18 Yet I’m convinced that what we suffer in the present is nothing compared to the future glory that will be revealed to us. 19 All of creation is patiently waiting, longing for God to reveal his children. 20 For God allowed the purpose of creation to be frustrated. 21 But creation itself waits in hope for the time when it will be set free from the slavery of decay and share the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 We know that all creation groans with longing, suffering birth-pains even up till now. 23 Not only creation, but we too, who have a foretaste of the Spirit, we groan inwardly as we wait for God to "adopt" us—the redemption of our bodies. 24 For we were saved by hope. Yet hope that’s already seen isn’t hope at all. Who hopes for what they can already see? 25 Since we’re hoping for what we haven’t yet seen, we wait for it patiently.
26 Similarly the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We don’t know how to speak with God, but the Spirit himself intercedes with and through us by groans that can’t be put into words. 27 The one who examines the minds of everyone knows the Spirit’s motives,8:27. Or "the mind of the Spirit." because the Spirit pleads God’s cause on behalf of the believers.