For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:18-25
Have you ever had a problem you wished you could fix on your own? I am reminded of an old Staples commercial where people, when faced with big problems, could simply press the EASY button and everything would take care of itself. Many times, I have wished I had something like that button, but sadly, real life doesn’t work that way.
Ever since Adam and Eve first disobeyed God in the garden, the world and everything in it has been waiting. It has been waiting under the pressure of the curse of sin, unable to fix or save itself. What was once perfectly in tune with God was now broken, and the world sat helpless and in pain. In his letter to the Romans, Paul points out, “[W]e know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (Romans 8:22). Humanity and all of creation groaned with this longing. There was no EASY button for this plight.
But for those suffering with something that seems “unfixable” during this Christmas season, remember there is a redeemer who came to fix what we could not. This redeemer came to pick us up and give us hope when we were lying down helpless. When we were under sin’s dreadful curse, our Redeemer laid down His own life to pay the penalty, and He rose three days later, defeating the power of death itself. If our Redeemer can do that, how much more can He prove His love for us in the midst of our current sufferings?
Heaven and earth rejoiced with the arrival of a redeemer 2000 years ago. We can experience that same joy this Christmas season.