Birth Pains

Good morning, everyone! This is Michele writing for you today, Chris has asked me to be his guest blogger. This morning's reading is from Isaiah 66:7-14. This section of scripture is filled with hope and assurance of what God is doing in our lives. Please read through this very encouraging portion of God's word and see what he is speaking into your heart! This is what popped out at me:

"Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it?" asks he Lord. "No! I would never keep this nation from being born." says your God. (v8-9)

Every now and again life throws us fiery arrows that we wish we didn't have to dodge or downright get hit by. I know that happens to me....sometimes it seems like an awful lot! We wonder......why me? What is God doing here? Does he know what he is doing? Does he even care that I am suffering and hurting? Doesn't he see that my loved one has had enough and doesn't deserve to be drug through such hard times? I could have thought of a much better way to go about this situation!

But, God is telling us in this passage of his Word that he doesn't plan to leave us in pain. Just like when a mother is giving birth to a child.......it hurts REALLY bad for a while until she holds that precious new baby in her arms.......and then the joy begins!! We even tend to forget how bad the pain was. How else would it have been possible for that joy to come into the world? The pain was necessary! The pain brought with it new life and joy and the awe of God's creation and plan!

God also reminds us that not only is it necessary for us to endure pain in order for the joy to begin.......we  will go through many trials in our life on earth before our time here is through. "Has a nation ever been born in a single day?" (v. 8) God has amazing plans for our lives! If we really think about it, we can rejoice when we go through struggles because that means that God is evidently up to something in our lives! This passage tells us that joy will come.......after the pain!!  I know from my own personal experience, I tend to cling tighter to God in hard times....I spend more time in his Word and on my knees. And when the current trial is over, he sometimes shows me why it had to be so hard.....and I can rejoice in his plan! Other times, I rejoice just because he saw me through, without knowing exactly why it had to unfold the way it did.

Lord, thank you for the hard times in life....the "birth pains". Thank you for using them to mold me and shape me into the person you want me to become. Thank you for delivering me from the darkness into your marvelous light and for the knowledge that someday I will be fully delivered into your heavenly home where there will be no more pain. Lord, you know what you are doing! Help me to remember that I have always made a mess of things when I've not trusted in your control in my life. Help me to choose your ways even when they seem too painful. I love you Jesus.......and I give you control!

Please feel free and welcome to share any comments with us!! Just choose the anonymous option in the drop down box and join in the conversation! Thank you so much for letting me share with you and have a great day! God loves you sooo much!!