Romans 8:15-25
Notice how he lays the foundation by turning our attention to our hope. He reminds us that God purposefully made life subject to futility. Futility is a frustrating quality that wears away at one's confidence. It can produce a sense of hopelessness that leads us to think that nothing will work out. Sometimes our pilgrimage seems so long and arduous that we take our eyes from our Savior, and hopelessness builds. However, Paul reminds us that God does everything in love and wisdom and for our good. Futility is an obstacle that we must overcome through faith in God. Yet, He has willed that futility be present, intending that we use it as a prod to use our faith in cooperation with Him despite its presence.
God, in His abundant mercy, designed mankind's curse of struggle to end in rest and eternal life, beginning with His firstfruits. Because of mankind's sin, creation groans and travails in pain, awaiting deliverance from the bondage of sin and corruption at the manifestation of the sons of God. Believers travail with it, awaiting transformation into God beings, and will never find rest in this burdensome, vanity-filled world. God purposefully made life subject to futility, which can erode confidence and breed hopelessness, yet He does everything in love and wisdom for their good. His will is that they rise above it through knowledge and the Spirit He has given, using futility as a prod to exercise faith; those who endure suffering will be glorified together.