Meanwhile We Groan

“Meanwhile we groan.” The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth when he was sharing with them about the ultimate, eternal life that we are destined for in Christ. He wrote of an “eternal house in heaven not built by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1) and then he said, “Meanwhile we groan.”

Aren’t those gripping words? They are so emotional, so poignant, and so human. Those words are descriptive of many of our experiences with life and faith.

• Our ultimate hope is secure, but meanwhile, we groan.
• The Gospel keeps advancing in our lives, but meanwhile, we still groan.
• We know that God will finish what He has begun in us, but in the meantime, we still endure some groaning.

This is not pessimism. It is not a gloomy, Eeyore perspective on life. It is a validation of our groaning. It is a recognition that sometimes, even amidst God’s powerful promises, there is a groaning in this life that has to be endured.

Be assured that our groaning is not the final word, rejoicing is. Victory is. However, in the meantime, we groan. We groan as we wait for Christ’s returning. We groan as we wrestle with sin, temptation, and compromise. We groan as we fight for the liberation of the human soul, and we groan, knowing that the Holy Spirit is still beside us in our groaning.