God's Got It
By Rev. Heidi L. Barham | June 8, 2025
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Read Romans 8:22 – 28 (NIV)
Today is the day when the church takes time out to celebrate Pentecost Sunday... when we recognize the “birth” of the church as we know it.
Now, that term, “Pentecost,” literally means “fiftieth day.” And we use that term because it was roughly fifty days after Christ’s resurrection that the promised gift of the Holy Spirit came and rested upon the disciples who were gathered together on the day of Pentecost.
It is not uncommon for us to read a fairly familiar passage of Scripture that is found Acts 2 on Pentecost Sunday. It is a passage that provides us with a comprehensive look at the series of events that unfolded that day... when a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind and descended upon the disciples who were gathered. It was on that day of Pentecost... the Scriptures tell us... that each of them was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages.
It was on that day when Peter preached... and “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41).
And if we were to continue reading in Acts 2, we would learn that:
Read Romans 8:22 – 28 (NIV)
Today is the day when the church takes time out to celebrate Pentecost Sunday... when we recognize the “birth” of the church as we know it.
Now, that term, “Pentecost,” literally means “fiftieth day.” And we use that term because it was roughly fifty days after Christ’s resurrection that the promised gift of the Holy Spirit came and rested upon the disciples who were gathered together on the day of Pentecost.
It is not uncommon for us to read a fairly familiar passage of Scripture that is found Acts 2 on Pentecost Sunday. It is a passage that provides us with a comprehensive look at the series of events that unfolded that day... when a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind and descended upon the disciples who were gathered. It was on that day of Pentecost... the Scriptures tell us... that each of them was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages.
It was on that day when Peter preached... and “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41).
And if we were to continue reading in Acts 2, we would learn that:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42 – 47).
Now as I stated... that is the traditional message we might read on any given Pentecost Sunday. However, today, I want to invite our attention to a different passage of Scripture that comes from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.
In our text for this morning, we find Paul describing a time of waiting... and a time that could also be described as a time of hope. Paul is writing to reassure the believers that the Holy Spirit is always here... even in our time of waiting... to intercede for us and to give us strength... especially in our times of weakness.
Paul’s message offers encouragement to the believers in Rome, as well as to us... that no matter how difficult the circumstances may be... we do not have to worry, we can have confidence that the Holy Spirit is with us which means GOD’S GOT IT.
Now as we look more closely at our text, Paul paints a picture of a time of waiting and expectancy that he compares to that of a pregnant woman anticipating the birth of a child. Listen to this passage again as it is found in the Message:
In our text for this morning, we find Paul describing a time of waiting... and a time that could also be described as a time of hope. Paul is writing to reassure the believers that the Holy Spirit is always here... even in our time of waiting... to intercede for us and to give us strength... especially in our times of weakness.
Paul’s message offers encouragement to the believers in Rome, as well as to us... that no matter how difficult the circumstances may be... we do not have to worry, we can have confidence that the Holy Spirit is with us which means GOD’S GOT IT.
Now as we look more closely at our text, Paul paints a picture of a time of waiting and expectancy that he compares to that of a pregnant woman anticipating the birth of a child. Listen to this passage again as it is found in the Message:
All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
This image of pregnancy... and the pain that is often associated with it... is not unique to Paul’s message to the Romans. In fact, Jesus himself used a similar image when He explained to the disciples that no one could know the time of the end. In Matthew 24 (6) and again in Mark 13 (7), we read these words of Jesus:
And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.
So, in our times of waiting and expectancy that may be filled with exuberance and joy as well as perhaps some pain and anguish...
When it appears that the waiting is finally about to come to an end... and the promise of hope is ready to be delivered... we can keep holding on in spite of anything else that may be happening around us... because we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit... which means we have no need to fear because GOD’S GOT IT!
Now this image of pregnancy and expectation that Paul uses, applies not only to the promised birth of a child... it also points to the promised return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
And it is that same sense of expectancy that the disciples may have felt when Jesus told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4b – 5).
So, whenever we find ourselves in a season of waiting and anticipating... let me suggest that there are a couple of things for us to keep in mind.
The first is that... it’s temporary.
Whether it is waiting the 40 weeks of an average pregnancy or the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost... when we are in those seasons of waiting, it helps to remember that it is temporary. We will not have to wait forever...
Although if you ask a woman who is in her ninth month of pregnancy... she just might tell you that it feels like she has been and will be pregnant forever.
And for that kindergartener who is at the beginning of his/her academic career... prom and high school graduation may seem to be mythical dreams that will never get here.
And to the man or woman who has been laid off and has been searching unsuccessfully for employment month after month... the waiting seems to just keep dragging along at an inexplicably slow pace with no conceivable end in sight.
And for the one who is waiting for results from diagnostic tests and a definitive diagnosis from the doctor... it can feel as if time has come to a complete standstill.
And for those of us who trust and believe that the Lord is coming back for His church... there may be times when it feels like that day will never come... I mean, after all, it has been two thousand years already.
But rest assured... God has a purpose, and a plan which means Jesus’ return will not come a single moment before that plan has been fulfilled...
So have no doubt... the Holy Spirit is here to remind us... GOD’S GOT IT.
And God’s Word makes it abundantly quite clear... Jesus will be back.
In fact, in Revelation 22, Jesus says, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
And while some people might question Jesus’ definition of that word “soon” ...we are reminded by Peter that, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8).
So, when we are in that season of waiting and watching for whatever it may be... including waiting for Jesus to return... remember the waiting won’t last forever... it’s only temporary.
Now, this season of waiting is not only temporary, it is also intentional.
There is a reason why we have to wait.
If the baby does not go through the entire gestational period, there are likely to be developmental disabilities.
If the caterpillar does not endure throughout the full metamorphosis process, it will never become the beautiful butterfly that God intended it to be.
In the time that we are waiting, there are lessons for us to learn, skills for us to sharpen and talents for us to tune-up.
We ought to use this time as an opportunity to ask God what it is that He desires for us to gain in this time of waiting.
We should be asking ourselves, “Exactly what is God calling us to do differently before this season of waiting comes to an end?”
The reality is that God has given each of us this prolonged period of time before Jesus comes back to provide us with ample opportunities to tell a dying world about our living Savior... so that all might come to know Jesus Christ as Lord.
In Mark 13:10, we find these words of Jesus, “And the gospel must first be preached to ALL nations.”
A little further down, in verse 30 we read, “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until ALL these things have happened.”
And then in verse 32 we find, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”
God is intentionally giving us time to keep spreading the gospel, to keep telling the good news about Jesus. Why?
Because as the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants ALL people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3 – 4).
So, the waiting is temporary, and it is intentional, but it is also motivating.
Whenever we are in a season of waiting and expectancy... it should motivate us to make the necessary changes that will allow us to move to whatever the next level is that God has in store for us.
Expectant parents are motivated to remodel some or all of their home to make room for the new addition to the family. The caterpillar in the cocoon is motivated to keep struggling so that it will be able to break free. The laid-off worker is motivated to keep searching for gainful employment to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.
The disciples were motivated as they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit so they would receive the power from on high that had been promised to them... so that they would be able to be Christ’s “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
And we, as the body of believers, ought to be motivated to keep telling the good news about our Lord and Savior so that everyone can come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and be ready when Christ does return... Now if by chance, you are concerned about what to say or how to say it... we have the assurance that the Holy Spirit will give us words to say... so don’t worry... GOD’S GOT IT!
Now, this time of waiting is temporary, it is intentional, and it is motivating.
And last but not least, it is empowering.
Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come... because when they received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit they would be empowered to become the witnesses that Jesus had said they would be.
And as we go through our various seasons of waiting... we will be empowered by the same indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit so we can do all that Christ has commanded us to do.
In fact, Jesus told the disciples, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14: 12).
Because Jesus has gone to the Father, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit... the promised comforter and counselor who gives us the peace and courage to wait through any circumstance we may encounter... and the One who empowers us to step out in faith to do the great things Jesus has called us to do.
Paul writes about a peace that he says, “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). And throughout the Scriptures, we find passage after passage encouraging us to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid... words that reassure us that GOD’S GOT IT!
For example, in Joshua 1:9 we read, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
While in Isaiah 41:10 we find these words, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
And this encouragement to be strong and courageous is not just an Old Testament thing... over in 1 Corinthians 16:13 we read, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
Several years ago, I read a book entitled, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat,” by John Ortberg. And something that I read in that book has continued to stick with me. The author explained that there are 366 “fear not” passages in the Bible. One for every day of the year, including Leap Year.
So, no matter what we may encounter on any given day... fear not! We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to face the challenges that confront us. And remember in the midst of it all, we can have peace... even as we are being strong and courageous... because we can trust that no matter what is happening... GOD’S GOT IT!
The fact of the matter is that our times of waiting are temporary, intentional, motivating and empowering... and at the end of the day, we can be sure that there is a purpose for all of it.
We may not see it at first glance, but we should have no doubt... GOD’S GOT IT!
God has a purpose and a plan for every season in our lives... including our seasons of waiting.
Assurance of this can be found in the last verse of our text for the morning, “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” (Romans 8:28).
Or as it reads in the Message, “That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”
That means, even in our waiting, God is working it out for our good. Even in our times of disappointment, heartbreak and failure... GOD’S GOT IT and God really is working it all out for our good.
So, the message for us today, even as we may be facing yet another season of waiting, is simply this... don’t give up, don’t grow weary and don’t lose heart. The day will come when we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt, like the expectant mother that, “It’s time…”
But until then, we can be assured that GOD’S GOT IT.
I want to leave us with these words from the Prophet Habakkuk (2:3), “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
In the Message Paraphrase, that same verse reads, “This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.”
“It aches for the coming...” that points us back to the beginning of our text and that image of expectancy and pregnancy and birth pangs... as we wait expectantly for Jesus to come back for His bride... the Church... but until that day comes... the Holy Spirit encourages us to have no fear... GOD’S GOT IT and God’s got us!
And, as we wait for that day to arrive, it seems safe to say, we need Jesus now more than ever... and it is with that thought in mind, I want to invite us to stand and join in singing our Hymn of Discipleship: I Need Thee Every Hour #578.
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When it appears that the waiting is finally about to come to an end... and the promise of hope is ready to be delivered... we can keep holding on in spite of anything else that may be happening around us... because we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit... which means we have no need to fear because GOD’S GOT IT!
Now this image of pregnancy and expectation that Paul uses, applies not only to the promised birth of a child... it also points to the promised return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
And it is that same sense of expectancy that the disciples may have felt when Jesus told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4b – 5).
So, whenever we find ourselves in a season of waiting and anticipating... let me suggest that there are a couple of things for us to keep in mind.
The first is that... it’s temporary.
Whether it is waiting the 40 weeks of an average pregnancy or the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost... when we are in those seasons of waiting, it helps to remember that it is temporary. We will not have to wait forever...
Although if you ask a woman who is in her ninth month of pregnancy... she just might tell you that it feels like she has been and will be pregnant forever.
And for that kindergartener who is at the beginning of his/her academic career... prom and high school graduation may seem to be mythical dreams that will never get here.
And to the man or woman who has been laid off and has been searching unsuccessfully for employment month after month... the waiting seems to just keep dragging along at an inexplicably slow pace with no conceivable end in sight.
And for the one who is waiting for results from diagnostic tests and a definitive diagnosis from the doctor... it can feel as if time has come to a complete standstill.
And for those of us who trust and believe that the Lord is coming back for His church... there may be times when it feels like that day will never come... I mean, after all, it has been two thousand years already.
But rest assured... God has a purpose, and a plan which means Jesus’ return will not come a single moment before that plan has been fulfilled...
So have no doubt... the Holy Spirit is here to remind us... GOD’S GOT IT.
And God’s Word makes it abundantly quite clear... Jesus will be back.
In fact, in Revelation 22, Jesus says, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
And while some people might question Jesus’ definition of that word “soon” ...we are reminded by Peter that, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8).
So, when we are in that season of waiting and watching for whatever it may be... including waiting for Jesus to return... remember the waiting won’t last forever... it’s only temporary.
Now, this season of waiting is not only temporary, it is also intentional.
There is a reason why we have to wait.
If the baby does not go through the entire gestational period, there are likely to be developmental disabilities.
If the caterpillar does not endure throughout the full metamorphosis process, it will never become the beautiful butterfly that God intended it to be.
In the time that we are waiting, there are lessons for us to learn, skills for us to sharpen and talents for us to tune-up.
We ought to use this time as an opportunity to ask God what it is that He desires for us to gain in this time of waiting.
We should be asking ourselves, “Exactly what is God calling us to do differently before this season of waiting comes to an end?”
The reality is that God has given each of us this prolonged period of time before Jesus comes back to provide us with ample opportunities to tell a dying world about our living Savior... so that all might come to know Jesus Christ as Lord.
In Mark 13:10, we find these words of Jesus, “And the gospel must first be preached to ALL nations.”
A little further down, in verse 30 we read, “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until ALL these things have happened.”
And then in verse 32 we find, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”
God is intentionally giving us time to keep spreading the gospel, to keep telling the good news about Jesus. Why?
Because as the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants ALL people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3 – 4).
So, the waiting is temporary, and it is intentional, but it is also motivating.
Whenever we are in a season of waiting and expectancy... it should motivate us to make the necessary changes that will allow us to move to whatever the next level is that God has in store for us.
Expectant parents are motivated to remodel some or all of their home to make room for the new addition to the family. The caterpillar in the cocoon is motivated to keep struggling so that it will be able to break free. The laid-off worker is motivated to keep searching for gainful employment to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.
The disciples were motivated as they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit so they would receive the power from on high that had been promised to them... so that they would be able to be Christ’s “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
And we, as the body of believers, ought to be motivated to keep telling the good news about our Lord and Savior so that everyone can come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and be ready when Christ does return... Now if by chance, you are concerned about what to say or how to say it... we have the assurance that the Holy Spirit will give us words to say... so don’t worry... GOD’S GOT IT!
Now, this time of waiting is temporary, it is intentional, and it is motivating.
And last but not least, it is empowering.
Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come... because when they received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit they would be empowered to become the witnesses that Jesus had said they would be.
And as we go through our various seasons of waiting... we will be empowered by the same indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit so we can do all that Christ has commanded us to do.
In fact, Jesus told the disciples, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14: 12).
Because Jesus has gone to the Father, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit... the promised comforter and counselor who gives us the peace and courage to wait through any circumstance we may encounter... and the One who empowers us to step out in faith to do the great things Jesus has called us to do.
Paul writes about a peace that he says, “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). And throughout the Scriptures, we find passage after passage encouraging us to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid... words that reassure us that GOD’S GOT IT!
For example, in Joshua 1:9 we read, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
While in Isaiah 41:10 we find these words, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
And this encouragement to be strong and courageous is not just an Old Testament thing... over in 1 Corinthians 16:13 we read, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
Several years ago, I read a book entitled, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat,” by John Ortberg. And something that I read in that book has continued to stick with me. The author explained that there are 366 “fear not” passages in the Bible. One for every day of the year, including Leap Year.
So, no matter what we may encounter on any given day... fear not! We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to face the challenges that confront us. And remember in the midst of it all, we can have peace... even as we are being strong and courageous... because we can trust that no matter what is happening... GOD’S GOT IT!
The fact of the matter is that our times of waiting are temporary, intentional, motivating and empowering... and at the end of the day, we can be sure that there is a purpose for all of it.
We may not see it at first glance, but we should have no doubt... GOD’S GOT IT!
God has a purpose and a plan for every season in our lives... including our seasons of waiting.
Assurance of this can be found in the last verse of our text for the morning, “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” (Romans 8:28).
Or as it reads in the Message, “That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”
That means, even in our waiting, God is working it out for our good. Even in our times of disappointment, heartbreak and failure... GOD’S GOT IT and God really is working it all out for our good.
So, the message for us today, even as we may be facing yet another season of waiting, is simply this... don’t give up, don’t grow weary and don’t lose heart. The day will come when we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt, like the expectant mother that, “It’s time…”
But until then, we can be assured that GOD’S GOT IT.
I want to leave us with these words from the Prophet Habakkuk (2:3), “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
In the Message Paraphrase, that same verse reads, “This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.”
“It aches for the coming...” that points us back to the beginning of our text and that image of expectancy and pregnancy and birth pangs... as we wait expectantly for Jesus to come back for His bride... the Church... but until that day comes... the Holy Spirit encourages us to have no fear... GOD’S GOT IT and God’s got us!
And, as we wait for that day to arrive, it seems safe to say, we need Jesus now more than ever... and it is with that thought in mind, I want to invite us to stand and join in singing our Hymn of Discipleship: I Need Thee Every Hour #578.
