--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live in the midst of a creation that…" description: "\"We live in the midst of a creation that is groaning.\" — Rob Bell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/rob-bell-1025_creation_we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that_2405425.png" --- # We live in the midst of a creation that is groaning. ![“We live in the midst of a creation that is groaning.” quote by Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/rob-bell-1025_creation_we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that_2405425.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/rob-bell-1025_creation_we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that_2405425.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/rob-bell-1025_creation_we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that_2405425.png) > “We live in the midst of a creation that is groaning.” [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creation is in a state of pain, indicating a larger cosmic struggle toward redemption. **In simple terms:** Creation suffers, pointing to redemption. Key Takeaway Hope amid suffering, trust the process. Themes theology cosmic pain redemption Mood hopeful somber Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - personal trials - global crises - environmental decay Key Concepts suffering spiritual hope Questions to Reflect On - How does suffering shape faith? - What redemptive outcomes can emerge? A Different Perspective Pain may cause despair. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Creation Groaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation-groaning-1095908/) [Groaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groaning/) [Midst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midst/) [Midst Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midst-creation-6037633/) ## Related quotes > [For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/for-the-creation-was-subjected-to-frustration-not-by-its-own-choice/) [Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/) > [ “we know that  s the whole creation  t has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23\[†\]And not only the creation, but we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-know-that-s-the-whole-creation-t-has-been-groaning-together-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't forget that in the midst of all your pain and heartache, you are surrounded by beauty, the wonder of creation, art, your music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-forget-that-in-the-midst-of-all-your-pain-and-heartache-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's the use of dying in a ward surrounded by a lot of groaning and croaking incurables? Wouldn't it be much better to throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/what-s-the-use-of-dying-in-a-ward-surrounded-by-a-lot-of-groaning-and/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [Everything was for tomorrow, but tomorrow never came. The present was only a bridge and on this bridge they are still groaning, as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/everything-was-for-tomorrow-but-tomorrow-never-came-the-present-was/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Cry "havoc!" and let loose the dogs of war, That this foul deed shall smell above the earth With carrion men, groaning for burial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/cry-havoc-and-let-loose-the-dogs-of-war-that-this-foul-deed-shall/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Every true prayer is a prayer of the Church; by means of that prayer the Church prays, since it is the Holy Spirit living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-stein/every-true-prayer-is-a-prayer-of-the-church-by-means-of-that-prayer/) [Edith Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-stein/) > [So shall the world go on, To good malignant, to bad men benign, Under her own weight groaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/so-shall-the-world-go-on-to-good-malignant-to-bad-men-benign-under/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [If you must keep groaning, please try to do it in a rhythm I can dance to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/if-you-must-keep-groaning-please-try-to-do-it-in-a-rhythm-i-can-dance/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [You can only do so much grunting and groaning and then you're done, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-t-nelson/you-can-only-do-so-much-grunting-and-groaning-and-then-you-re-done/) [Craig T. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-t-nelson/) > [I thought, He must forebear to reveal His power and glory by presenting Himself as Himself, and must be present only in the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-thought-he-must-forebear-to-reveal-his-power-and-glory-by/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I can never acknowledge the right of slavery. I will bow down to no deity however worshipped by professing Christians - however dignified by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thaddeus-stevens/i-can-never-acknowledge-the-right-of-slavery-i-will-bow-down-to-no/) [Thaddeus Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thaddeus-stevens/) > [But how carve way i' the life that lies before, If bent on groaning ever for the past?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/but-how-carve-way-i-the-life-that-lies-before-if-bent-on-groaning/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [They say 'life is precious'. To who? To you, when you're young and you've got a few dollars in your pocket. Tell that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/they-say-life-is-precious-to-who-to-you-when-you-re-young-and-you-ve/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment. Whereas the groanings of the righteous are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-erskine/the-triumphing-of-the-wicked-is-short-and-the-joy-of-the-hypocrite/) [Ebenezer Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-erskine/) ## More by Rob Bell > [If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Why blame the dark for being dark? It is far more helpful to ask why the light isn’t as bright as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/why-blame-the-dark-for-being-dark-it-is-far-more-helpful-to-ask-why/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [“This story... blasts to pieces our biases and labels with a declaration that God is on everyone's side, extending grace and compassion to everyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/this-story-blasts-to-pieces-our-biases-and-labels-with-a-declaration/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [One truth is that suffering raises profound questions with the universe. The other truth is that grace, gift and generosity also raise profound questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/one-truth-is-that-suffering-raises-profound-questions-with-the/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [For Jesus, heaven and hell were present realities. Ways of living we can enter into here and now. He talked very little of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/for-jesus-heaven-and-hell-were-present-realities-ways-of-living-we/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Love is what God is, love is why Jesus came, and love is why he continues to come, year after year to person after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/love-is-what-god-is-love-is-why-jesus-came-and-love-is-why-he/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [I believe that God is love. I believe that Jesus came to show us this love, to give us this love, to teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/i-believe-that-god-is-love-i-believe-that-jesus-came-to-show-us-this/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody. And this is because the most powerful things happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news-2/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [“I don’t read the Bible like a flat line. I don’t see all of the passages in the Bible sitting equally side by side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/i-don-t-read-the-bible-like-a-flat-line-i-don-t-see-all-of-the/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [To elevate abstract doctrines and dogmas over living, breathing, embodied experiences of God's love and grace, then, is going the wrong direction. It's taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/to-elevate-abstract-doctrines-and-dogmas-over-living-breathing/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [The modern world has created airports and hospitals and put 10,000 songs in our pocket. It has built gleaming buildings and computers and advances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/the-modern-world-has-created-airports-and-hospitals-and-put-10-000/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [God is bigger than the Christian faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/god-is-bigger-than-the-christian-faith/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [What you believe about the future shapes, informs, and determines how you live now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/what-you-believe-about-the-future-shapes-informs-and-determines-how/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [The life you want begins by embracing the life you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/the-life-you-want-begins-by-embracing-the-life-you-have/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [It takes quite a spine to turn the other cheek. It takes phenomenal fortitude to love your enemy. It takes firm resolve to pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/it-takes-quite-a-spine-to-turn-the-other-cheek-it-takes-phenomenal/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) [Explore all 305 Rob Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) ## More Creation quotes > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [I believe if there is a creator it will basically ask me two questions, how well did you enjoy my creation and what did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-believe-if-there-is-a-creator-it-will-basically-ask-me-two/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [In the quiet moments of your day, what do you think and do? When you are with your Self and no one else, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/in-the-quiet-moments-of-your-day-what-do-you-think-and-do-when-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [To be part of the creation, I must act humbly. I'll take that over a goddess any day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-o-hara/to-be-part-of-the-creation-i-must-act-humbly-i-ll-take-that-over-a/) [Maureen O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-o-hara/) > [The country of Iraq is somewhat of an artificial creation going back to colonial days. And so you have the Kurds and then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/the-country-of-iraq-is-somewhat-of-an-artificial-creation-going-back/) [James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/) [Browse all 5,225 Creation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We live in the midst of a creation that is groaning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rob Bell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that-is-groaning/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that-is-groaning/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/rob-bell-1025_creation_we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that_2405425.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/rob-bell-1025_creation_we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that_2405425.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/441/rob-bell-1025_creation_we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that_2405425.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We live in the midst of a creation that is groaning.” — Rob Bell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rob Bell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We live in the midst of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that-is-groaning/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/we-live-in-the-midst-of-a-creation-that-is-groaning/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```