Groans

I’ve been reading through 2 Corinthians and I’ve come across something that I’ve never really thought too deeply about.

Groans.

Groans in creation, groans in the world, groans inside of us…We don’t think about them too much but I know for me when frustration or emotional turmoil gets too much for me to handle the only way for me to speak is through wordless groans.

The first question to ask is; why do we groan? What do we groan about? And lastly, what are we groaning for?

The book of Ecclesiastes says that the problem with humanity is that we have eternity in our hearts(Ecclesiastes 3:11).  When I use the word ‘problem’ I really mean the disappointment that occurs when we get the things that we believe will fix us or give us significance or power and they let us down.  We were created for a FULL relationship with our creator and now, before Jesus, we have no relationship with him and even with him we are still living with a lingering “fog” of sin.

            “12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!” 1 Corinthians 13:12 (The Message)

We long for restoration because we know deep down inside of us that we were created for something much bigger than our current state.

We encounter three kinds of groans.

In the Creative Order:

Romans 8:22

“22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”

I’ve wondered about the implications of sin on the creative order but there is no question whether or not the world is subjected to brokenness too.  Whether sin is inherent to the order or it is merely subjected to sin through humanity is another question.  There are so many situations in our world that show a deep groaning for restoration and clear signs of brokenness.  Whether hurricanes or earthquakes or tsunamis…our world is groaning for restoration.

Groans in the world:

2 Corinthians 5:1-5

“1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

Similar to groans in the world we too as believers are subject to the deteriorating world around us.  We see things like the Mexican Drug War or the killings in Darfur or the travesties of The Cambodian killing fields…there is no doubt that our world is groaning for restoration.

Look to Matthew 5:13-16 to see what our role is in the world and our responsibility as Salt and Light in the world.

Inside us:

Romans 8:23-25

“23 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. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

I know for me, when I encounter groaning moments, I have to remind myself of the truth that in the end, everything really is ok.  “We can’t ever really be that bad, we’re going to heaven.”—Josh Barefoot.

God is at work inside of us and we are now living with the hope of the completed work in us.  How sweet is that!?

Last musing on this notion of longing for completion…

Jesus said that when he went back to heaven he was going to send us a helper.  This helper’s name is The Holy Spirit. Check this out…

“26 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. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, privy to our thoughts, worries, fears and concerns and in the moments where we can’t pray for ourselves or reveal what is really on our heart the Holy Spirit prays to God FOR US.

We present our wordless groans, the Holy Spirit speaks/prays on our behalf to God for OUR RESTORATION….hmm…this truth consoles me in ways I can’t express.

So may we learn to “feel the groan”(I have quite the affinity for puns).

May we not let our groans take us from the presence of the Lord but allow them to draw us in close.

May we come to see the world more as Jesus sees it.

May we be in tune with God’s spirit inside us and let is speak both to us and for us to our Creator.

God is good…all the time.