Christian hope is not in an easy life with no more sufferings and tears; it is having God with you, the Spirit helping you, and being assured of His love, as He brings you to heaven. Hope helps us to endure triumphantly.

First, there is a day coming when we will be free, but it is not now. vs18-21

“I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

Don’t let anyone tell you that heaven is on earth, as if you won’t get sick or have problems. You will even die, though you won’t die, if you have God, because you will sleep and live forever. Sufferings, however, are our portion, and the Christian handles them by faith.

It is a fairy tale - a strange myth - that everything will go our way. The earth IS CURSED, the animals die and even the plants. The whole creation is groaning, so how about us?

Our women have pain in childbirth, and our children sometimes die. Our parents are gone too early, and believers suffer in this world. Get used to it and look to Christ. It's like going to war and not expecting a fight. The enemy is armed and trials will come, but we have God.

Secondly, we wait patiently because we have hope. vs22-25

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.”

Hope is in what can’t be seen, and it is not in this world. If you could see it, then it wouldn’t be hope. Heaven is not on earth, but it is coming, and its sureness makes us wait patiently.

We aren’t waiting on heaven only: we are also trusting the God who brings us there. Therefore, we wait by relying on His strength and power, His sure promises, and the comfort of His love. We wait with a Helper, who is the Holy Spirit. He has not abandoned us to make it on our own, but He will carry us in His bosom and fulfill His word.

Do not fear, as if we can’t tell people how it really is: We suffer, but we have God bringing us to one day suffer no more!

Thirdly, He gives the Spirit to help us. vs26-27

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Christ promised the Helper, and He has come! He even prays when we don’t know what to say, so we ALWAYS HAVE God’s assistance. He prays for our humility, our faith, and our love. He prays that we’d live to God’s glory and bring fruit. He prays that temptation and sin will not swallow us up. He prays according to God’s will, so that everything that happens is God’s will for our good.

Rom 8:28, “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”

This is the blessing of the gospel: You have God on your side, which is all that you need, and He is sufficient!

Fourthly, salvation is sure and certain! vs29-30

“For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

It is ALL OF GOD, so no man can stop it. He will bring to the finish line what He has started. He will get us to the other side, and God’s grace will avail to every good work.

The elect shall be saved, and the predestined will inherit the promises. The Spirit will keep us, and this confidence is not in vain.

The gospel is real, salvation is real, and it is so certain that we rejoice right now, as God brings everything to His eternal purpose, which is love towards us and His goodness. We are the favored of God to believe the gospel, and we have every reason for comfort.

Are you comforted? Do you believe God?

Finally, we will conquer it all. vs31-39

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” vs37-39

Let us be sure, bold, and unwavering. Do not give up your hope in God for hope in money.

Our inheritance is not of this world. It is eternal and spiritual, while the wicked hoard treasures for a season. We have the true riches, and we are to labor for food that doesn’t perish [John 6:27].

Be about this business of the gospel, and it will be well with you. Walk uprightly, believing God.