“A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” (NKJV)
This is a normal principle in life, natural and spiritual – that labor is usually followed by a birthing. Hardship and/or waiting gives way to the manifestation of fruit, and to great joy. I remember well how (many years ago) when I was expecting our son, I wanted to have a purely natural birth. I was in labor for an entire day, though, and was just about to give up on my desire to go “natural” when everything shifted – the baby was born, and suddenly I had transitioned from pain to absolute joy!
With the passage of time, I have come to understand that challenges do have a place in life, and that even the most upbeat and apparently victorious person has things to overcome. However, the glorious truth is that no one is meant to be suffering through a difficult time forever. Hard times are a valley we are supposed to walk through (never to camp in), and the choice of whether we stay or keep moving is truly ours.
In the example of a woman giving birth, this Scripture in John 16 shows us that in life we have peaks and troughs, mountains and valleys, and that even the season of difficulty has a crescendo of intensity, before the sudden breakthrough and relief. The expectant mother has an increased, almost unbearable level of intense pain and then it is gone, completely swamped by the extent of the relief and great delight.
It may be that you are going through a challenging patch, but take heart – you are most probably in the process of giving birth. Something beautiful is coming forth from all this frustration, pain and cries to God! Weeping may have remained for this dark time, but joy is breaking forth as morning breaks. The darkest hour is just before the dawn!
Dear friend, what would it look like if we saw our challenges as doorways into something awesome and special? What if we made a conscious decision to co-operate with God and actively partner with Him when faced with tough times; to embrace thankfulness and joy even in the midst of trials? It would completely change the way we experience hard seasons.
Everyone knows that giving birth is generally painful and requires a level of effort and (literally) “labor” and the mother Jesus refers to in the above verse is no different. She is feeling a “sorrow” because she is probably anticipating how hard it is going to be; but she knows that it is temporary, and that it is a necessary transfer point into a different status, a different level, a new joyful maturity where she becomes “mother”. Every marathon runner or Olympic competitor knows all about this. You understand the hugeness and reality of the task before you, but you lay good foundations for yourself and invest time and energy into preparation and training. Then you face the challenge, knowing that when you give it your best, you will walk through it with a chance of an upgrade and a reward at the other end. This is true of many things in life!
In John 16:22 (the next verse) Jesus said to His disciples “Therefore you now have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” Jesus never promised we would have a trouble-free life; in fact, He said (John 16:33) “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” He was assuring them that when this moment of pain had passed, they would know a joy unspeakable, and it would be something that could not be stolen from them. Many of us have been through difficulties this past year, but the night of weeping is surely over, and the joyful breakthrough has come! Romans 8:18 tells us the following: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” This is good news! God is telling us that the bliss of breakthrough shall far outweigh any difficulty we have experienced. Hallelujah and glory to His name!
“Dear Holy Spirit, refresh every weary heart and mind, and fill us with your deep peace. We choose you in the midst of every trial and we embrace the release, the joy, that only you can give. Open our eyes to see the glorious possibilities you have for us, even in seasons of difficulty, and may the dawning of the morning bring great JOY, amen!”
Minoli Haththotuwa, 11/11/2024
