Contractions of the soul

Last week I wrote about keeping Christ as our focal point during trials, just as a woman in labor uses a focal point to keep her mind off the pain of her contractions. This week I want to write about those contractions and the good that those contractions produce.

Whether you're a mom or not; whether you've birthed your children or adopted them, who doesn't love the sight of a newborn baby? Who doesn't get emotional watching a movie with a birthing scene, especially the part when that baby is placed in the mother's arms? Apart from becoming born again is there any greater miracle?

We all know this miracle comes at great cost. It is literally through blood, sweat and tears that a baby is brought into the world.

I remember eight hours into the 16 hour laboring process wondering if I could go any longer. I remember feeling like I had to give up. There was just no way I could go on, I thought. But there was no going back. If I wanted this baby (and even if I didn't) there was no way I could change my mind. That baby had to come out, and I had to endure the contractions to get it out.

I also remember when I was expecting David, at age 38 (5 1/2 years after my previous pregnancy), wondering if I'd remember how to do labor and delivery. I remember waking up at night with the irrational fear that I wouldn't be able to do it again.

But all those fears had to be laid aside and I had to remember I had a job to do. I had been called to carry and birth this life. I had to remember if God had called me to this, He would provide me with all that I would need to fulfill this calling.

Spiritual contractions are the same way.

"Life is pain, your highness. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something." (the man in black)

We live in a fallen world. Until Christ returns or we go to heaven we will face "many dangers, toils and snares" that bring great pain. Sometimes we cry: "how long oh Lord?" sometimes we inaudibly groan: "I can't do it any longer." Sometimes we plead in prayer for the pain to stop. But the pain doesn't stop. It may subside for a while but when it returns we wonder if we can endure it again, or remember how to get through it.

But God gives us all that we need for our spiritual contractions. Here are the verses that I have had to remember during these painful times:

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, so we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:17).

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." (Romans 8:27-30),

"Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." (Psalm 30:5).

In these verses there is something we can hang on to. When the contractions of life that squeeze our hearts are over, when trials have completed God's intended purposes, there is an eternal glory, and a joy that awaits us in heaven. And even now there is good that is being accomplished through our trials. When the contractions are over, we will weep with joy for what God has done.

How have you found these promises (or others) to help you through your trials?