Looking out on the gray and crying sky,
Hearing the wind raging, “Why God, why?”
The trees’ hearts are breaking, in pieces they lie.
Has the whole earth forgotten the source of its joy?

When will it remember the birds in their flight,
As they soar on the breeze in the warm sunlight,
Or the flowers exploding in colors so bright,
Or the beauty of sunset, as day fades to night?

In brokenness – falling,
In barrenness – calling,
In darkness – remembering,
Earth’s song of rejoicing!

Romans 8:18-25 (The Voice)

¹⁸ Now I’m sure of this: the sufferings we endure now are not even worth comparing to the glory that is coming and will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For all of creation is waiting, yearning for the time when the children of God will be revealed. ²⁰ You see, all of creation has collapsed into emptiness, not by its own choosing, but by God’s. Still He placed within it a deep and abiding hope ²¹ that creation would one day be liberated from its slavery to corruption and experience the glorious freedom of the children of God. ²² For we know that all creation groans in unison with birthing pains up until now. ²³ And there is more; it’s not just creation—all of us are groaning together too. Though we have already tasted the first fruits of the Spirit, we are longing for the total redemption of our bodies that comes when our adoption as children of God is complete—²⁴ for we have been saved in this hope and for this future. But hope does not involve what we already have or see. For who goes around hoping for what he already has? ²⁵ But if we wait expectantly for things we have never seen, then we hope with true perseverance and eager anticipation.