The phone rang. It was 1:14am. Within 45 minutes I was sitting beside my friend at the hospital. We knew this day would come, it’s all part of the journey, but it’s not the part you look forward to. I mean you do – and you don’t…

Labor.

For nine months this miracle grows and develops, changing the way a woman looks, feels, and behaves. Yet this miracle is hidden from human eyes behind a veil of skin. She feels it move and kick but can’t actually touch the thing. This miracle growing in its mother’s womb is much like the miracle of the Holy Spirit growing in the heart of a believer in Christ. We cannot see, internally, the Miracle of His Spirit. But, externally, there will be proof that He lives – that He’s growing our hearts – the way a pregnant woman’s body bears proof of the life inside her. And although we cannot fully grasp or hold with our hands the reality of this God-Man-Spirit moving within us, we must remember that those kicks, stirs, and feelings didn’t exist before this Miracle came to dwell in us.

The life of a Christian is much like pregnancy. The Miracle happens and we are elated. We sense the new life and wonder what that means for our future. In pregnancy things get more difficult the longer that life grows inside a woman… sickness, exhaustion, aches, and pains… She no longer questions whether or not she’s pregnant, she KNOWS she’s pregnant! In the same way, Christians will undoubtedly experience trial and tribulation, and these sufferings are not meant to cause question but in fact to PROVE our identity as believers!

Then, as with labor, the day will come when our faith is made sight – but it won’t come without its price. We will labor and it will be painful, guaranteed. We will feel like we cannot go on and cry out for relief. Then it happens – the struggle is over and our Reward is placed within our grasp and we behold Him with our eyes. The woman holding her newborn no longer considers the trials of pregnancy and labor because the reward of her baby overshadows those sufferings. The same will be true for the Believer who stands with unveiled face beholding the fullness of His deity, our Reward.

The privilege of joining this friend on her journey through labor was an unforgettable experience. The bond that is created through shared suffering and shared reward is inexpressibly deep. I have continued to process all that took place in those dark hours of the night and am personally inspired as I think of three ways that we are ALL empowered to endure suffering and come out victorious…

 

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1. We are empowered to suffer when we are spiritually strong.

This friend of mine is the most physically fit woman I know. We climbed a 13,000ft mountain together when she was 71/2 months pregnant for crying out loud! Her strength to endure the extreme pain of labor and delivery with as much grace and composure as she did was in large part due to a lifestyle of healthy eating and physical conditioning. The priority she placed on attending to her physical health before suffering is what prepared her for the suffering. We, as Christians, won’t do well in our trials and tribulations if we don’t attend to our spiritual health as a lifestyle that prepares us for suffering.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

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2. We are empowered to suffer when others are there to help.

As I said, this woman is tough. She’s the kind of girl you’d imagine giving birth along in a cave and then doing cartwheels on her way out! But no, she asked for help. Even she knew she needed help. In times of suffering we need help – people close to us whom we trust. We need friends and family who will strengthen, encourage, and lift our burden. Battles aren’t won single-handidly. We all need the kindness of a faithful few who are willing to hold our hands and help us through our darkest hours.

When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other–so that his hands remained steady till sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. Exodus 17:12-13

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3. We are empowered to suffer by the hope of reward.

“This pain is moving your baby into position…you’re doing great…”
“The baby is coming… you’ve got this!…”
“I see the head, you’re almost done!”

These are the kinds of words that motivate a laboring mother. They want to know their pain has a purpose, that there’s a reward at the end of the agony. Reminding them of the baby that’s coming is what enables them to dig deep and find strength they didn’t know they had. The same is true for Christians enduring suffering. Believers ought to remind each other that Christ is coming – this pain won’t last forever – and that this Reward is worth the struggle!

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. Romans 8:18

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*This post originally appeared at beautifullymessedup.com
Author: Niki Schemanski