“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:22–23, ESV)
When my wife Laura gave birth to our first son, things did not go perfectly. She endured a rough pregnancy. First, she lost fifteen pounds, then she gained fifty-three! In the meantime, she had morning sickness for several months instead of the normal six to ten weeks. Then, came the day of our son’s birth. The water broke as normal, but then she didn’t dilate enough for the baby to come naturally. However, the doctor didn’t want to rush things, because Laura was more fragile than usual. The doctors were split on what to do. One doctor wanted to do a C-section to ease her pain. Another knew her body was just taking longer to give birth. In the end, Laura went through more than twenty hours of “birthing” our first son naturally. She was so tired, so sore, so weak. What shocked me was that after giving birth, she got this burst of energy. Her son was here! Her little boy was in her arms. A new person had come into our lives. She was full of smiles and excited, despite being desperately tired and weak.
A few weeks after giving birth, Laura was still adjusting to her new son. My family and I jumped in to do a lot of the work for her. We shared the load of a newborn in the household. When I asked her how she was doing, she would often reply, “I am tired, but it was so worth it!” In time, she remembered her childbearing days as difficult and giving birth as a terrible trial, but she knew our son had been a blessing. The pain faded quickly as she took on the role of mother.
They say that the pain of childbearing recedes with time in a mother’s mind. The psychological and physical traumas fade as the child grows. The difficult days of little sleep with a newborn are overcome. The little blessings along the way seem to buoy you. Through the pain, a child becomes a part of the family. You take on the difficulties as a parent knowing that God’s little blessing needs nurture and care.
Today’s scripture talks about the earth and all of creation going through something like giving birth. Paul wrote in Romans 8 that “the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (Romans 8:22). Paul felt that Jesus’ redemption on the cross changed the trajectory of sin in the world. There was new hope in Christ. A renewed hope in forgiveness. Hope in salvation. Hope in resurrection. Like in childbearing, the dark times of pain and suffering on the cross faded in time as the hope of a new life in Christ was born.
In the second verse of the scripture today, Paul adds that it is not only creation that suffers at times. Humans will “groan inwardly” until such time as we see salvation taking hold in our world and Heaven coming with our future! What this verse means is that life on this earth will have its difficult days, its times of toil and pain and difficulty. All these will pale in comparison with the resurrection of the soul and eternal life in God’s Kingdom which has no end!
Taken at face value, the scripture for today speaks of two distinct times in your life. You will have days of pain, suffering, hurt, anguish, sadness, and struggle. Life on the earth carries burdens. However, just as childbearing increases the burden for a woman, the birth of a child brings hope for the future. God’s blessing in the form of a child brings the hope of another soul in the arms of God. All life is a series of pains and frustrations and hurt mixed in with blessing and hope and new birth.
At this point in your life, are you in a period of hurt or blessing? Are you facing trials or enjoying the results of your hard work? Are you walking through pain or finding healing? How you endure difficult days is as important as how you celebrate in good times. Do you lean on God during struggles? Do you praise God when relief comes?
Never underestimate the pain that this world can inflict on a soul. People can be cruel. Disease can ravage the mind and body. Change can be difficult to work through. Life can tax you as well as bless you. Through it all, God is looking for you to grow during the trials and temptations as well as the times of celebration. God will help you through it all. Look for signs of His angels helping. Look for evidence of His grace.
Matthew 5:45 teaches that God sends the sun and the rain on the just and the unjust alike. Then, God watches how each person deals with each day. The unjust person will grow bitter, resentful, and cruel with time. The just person will rise above the weather and praise God. Are you the kind of person who rejoices in the good days and becomes bitter in the tough days? In good days, do you overdo the alcohol or drugs or find sinful ways to spend your happy moments? How you live your good and bad days will define your faith and expose the deepest desires of your soul.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Oh Lord my God! You know my deepest desires. You have seen evidence of my faith or lack of it. You know my inner thoughts. You are fully aware of my tendencies. Help me, dear Lord, to keep You foremost in my heart. Let my thoughts not fall prey to bitterness and evil. Keep my feet rooted to the path that leads directly to Your Kingdom.
On good days, remind me to enjoy the blessings while praising Your graciousness. On bad days, keep my feet from straying toward dead ends. You are the one who redeemed me. You know what is best for me. Your ways lead to life, even eternal life.
I thank You for Jesus the Christ. He endured torments and the cross to save my soul. He battled darkness to bring the light of the gospel to my heart. I thank You for all those who continue to uphold Your commandments while being emissaries of Your truth. I thank You for the good days that help me heal from the bad ones. I thank You for the hope of eternal life in Your presence.
Amen.