From Groans to Glory - Darren Rowse
This week at One Church, Darren Rowse continued our Romans 8 series, exploring one of the most comforting and hope-filled passages in Scripture: Romans 8:26–30. These few verses show us what God is doing in us, for us, and with us—especially when life feels overwhelming or when we don’t even know how to pray.
In this post, we’ll unpack the message in simple, everyday language, and reflect on what it means for our lives today.
Audio and video of the sermon are available below.
Romans 8 is a chapter full of hope—but it’s honest about reality too. Paul keeps pivoting back and forth:
From glory… to groaning
From future hope… to present weakness
From what will be… to what is
This week’s passage leans straight into our moments of frailty—those times when we’re broken, grieving, unsure, overwhelmed, or simply wordless in prayer.
The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness (v.26–27)
Paul says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.”
The word for helps literally means: to come alongside and shoulder the weight with us.
Darren shared stories from his own life—moments of grief, loss, and fear where he had no words. In those moments, something surprising happened: God met him not through perfect prayers or polished faith… but through groaning.
“The Holy Spirit is essentially our prayer partner—our advocate before the Father.”
— Darren
The Spirit doesn’t remove our suffering.
But He shares it.
He intercedes for us with “wordless groans”—the perfect prayer we cannot pray ourselves.
God at Work in All Things (v.28)
Romans 8:28 is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible—but often taken out of context.
Paul does not say:
“Everything happens for a reason.”
“Every cloud has a silver lining.”
“Your circumstances will get better.”
Paul says something deeper and more honest:
God is always at work—for good—in those who love Him.
But the “good” isn’t comfort or success.
The “good” is Christlikeness.
What God Is Forming in Us (v.29–30)
The good God is working toward is our transformation—that we become more like Jesus.
Paul then describes what scholars call “the golden chain of redemption”:
God foreknew you — meaning He loved you first.
God predestined you — your destiny is to become like Christ.
God called you — awakening faith within you.
God justified you — through Jesus, you are declared right before Him.
God glorified you — your future with Him is so certain Paul speaks of it as already done.
And the repeated word throughout this passage?
He.
“This passage says it is God who saves. It is God who transforms. It is God who works. Not us.”
How This Message Speaks to Us Today
Most of us know what it feels like to be weak—emotionally, spiritually, or physically. Moments where:
You’ve got nothing left to pray.
You’re overwhelmed by uncertainty or fear.
Grief hits you in the chest like a wave.
You feel too tired, too confused, or too unsure to find the right words.
Paul says that these moments don’t push God away—they draw Him near.
The Spirit is present in them.
He groans with us.
He prays for us.
He shares the weight.
You don’t need to get your prayer “right”.
You don’t need the perfect words.
You don’t need to be strong for God.
You just need to lean into Him.
“Maybe you’ve come today feeling frail, unsure, overwhelmed. That’s okay—the Spirit is beside you, sharing the weight and praying the perfect prayer for you.”
Three invitations from this passage:
1. If you’re carrying something heavy…
Let the Spirit shoulder it with you.
You’re not meant to carry it alone.
2. If you’re spiritually curious right now…
That curiosity might be God calling you.
His call is life-giving—just like Jesus calling Lazarus out of the tomb.
3. If you’ve been resisting God’s work in you…
Transformation can feel scary.
But God is gentle, patient, and committed to shaping you into Christ’s image.
He doesn’t rush.
He doesn’t force.
He invites.
Romans 8:26–30 reminds us that God is at work—always, in all things, even in the most fragile and wordless moments of our lives. He’s transforming us, calling us, justifying us, and leading us toward glory.
You don’t walk this journey alone.
The Spirit is praying for you right now.
One Way to Live It Out This Week
Take five minutes each day to sit quietly with God and meditate on one of the verses from this passage.
No agenda. No performance.
Simply breathe, name your feelings honestly, and trust that the Spirit is praying for you.
A Short Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank You that You come alongside us in our weakness.
When we don’t know what to pray, pray for us.
Shape us into the likeness of Jesus, and help us trust Your work in our lives.
Give us courage to surrender to Your call and rest in Your love.
Amen.
Reflection & Discussion Questions
Personal Reflection
Where in your life right now do you feel weak, wordless, or overwhelmed—and what would it mean to trust the Spirit’s intercession there?
How have you seen God work in your life through difficult or confusing seasons?
What part of God’s “golden chain” (foreknew, predestined, called, justified, glorified) speaks to you most today?
Small Group Discussion
What stood out to you from this sermon or passage—and why?
How do you usually respond when you feel weak or unsure of what to pray?
Which of Darren’s stories connected with you the most, and what did it show you about God?
Romans 8:28 is often quoted alone. How does reading it alongside verses 26–27 and 29–30 change its meaning?
What does it look like in real life to be “conformed to the image of Christ”?
Where do you sense God calling you or nudging you at the moment?
Is there an area where you’ve been resisting God’s transforming work? What holds you back?
End by praying for one another—especially those experiencing frailty, grief, or uncertainty.