Devotional: Living in the In-Between – Hope When the World Feels Broken
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
– Romans 8:18 (NIV)
There’s a tension we all feel, whether we talk about it out loud or not. It’s the tension between what we know is true about God and what we’re still waiting to see in full. Theologians call this the “already and not yet.” It means that God has already redeemed us through Christ, but we’re not yet living in the fully restored world He’s promised.
You can feel that ache, can’t you?
When you see tragedy.
When your body breaks down.
When your heart breaks.
When the world feels off and you instinctively say, “This is not the way it’s supposed to be.”
And guess what? You're right. It’s not. Romans 8 tells us that all of creation is groaning. Everything around us—from the oceans to the mountains to the human heart—is straining toward something better, something more. It’s like childbirth, Paul says. Groaning, yes. But groaning with purpose. There’s something coming. New life is on the way.
And it’s not just creation that groans, we do too. Deep in our spirits, we long for God to finish what He started. We’re not just waiting for heaven someday. We’re waiting for full restoration. For the redemption of our bodies. For justice. For peace. For love that doesn’t end. That ache is real, and it matters.
But here's the good news: what God starts, He finishes. And in the in-between, He hasn’t left us empty-handed. He’s given us His Spirit. A deposit. A guarantee. A whisper of what’s to come. The Holy Spirit lives in us, intercedes for us, and reminds us that we are already new creations, even if we don’t always feel new.
You don’t have to escape the world to have hope.
You don’t have to fake a smile through suffering.
You just have to anchor yourself to the truth: Jesus is restoring everything. And that includes you.
So if you’re in a season of waiting, holding on, or wondering where God is in the mess, hold fast. You are not forgotten. And this is not the end.
Questions for Reflection
Where in your life do you feel the tension between what is and what you know should be?
What does it mean to you that God has already begun the restoration process in your spirit?
How have you seen the Holy Spirit strengthen or intercede for you during difficult seasons?
What would change if you truly believed that a better world is coming?
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for not giving up on this world or on me. I confess that sometimes I feel stuck in the waiting, and the weight of suffering feels heavy. Remind me today that Your promises are sure, and Your Spirit is at work in me even now. Teach me to live with hope, to wait with patience, and to trust that everything broken will be made new in Your time.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dig Deeper: Practical Application
This week, whenever you feel overwhelmed by the news, your circumstances, or personal suffering, pause and pray a simple breath prayer:
“This isn’t the end. A better world is coming.”
Then read Romans 8:18–30 out loud slowly. Let those words soak into your soul. Highlight what stands out. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where He’s already working in your life as a preview of what's to come.
To go deeper, read 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 and Revelation 21:1–5 alongside it. Journal what stands out about the hope that’s promised.
If you’ve ever felt caught in the in-between, you’re not alone. That ache inside you, the one that longs for healing, justice, peace, and wholeness, is not a weakness. It’s a holy longing. It means your heart remembers what you were created for. And while we wait for the full restoration to come, we don’t wait alone. The Spirit is with us. The promise is secure. And the glory ahead will be worth the wait.
