The Sufferings

Of This Present Time

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and 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. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise 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. And 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.

Romans 8:18-27

We see children reach up their hands to their parents, eager to get their attention. It can remind us of our own efforts to reach up to God in prayer.

The early church stated that the work of the aged is to love and to pray. Of the two, love can be the most difficult, and prayer can be the most confusing. Our infirmity lies in not knowing the exact thing for which we should pray. Should we pray that others will be delivered from their troubles – or that their troubles will go away? Or should we pray for courage to carry on through the difficulties that belabor them?

God cares for us, more than we care for ourselves.

Therefore, we needn’t worry about getting our requests exactly right. We need only to hunger and to reach up, knowing that He cares.

When praying, it is better to have a heart without words

than words without heart.

Our Daily Bread – March 15, 2009