Romans 8:19-22

19The whole universe that God has made now waits for something great to happen. Everything is waiting with hope to find out who God's children really are.

20God has caused everything in the universe to lose its purpose. It did not choose to be like that. It was God who decided that it should be like that. Then it could hope for something better in a future time.

21At that time, the universe will not continue to become worse and worse, as it does now. It will become free from that power. It will be free to enjoy great things from God, as God's children are also free.

22We know that everything in the universe is still in great pain now. Everything cries together in pain, like a woman who is ready to have a baby.