitude of hope-filled waiting for the return of Christ and the redemption of your body even amidst current illness or physical weakness? How might actively anticipating the future renewal of all things in Christ affect your perspective toward creation care issues today?
Depend On The Intercession Of The Holy Spirit In Our Weakness (vv. 26-27): In the midst of infirmities, hardships, and overwhelming situations where we do not know how to pray as we ought, we can find incredible comfort in the fact that God has given believers His own Spirit to intercede powerfully for us with divine wisdom. When words fail us and our limited minds cannot grasp the fullness of God's will, the Holy Spirit Himself goes to work praying through us - aligning our desires to the Father's purposes, interpreting our wordless groans, and lifting us up before the throne of grace with an effectiveness beyond anything we could articulate on our own. What amazing grace that the Almighty would condescend through His Spirit to not only live within us, but to actually intercede on our behalf round the clock! As adopted children being transformed into the family likeness, we have an Advocate and Helper intimately acquainted with the heights and depths of our needs as well as the loving heart of our Father toward us. No matter how weak or ignorant we are, the Spirit knows the perfect way to pray for our growth in Christ. Therefore, let us put our trust in this faithful Intercessor who defends, empowers and heals us at the very core of our being through His ongoing heavenly petitions (John 14:16-18, John 16:7-15; Ephesians 1:15-19, Ephesians 3:14-21).
Food for Thought: In what ways can the fact that the Holy Spirit is praying purposefully on your behalf each day bring you comfort and strength? How might depending more on the Spirit's intercession decrease anxiety and increase your capacity to rest in God's ability to handle challenging situations beyond your control?
Trust That God Works All Things To The Good In Our Lives (vv. 28-30): As believers in Jesus Christ, we can anchor our lives upon the bedrock promise that God orchestrates every aspect of our stories - both joys and pains - for an ultimate good purpose. Because He is omniscient, God knows who will put their faith and trust in Jesus for their salvation and for those who do so, He predestines them to be conformed into Christ's image. Our compassionate Father continually weaves the disparate threads of our lives into a coherent tapestry expressing His love and bringing about our conformity to Christ's likeness. God's sovereignty does not diminish human choice and responsibility, but it does assure us that no situation takes Him by surprise or exists outside His ability to redeem. We may not understand all the Lord's ways during seasons of hardship and loss but we can trust His faithful covenant love displayed through Calvary. The same God who did not spare His Son for us will certainly not abandon us now. He who began a good work in us will carry that work through to completion on the coming day of Jesus Christ. Therefore, despite confusion, questions or suffering along the unfolding journey, may we surrender and rest in the Almighty's strong hands - confident that below, behind and beyond all of life's complexities reigns a Sovereign Shepherd working out His best and highest will for us. For "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Psalm 138:8, Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Philippians 1:6)
Food for Thought: How might remembering that God is purposefully working through every life situation make you more open, patient and hopeful during difficult seasons instead of reactive, bitter or despairing? In what ways can intentionally entrusting painful parts of your story into Christ's hands free you to live more fully into God's future purposes for you?
In these verses, we receive a critical perspective shift from God’s Word. When grief, illness, strained relationships, financial pressures, or hardships of any kind bombard us, we no longer have to collapse in despair as if meaningless suffering has the final say. Instead, the Spirit empowers us to lift our gaze with indestructible hope to the climax of history’s storyline when Jesus returns to make all things new. We can allow our light afflictions, as rough as they are, to produce character, patience and maturity as the redeeming God shapes us into the image of Christ. We can rely fully on the Holy Spirit Himself to pray purposefully on our behalf during confusing trials beyond our comprehension. And not one detail of our lives as believers falls outside God’s sovereign plan to leverage all circumstances for our ultimate good and His greatest glory. This is our incredible, life-altering privilege – to walk by faith, come what may, anchored in the bedrock love and promises of our Heavenly Father who causes all to work toward an eternally rewarding conclusion.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that You would give me ears to hear and a heart to receive the empowering truths and perspective shifts You reveal to us through Your word in today’s passage. I ask that by Your grace, You would enable me to set my hope fully on the glory yet to come when Jesus returns. Guard my heart from losing sight of that approaching day of liberation when all creation will be set free with the children of God. I pray for strength to endure suffering with joy and view my present struggles as tools in Your hands to conform me to the character of Christ. Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit who intercedes for me in my weakness with divine wisdom beyond my comprehension. I surrender to Your sovereign plan and trust that You work even the most difficult details of my life toward my ultimate good by Your great love.
I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” With His Blessings, Pastor Corby
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