Easing the Sting

In the minutes following the birth of my first child 26 years ago, I surprised the doctor and my husband with a strange reaction. My labor was long and hard, but all through the many hours spent in that hospital bed, I knew I was working for something wonderful. The pain was intense, but the moment my son was placed in my arms and I first glimpsed his sweet face, I wiped the sweat from my brow, smiled bigger than I ever had before, looked up and exclaimed, "I want to do that again!" The doctor paused, laughed and then stated that in all the years of his practice, he had never heard a woman say that with such enthusiasm at that very moment! He might have been surprised, but I wasn’t.  After 9 months of waiting and 19 hours of labor, all the hard work and energy had culminated into a beautiful new life.  I was filled with such joy that it couldn't be contained.

If only we could look at all the “labors” in our life with such joy!  So often, we experience growing pains meant to form us into new, beautiful creations in God’s eyes, but the painful journeys can discourage us.  We focus on the trial rather than the end result.  God’s word promises that we can face our troubles with confidence and hope because God will use our difficulties to grow and shape us.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:3-5).

Have you ever gone through a painful or challenging time but then experienced such blessings as a result that you would be willing to go through it again in order to come to an ever deeper relationship with Christ?  I know that is a difficult idea to grasp.  None of us like trials, let alone pain.  But, when we remember that God uses everything in our life -- the good, the bad, the difficult, and the easy -- to mold and shape us into the women He created us to be, the sting of the journey is eased.  When we can focus on Christ and on what He is doing through the pain, we can be sure that our faith will grow.  And the end result will be beautiful.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

Living for Him,

Be sure to check out the new site Blessings in His Grip - God's Gift of Prayer and join us as we pray through the scriptures! (Linked to this page).

This week I'm also linked with Reflections of His Grace for Grace Cafe & Spiritual Sundays!