On Sunday—Pentecost—I turned the page on my liturgical wall calendar from the Season of Easter to the Season After Pentecost. We will live in this season for almost six months until the cycle begins again with the coming of Advent.
We cycle through the story of Jesus year after year, our hearts being joined to him in his coming, his death, resurrection, ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, Yet in another sense the church, born with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, always lives in this Season After Pentecost. And that is a gift. No matter what other season we are passing through, we will never again be without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide and draw us closer to Jesus and to each other.
As I’ve been pondering the gift of the Holy Spirit in these last few days, I’ve returned to Romans 8 and the beautiful image Paul paints of how the Holy Spirit is with us in our seasons of waiting and longing. I’ve been touched and delighted all over again by his knowing of us and his tenderness with us in times of physical, emotional, relational, situational challenge and change. Read Paul’s words with me, will you? Slowly. Perhaps a couple of times. I’m so curious what particular gift the Holy Spirit might want to give each of us as we linger and listen to him today.
Romans 8: 22-28, The Message
All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
- Where in your life do you currently feel the deepest longing for full deliverance? (And/or where do you notice yourself growing in joyful expectancy as you are enlarged in the waiting?)
- What word or phrase in this passage offers you the greatest hope, courage, or reassurance as you wait?
- Is there a prayer that rises in you around all this?
As always Carolyn, beautifully said. I was struck by your choice of words…..LONGING. That’s been on my mind the last several months. I love and appreciate the way you communicate. You’re a beautiful soul!!!
With love,
Dianne
Thanks for your kind words, Dianne. I’m so glad the post connected with you.
Definitely I feel a longing for deliverance from difficulties in a key work relationship and my lack of clarity about how much is mine to own. I am most encouraged by the pregnancy image and that we don’t see what is enlarging us. This is a painful time in a way and I can’t quite understand it all but the idea that God is enlarging me in this feels true for sure. The idea that yearning for deliverance is not only not wrong but normal, is very helpful. Thank you for these questions!