Groaning and Travailing

In my job I have often had the opportunity to watch as a woman "groaneth and travaileth" in labor. Speaking
from experience, I consider this to be a perfect descriptor.  I have watched many women working hard to deal with the pain of contractions and then later working even  harder pushing with them.

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Then the moment comes when that baby is placed in her arms and her sorrow turns into joy.  The tears of pain and frustration still on her cheeks mingle with the tears of relief and exultation.  The labor is gone and the baby is birthed in it's place.

Our Lord described it perfectly:

"A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world."  John 16:21

As we walk out this Christian life here on this planet which bears the evidence of being cursed, and as we are reminded we have the enemies of the world, the flesh and the devil to tempt us along the way, we too groan and travail in labor.  Our spirits have been redeemed, but we are waiting, as is the whole of creation, for the redemption of our earthly bodies, that fleshly component of ourselves.

When we face the pains of our labors here, let us have hope for what is to come.  Let us remember that at the end of the day there awaits a full and complete redemption:

"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.   And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?   But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:22-27 

Let us hold that laboring mother as an example that, as the Apostle Paul said, "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us," (Romans 8:18.)  We may have trials and pains, temptations and difficulties here, but there will come a day when all that shall be past and the God and Lord of Glory Himself shall wipe away the tears from our eyes.  Then there "shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."  

Have hope, there are great days ahead!

" ...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."  

Psalm 30:5