everything made stormy

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Romans 8:18-22

Recently, some storms have ripped through the Southeast. It's not uncommon for us to get some nasty weather during the summer, but I cannot recall ever getting stuff like this week after week.

Last night, 11 Georgians died because of the storms and more than 150 Alabamans were taken. Friends' hometowns were demolished. Friends' siblings were barely missed.

Here's a chilling video of a tornado ripping through Ringgold, Georgia. 
 
It's never easy to see people we love and people we don't even know go through something like this. Whether it's a tsunami in Japan, earthquake in Haiti, or tornadoes in the US, there is hope. Just like we are broken, creation is broken. We broke it. Thankfully, we have a Savior who has and is and will always redeem us. Through the brokenness, people are helping those in need. Through the brokenness, people are recovering and rebuilding. Through the brokenness, broken hearts and weary souls are gaining rest.

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. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:23-25

Jesus came to restore His broken creation. He restored it to God. It's amazing that God's glory is seen in the brokenness being restored. OUR brokenness being restored. Though we continually slap God in the face and spit on the cross, He comes running to us when we turn to Him. 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 8:26- 30