Read: Romans 8:18-27

Isn’t it wonderful to know that we are safe with Jesus Christ? In verse 1 of this chapter, Paul says that there is no condemnation for us because we belong to Jesus. This means that we are saved because we belong to Christ. Our sins are forgiven, God loves us and we have an eternal future with God to look forward to. Isn’t this wonderful?

Does this mean that we as Christians are never sad or unhappy? Does this mean that nothing hard or horrible ever happens to us? I think you know that it can’t mean this, because so often we do have hard things happen to us. We do struggle, cry, and hurt because of things in this life.

Paul explains this suffering as groaning as we wait for the glorious future that God has promised us. Sometimes things can be so hard that we can’t even pray anymore, and our prayers become just a groan. Verse 26 tells us that at times like this, the Spirit groans for us. He makes our prayers perfect before the Father. So the Spirit is groaning for us as together we wait for Christ’s return.

Paul tells us that creation also groans. We see this in earthquakes, fires, floods, and droughts. These are examples of the creation groaning. Creation too is suffering as it is waiting to be made new again.

So, together with creation and the Spirit we do suffer and groan in this life. But as people that belong to Christ we know that this earth isn’t our final home. No, it’s just our home for a number of years. It’s our home for as long as we live. One day God will make a new heaven and earth. This new life will be more glorious than we can imagine. Paul says that its glory hasn’t been revealed to us. This means that it will be so wonderful that we can’t even describe it. And we can look forward to this future! Yes, we will suffer in this life, but one day we will live this glorious life with God himself.

Reflection with your child:

Do you look forward to living eternally with God?