Patient Grief: Romans 8:23
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Don’t feel embarrassed about grieving. Don’t feel spiritually ashamed of groaning under the weight of trials and difficulties. Paul wrote about three groaners: that “the whole creation has been groaning” (Romans 8:22), that “we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly” (v23), and that thirdly, the Holy Spirit “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (v26).
It is important to note that, notwithstanding the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a follower of Jesus Christ will still be groaning in this life, according to Romans 8:23. In other words, dear Christian, even though you experience now God’s gift of salvation by grace alone through faith only in Jesus’ death for your sins on the cross, and even though you now have the Holy Spirit of God in you, yes, you, dear saint, will still find occasion to groan. God is so compassionate toward that condition that the Holy Spirit intercedes with groaning for you (Romans 8:26)!
It is important, then, not to feel ashamed of grief, nor to refuse to deal with disappointment, as though neither you, nor God, nor anyone else has time for you to actually feel something. Consider this statement by John Stott from his readable and valuable commentary on the book of Romans:
“Some Christians overemphasize the call to patience. They lack enthusiasm and lapse into lethargy, apathy and pessimism. They have forgotten God‘s promises, and are guilty of unbelief.
“Others grow impatient of waiting. They are so carried away with enthusiasm that they almost try to force God‘s hand. They are determined to experience now even what is not available yet. Understandably anxious to emerge out of the painful present of suffering and groaning, they talk as if the resurrection had already taken place, and as if the body should no longer be subject to weakness, disease, pain, and decay. Yet such impatience is a form of presumption. It is to rebel against the God of history, who has indeed acted conclusively for our salvation, and who will most assuredly complete (when Christ comes) what he has begun, but who refuses to be hustled into changing his planned timetable just because we do not enjoy having to go on waiting and groaning.
“God give us a patient eagerness and an eager patience as we wait for his promises to be fulfilled!” (John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans, p244)
Take the time to grieve in prayer, my dear friends. Then rest it in God’s hands again and again. (He is in control. You are in his control.) And remind me to do the same!