Daily Devotion – May 21, 2021 – Pastor Brian Hansen

Romans 8:22-27 

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and 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. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

When Kendra and I were living in the Kenyon, MN area during my year of internship, we were out walking one evening and Kendra (who was 9 months pregnant) dropped to her knees as she was hit with a spasm of pain.  When that spasm had passed, we made our way back to the parsonage and made a trip to the hospital where they told us that it appeared Kendra was going into labor.

We immediately called family and they began to travel from parts of Minnesota and North Dakota to welcome a new life into this world.  As the day moved along, slowly but surely parents and siblings began to arrive and we entered into a vigil of waiting.  With each passing hour Kendra’s contractions grew closer and closer increasing in intensity as she made her way through the birthing process.  After spending the night at home unable to sleep due to the pain of labor we finally loaded up the car and made our way to the hospital.  After many more intense and painful hours, our first child, Aidan, was born.  And all the pain and struggle of the previous twenty hours seemed to fade and the promised hope that those pains signaled was born into our lives.

In our reading from Romans this week, Paul talks a lot about hope.  First, notice that he indicates that suffering and struggle are real.  The world groans, all of creation groans, and we groan as the very real struggles of this life are a part of our daily lives.  Paul knows that as we live our lives struggle and suffering are intertwined with joy and celebration.

Paul knows that at times the pains that we endure are symbols of a promised hope for the future. Out of the groans of labor, something new, some new future has the potential to be born.

As a people of faith, we are called to recognize that sometimes even though life maybe painful, out of the experience of our pain we can find the promise of new life and new hope.  And that hope leads us forward trusting in the faithfulness and presence of the one who bears our pain and struggle alongside of us.  Thanks be to God for joining us in our journeys.

Let us pray:  Creating God, birth in our hearts the knowledge of your presence with us.  Help us to cling to the promise of your presence and your faithfulness when we struggle and help us to ever hope in the gift of new life that you create each and every day.  AMEN