Thousands of people are dying every day in our nation as the result of the Covid-19 virus pandemic. This is in addition to the more normally expected deaths caused by illnesses and accidents. And with each death, there is a community of family and friends deeply groaning and grieving. It is difficult for me to fully imagine the immensity and depth of pain being felt among us as a nation, let alone trying to comprehend the worldwide experience of pain.
We may rightly ask, why all this groaning and pain? One of the oft-forgotten blessings of being a follower of Christ is that we are given a more comprehensive worldview for understanding our sufferings and groanings. Join me on a very abbreviated excursion through the scriptures.
The first two chapters of Genesis tell us the story of God creating our earth and everything in it, including us human beings. And “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Then in chapter three we are told the sad story of mankind’s disobedience and the breaking of a good relationship with God.
From that breaking of relationship between the created and the Creator comes the pain-filled upheaval of both creation and human life. The devastation of that disobedience breaks the harmony of creation and humanity, pitting one against the other, and changes the relationship of God to his creation.
“Groaning” expresses a frustrated longing for God’s deliverance from the sufferings and pains of this life. This is the reality that the apostle Paul is referencing in Romans 8:19-24.
“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.”
Just as all creation, including mankind, animals, plants, and the earth itself was harmed by Adam’s sinful disobedience, it will also share in the blessings of redemption and restoration that God has promised his people. “For in this hope we were saved.”
Yes, despite our groaning, we live in hope. Our groanings are reminders of our redemptive hope, which is based on the sure confidence that God’s promise of restoring us and all of creation to its full harmony and wholeness, is happening and will one day be fully completed.
The second thing Paul states is to reassure us that we do not groan and suffer alone. “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. … the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (8:26-27).
It is so reassuring and comforting for me to know that because I cannot fully know or express my feelings, the Spirit intercedes for me with “wordless groans” according to the will of God. In his commentary on Romans, John E. Toews explains that “Believers have the status of being children in a new intimate family relationship with God, but they are not able to communicate properly with God.”
He then continues with this comforting truth, “The fact that the Spirit prays according to God’s will means that we know something. … The first thing that believers know is that God works all thing to the good to the ones loving God. … Paul assures his readers that God can be trusted and that God wills and works the good for the members of the family.” (v.28).
For me, satisfying comfort does not come from a knowledge that everything will be all right, but a knowledge that everything is under control of the almighty, all-knowing, sovereign God who loves me more than I can ever imagine. It is the knowledge that I am a child of the heavenly Father who is infinite in his mercies and in his kindnesses, and dearly loves me as his adopted child, that gives me great comfort and confidence.
And so, times of pain and groanings can and will deepen my relationship with God more than any other life experience. That is, if I choose to do so. I also know that the alternative option offers no answers and no comfort, but only a bitterness of spirit.
John Toews continues with, “The second thing that Christians know is that those whom God foreknew God predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (v.29).
Yes, we know that God is in the “good” business of reshaping us redeemed sinners into the likeness of his Son, Jesus. And we also should know that just as God exposed Jesus to the harsh realities of sufferings and death on this earth, so too, we can expect God to use the same kind of processes in our lives in his redemptive work of reshaping us into conformity with God.
And so, where is God when I am groaning because of great distress and pain? Isaiah 63:7-9 speaks of God’s relationship with his people, and says, “In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” Thanks be to God!
“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – July 22, 2020
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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