Monday, November 9, 2026

            I had a dog one time who had a habit of sighing.  I mean huge sighs that came from deep in his diaphragm.  He probably did this at least several times a day.  As far as I could tell, my dog was not in any kind of distress or danger.  He just sighed.  I don’t know why but it seemed to be of some benefit to him.  There are times today when we sigh—from fatigue, frustration or failure.  Have you ever sighed?  A sigh can often make us feel a little better. It’s almost like something got released that we needed to let go.  Some researchers suggest that sighing can relieve stress or anxiety.  A good sigh can act as something like a reset for our bodies and minds.  You may be surprised to find that there is a sort of sighing that is mentioned in the Bible.  Romans 8:22-23 says, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”  A groan is similar to a sigh.  And the Bible speaks of the creation groaning today.
            The groans or sighs of the creation come from sin—the presence of sin and the consequences of sin.  These groans are an indication that something is not right—indeed something is profoundly disturbed and skewed.  Sin has woven its way into the very fabric of the creation.  Nothing is left unstained and malformed by sin.  Nothing.  The pain, sickness, stress, anxiety and loss we experience originate with sin and our disobedience to God’s ways.  Paul said in Romans 8 that we are awaiting the Lord’s power to make right all that is wrong and to bring forth a new creation—a new heaven and a new earth.  We are powerless to do this ourselves so we live in anticipation of God ushering in these new realities. 
            Maybe you have found yourself groaning or sighing over something that has burdened or broken you.  Maybe a situation has left you with no idea what to do or how to react.  We look on at a world where it often seems that sickness, pain, injustice and wrong seem to rule and reign.  But we remind ourselves that God still reigns—not the circumstances or sins of this world.  God remains on the throne.  And we look forward to the day when God sets right every wrong and makes something good out of all that has gone badly.  We look forward to the fulfillment of Romans 8:28 that says, “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.”  God is going to transform our groans into something glorious and our sighs into something special and significant.  We trust our future to Him.
            When we find ourselves sighing or groaning, let’s remember that God reigns and rules—always has and always will.  Let’s remember that God has the final word about anything anywhere.  Take time to turn your groans or sighs into prayers—asking God to be at work in things and places that are unsettling to you.  As Paul wrote in Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”  The things that cause us to sigh do not have to control or possess us.  If we call Jesus “our Lord,” then He is surely Lord over all things we encounter or face each day.  David experienced many trials and battles in his life—even surviving Saul’s multiple attempts to murder him.  Yet, David repeatedly turned to the Lord to be his lasting peace and consolation.  He knew that God would sustain him amid all these things.  God had promised David the throne of Israel and this shepherd boy believed God at His word and held on to that truth with an unflinching faith.   We believe that David wrote many of the Psalms in our Bible.  In Psalm 116:7, David wrote, “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”  We can “return” to rest when we remember how good God has been to us and what He has done for us.  When the urge to sigh over the state of things rises in you, take your rest in the Lord.  Remember His goodness to you.  Remember His promises to you.  And take comfort in knowing that God will complete the good work that He began in you.  Have a great Monday!