you shall know the truth: combating despair

Despair is a constant companion in our lives. Almost all of us understand its power and impact. It has many companions such as doubt, discouragement, and even depression. Part of the rising tide of anger in modern society is fueled by a pervasive despair that we cannot make a difference or that nothing matters. We feel trapped by the circumstances, by our emotional plate, or by failed relationships. We wonder what can set us free. How can we break out of the cage of our broken lives? In our series, You Shall Know The Truth the sermon is Combating Despair. God wants to set us free and share with us a powerful hope. Even for believers, this hope seems to be distant and difficult to find. This week we turn to Romans 8:20-29. These words are very honest about the broken, futile, existence of humanity. It was always God’s plan to share with us a transforming hope by releasing us from the burden of despair and the power of fear. Yet it is a struggle. Paul likens it to a woman who is about to give birth. Despite the struggle and pain, new life is coming, greater strength is available, a compelling joy is immanent and it cannot be stopped. How can we know this? This Apostle is inspired by the Holy Spirit to share with us the path to combat the despair of life by being infused with a living hope that can transform us despite difficulty and hardship. This empowered the early Christians to joyfully believe even in the face of persecution and fear! It is still active and present for all of us! We pray that you will find the power of God liberating your heart and soul from the prison of despair and the tyranny of fear as you read Romans 8:20-29.   

Romans 8:20-29: For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (NIV)