阅读经文 

罗马书第8章提到我们的世界有三重叹息。

受造之物像分娩的妇人一样叹息呻吟着渴望脱离败坏。地震和飓风肆虐大地。我们的许多河流都被污染，无法垂钓。我们对碳燃料的使用正在破坏保护我们免受太阳过度辐射的臭氧层。你能听到受造世界中的万物那不安和痛苦的叹息吗？

同样，圣灵内驻的信徒也在叹息。癌症摧毁了我们的身体。种族不公伤害着我们的社区。新冠病毒的大流行使我们的国家备受摧残，许许多多的人因此丧命，同时家暴率上升。你能听到神的子民悲痛的哭泣和呼喊吗？

圣灵也和我们在一起，祂一边叹息，一边以只有神才能知晓的奥秘方式为我们代求。而圣灵的叹息能改变所目睹的一切，因为祂使受造物和我们都心怀盼望，并耐心地等候救赎来到。

保罗总结说，受造之物切望等候神的众子显出来。届时祂将从必朽坏的捆绑中得到释放。（参罗 8:19-21）同样，作为圣灵内住的基督徒，我们若盼望那所不见的，就必忍耐等候。（参罗 8:25）

你面对世上所有罪的影响所发出的叹息，是怎样的呢？你是否听见圣灵与你一同叹息？叹息而又充满希望——这就是我们作为神的儿女在这世上的生活写照。

Romans 8 speaks of a threefold groaning in our world.

The creation is groaning like a woman in childbirth to be set free from decay. Earthquakes and hurricanes ravage the earth. We cannot fish in many rivers because they are polluted. Our use of fossil fuels is ruining the ozone layer that protects us from excessive radiation from the sun. Can you hear the restless and anguished groans of creation?

Likewise, Spirit-filled believers are groaning. Cancer devastates our bodies. Racial injustice attacks our communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has disabled our nations and killed many, many people while increasing opportunities for abuse. Can you hear the grief-stricken sobs and cries of God's people?

Along with us, the Holy Spirit is also groaning while interceding for us in ways that only God can understand. And the Spirit's groaning changes everything, because it enables both creation and us to have hope and to wait patiently.

Paul concludes that the creation waits expectantly for the children of God to be revealed, when it will be freed from its bondage to decay (Romans 8:19-21). Likewise, as Spirit-filled Christians, we hope for what we do not see and therefore wait patiently (8:25).

How are you doing as you groan over all the effects of sin in this world? Do you hear the Spirit groaning along with you? Groaning yet hopeful—that's the life we have as God's children on this earth.