Esperanza

Speaking of earthquakes, some Brasilian scientists have been saying that Chile was due for a big one last night or some time around now. I have to say I've been a bit scared about this, though I've been trying to trust God. Then at church yesterday morning, Juan Esteban said the most helpful thing. He reminded us that Romans 8 speaks of creation "groaning", and that this is just what we see at times of natural disaster. But it's not a hopeless groaning - this pain is like "the pains of childbirth", anticipating a joyous end when "the sons of God will be revealed", and creation "brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God". He urged us to find hope in this if we are woken up horribly in the middle of the night.