January 20, 2014
GOD IS NOT WAITING FOR YOU TO HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER
Romans 8:26-39
Shellie Bland
Central Truth
Communicating with God does not always require words.
Key Verse | Romans 8:26
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. (Romans 8:26)
Romans 8:26-39
26 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. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because 1 8:27 Or that the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, 2 8:28 Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 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. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
God's Everlasting Love
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be 3 8:31 Or who is against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 4 8:34 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died for us? 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Dive Deeper | Romans 8:26-39
In the spring of 2011, we had the heartbreaking experience of miscarrying. If you've ever experienced this, you know the deafening silence that comes when there was once a heartbeat, and the desperate search for a small flicker on a sonogram screen that now remains still. I remember the day so vividly. The doctor's eyes grew sad while he turned off the machines and expressed his sympathy. Everything moved in slow motion as Brian and I walked hand-in-hand through the waiting room filled with joyful, glowing women rubbing their round bellies. A mere 15 minutes earlier, I had been one of them.
The pain of this experience was unlike anything I had ever felt. As I drove home, my fingers felt numb on the steering wheel, and the only sound I could hear was my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. I knew I was "supposed to" pray at a time like this. But I didn't know how. The words would not come.
It was during this painful season that I read this passage of Scripture in a whole new light. It was then I realized that, at times, prayers may be eloquent and well thought out. But there are other times when prayer will come out in weak groans as we pour out our pain from a depth of our heart that we never knew was there. There is incredible freedom and connection in allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and fully known before the Lord. We can take comfort in knowing that we are not alone and that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we have no words of our own to express our pain.
There is great encouragement that comes from this entire passage of Scripture. Cling to the fact that your Heavenly Father is for you (verse 31), in Him we are more than conquerors (verse 37), and nothing can ever separate us from His love (verses 38-39). God is not in love with a future version of yourself. Trust your heart to Him, no matter what condition you feel like it's in.
Discussion Questions
1. When is the last time you felt pain that words could not express?
2. Do you struggle with being fully known by the Lord and others? What are you afraid of?
3. Do you truly believe that the Lord is for you?
4. What role do you feel the Holy Spirit plays in our lives? Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.