THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 8:26-27
“The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26)
When you are sick, are you quiet, or do you tend to groan out loud?
I admit it, I am a groaner, every move I make includes some kind of audible moan.
My wife calls me on it sometime, asking me if my pain is as bad as I make it sound.
Yet there is something therapeutic in the groan, not as complaint but as lament.
My whole body joins together in protesting the sickness.
‘This is wrong, this is not the way things are supposed to be!’
According to Paul, the creation groans (v.22) and we groan (v.23) with it.
Is that what earthquakes, changing weather patterns, weeds, climate change represent?
How about our response to injustice, mass shootings, terrorism, corporate greed, abuse, etc.
I feel sick when I hear of abuse, or mental illness, or the plight of refugees.
I am deeply troubled by the sexual confusion and brokenness that people struggle with.
This is not being judgmental, this is ‘groaning’ in lament at what we have made of God’s world.
‘This is wrong, this is not the way things are supposed to be!’
Actually, it is the Spirit of God who prompts this groaning in us.
Even when we cannot put our frustration or lament into words, the Spirit groans within us.
Which brings me to my knees to Jesus, our only hope for rescue, my only hope.
I am as broken as the world, hence I groan as much for myself as for the world.
By groaning with me, the Spirit draws me closer to Jesus, and assures me that I am not alone.
Groaning is a good thing, when it is groaning with hope, not despair.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I do feel sick and I do groan with what is wrong in the world and in me. Thank You for Your Spirit, Who not only reminds me of what is wrong but draws me to You and the hope that You represent.