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Tornadoes and Groanings: A Pondering by Holly WoodbridgeRomans 8 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 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[h] 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 first fruits 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. Anyone who has watched “The Wizard of Oz” knows you have got to be prepared for tornadoes when you live in Kansas. I insisted on a basement in our home when we settled here because of that fact. And then those first Mondays here when those noontime tornado alarms sounded, yikes, we hardly knew what to do with ourselves. In the Northeast, where we come from, we have hurricanes. Hurricanes are widespread and destructive, but not like tornadoes. Tornadoes dig in and pierce the earth wiping out everything in its path. Lately, it feels like I have had a tornado storming through my head. All the twirling and swirling is shaking the peace I have known. I find myself groaning in prayer, unable to find words to voice the pain. And then I hear HIM. There is someone groaning next to me, and HE is groaning for me. I have a STORM-SHELTER, who is actively interceding for me, protecting me, caring for me, holding me through the storm. And I can trust HIM to work out good for me. So, although the storm rages on, I know it is going to be okay because I am hanging on to the WEATHERMAN. A Song to help you as the winds blow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgpaULjZOl8
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AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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