Any woman who has experienced childbirth understands. Any helpless man who has witnessed childbirth, like me (twice), gets it to a degree. That’s why the Bible uses the experience as a metaphor of our lives.
The whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves . . . groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. —Romans 8:22–23
We would all love to have an emotional epidural to where we didn’t feel the pain of life. But that won’t happen.
God doesn’t give us a way to avoid the hurt.
But He does tell us what to think so we can make it through the struggle.
Pain is universal in that the whole creation groans and suffers.
Placing your faith in Jesus Christ doesn’t remove the pain of life. That’s a lie many would have you believe. Your life in Christ includes hurt.
Faith isn’t an epidural. It’s a midwife who stands next to me saying, ‘Push. It’s supposed to hurt.’ —Brené Brown
Instead, faith gives you the blessing of perspective and the promise of hope.
The key to pressing on in spite of our pain is perspective.
Like childbirth, our pain is intense. But it is also temporary.
Likewise, the severe pain of this life, for the Christian, concludes when The Person comes. Paul writes: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).
That means the worst pain you have ever felt in your life in Christ cannot compare with the joy of the glories of heaven.
It’s all about the perspective that hope brings.
This life is only the foyer to forever. Keep walking. Don’t stop. God made us for eternity. Wayne Stiles
Even your life in Christ hurts. It’s supposed to hurt.
Somehow, hurt is part of the God’s childbirth process that shapes and fashions us for His glory—and helps to give new life to others as well. But remember, in the timeline of eternity your hurt today can’t compare to the joy you’ll have tomorrow.
Keep going. Keep pushing. You’re going to make it.
A Person is coming. And He’s coming for you.
Tell me what you think: What helps you keep going in spite of the hurt? To leave a comment, just click here.
This post is adapted from Wayne’s book, Waiting on God: What to Do When God Does Nothing.
• What do you do when the life God has promised you looks nothing like the life he has given you?
• If you find yourself waiting on God—or if you don’t know what God wants you to do next—this book offers a wise and practical guide to finding hope and peace in life’s difficult pauses.
You will discover what to do when it seems God does nothing.