12/10/2025 - Matthew Destry

Waiting patiently in hope

Romans 8:18-30

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Point 1. Present suffering vs future glory (vv. 18–19)

Point 2. Creation’s groan, our groan, Spirit’s groan (vv. 20–26)

Nature, with its melancholy charm, resembles a bride who, at the very moment when she was fully attired for marriage, saw the bridegroom die. She still stands with her fresh crown and in her bridal dress, but her eyes are full of tears” — Schelling

Point 3. Hope and patience (vv. 24–25)

Point 4. The Spirit helps, the Father searches, the Son secures (vv. 26–30)

As the bird-life builds up a bird, the image of itself, so the Christ-life builds up a Christ, the image of Himself, in the inward nature of man.… According to the great law of conformity to type, this fashioning takes a specific form. It is that of the Artist who fashions. And all through life this wonderful, mystical, glorious, yet perfectly definite process goes on ‘until Christ be formed’ in it” (Drummond, “Natural Law in the Spiritual World”).

Application:

For the weary: Don’t despise the groan. It’s not the sound of defeat; it’s the sound of new creation coming.

For the impatient: Train in hope. Refuse the quick fix. Learn the holy art of waiting.

For the prayerless: Trust the Spirit’s intercession when you don’t know what to say.

For the anxious: Anchor your life in this promise—God is shaping Jesus in you, and He will not fail.

“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” — Robert Murray M’Cheyne