For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. Romans 8:20-22
From the very beginning, we and all creation were subjected to futility. Our flesh led us to covet the knowledge of good and evil that led to death and then the Law given to Moses allowed us to glimpse life but did not empower us to reach it. We must conclude we are in trouble. We see but cannot fulfill. We glimpse the goal but are unable to completely silence our flesh or our knowledge of good and evil.
In Christ, we have redemption. It is finished. Now we wait for the redemption of the body. So we groan. We groan like a woman in labor and we are not alone in the labor ward. All creation labors with us. We all co-labor as we wait for the redemption of the body. Just as the children of Israel groaned in the wilderness as they journeyed toward the promise, we groan as we wait for redemption of our bodies paid for by Christ. We hope for what is yet unseen.