Todays Scripture Romans 8:18-52 (whole passage at the bottom of the page)
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves… groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Paul in his letter to the Romans uses labor pains as a powerful image to describe the pain of waiting for the miracle of life with God. Whether you’ve given birth to a child or not (clearly Paul didn’t) most people know that labor pains are well, painful. We heard that Madanna said, “I’m not interested in being Wonder Woman in the delivery room. Give me drugs.” Today, we have choices about whether or not we want to have pain, whether or not we want to feel our groaning.
I (Scott) didn’t use any drugs for the birth of our four children. I (Clare) thought he was a very brave birth coach! What a great day we live in. Because of medical advancements we are able to endure and overcome threats generations before us could not. We have ways to eliminate the pain in life.
Have we lost anything with our numbing solutions?
Have we missed something important with our ease?
Some pain has value that we shouldn’t medicate or eliminate. Paul tells us that “we groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” Sometimes rather than feel our groaning for God, for life, for what is eternal, we use entertainment or substances to distract us from feeling anything.
The groaning we feel is for God. Lets stay with the longing as we wait in joyful hope of the coming of our savior. Don’t use quick fixes or avoidance … feel the depth of your groaning for what only God can give. Try the 3G practice-
Give up – Quick fixes, numbing distractions and find your satisfaction in a close relationship with God.
Give in – find spiritual practices that connect your groanings to God.*see below
Give out – your time to coach someone who is groaning and needs help waiting for the miracle of life.
Romans 8:18-25
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 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. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
*Practices and resources to help connect you to your longing.
- Get outside, bundle up, take a long walk in nature. Feel your longing for God, for life.
- You’re invited to the Desire Retreat
- Read-Invitation to Solitude and Silence