Overview:
Suffering is a part of God’s path to glory. But Christians rightfully long for the day when suffering will cease. We groan along with creation for Christ to return and restore all things.
Discover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll more about the “groaning” found in Romans 8. Learn how the future and eternal glory awaiting the Christian far surpasses the agony of present suffering.
Hope, wait, and pray with eager expectation. Trust in the Spirit’s support in your suffering!
Message Summary:
In “Glorying and Groaning,” Pastor Chuck Swindoll addresses the profound tension of the Christian life: the coexistince of present suffering and future glory. Drawing from Romans 8:18–27, this message explores why “groaning” is a natural and even spiritual response to a broken world. Swindoll explains that while we endure the pains of a fallen creation and our own physical frailty, we do so with a unique “glorying”—an eager expectation of the day Christ returns to restore all things.
The sermon highlights that suffering is not a sign of God’s absence but is actually part of the path to glory. Listeners are encouraged to lean into the support of the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us when our groans are too deep for words, providing the strength to hope and wait with patience.
Message Key Facts:
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The Comparison of Weights: Paul argues in Romans 8:18 that our current sufferings are “not worthy to be compared” with the weight of the glory that will be revealed in us.
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The Three Groans: Swindoll identifies three distinct “groanings” mentioned in the text: the groaning of creation (longing for renewal), the groaning of the believer (longing for a redeemed body), and the groaning of the Spirit (interceding for us).
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Futility and Hope: Creation was subjected to futility not by its own choice, but by God’s design, to point toward the ultimate hope of the “freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
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The Spirit’s Help: In our weakest moments, when we don’t even know how to pray, the Holy Spirit steps in as our divine Advocate.
Message References:
Primary Scripture References
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Romans 8:18: The core perspective-shifting verse: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
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Romans 8:22–23: Description of creation and believers groaning together as in the “pains of childbirth.”
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Romans 8:26–27: The promise of the Spirit’s intercession: “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should…”
Core Principles for Life
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Keep an Eternal Perspective: Present agony is temporary; future glory is eternal. When suffering feels heavy, remember it is “light” compared to what is coming.
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It’s Okay to Groan: Groaning is not a lack of faith; it is an honest acknowledgement of the brokenness of the world. It is the sound of a heart longing for its true home.
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Wait with Eager Expectation: Biblical hope is not a “wish,” but a “certainty.” We can wait patiently for God’s restoration because His track record is perfect.
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Rely on the Spirit’s Prayer: When you are too exhausted or broken to pray, rest in the fact that the Holy Spirit is praying for you, perfectly aligned with God’s will.
