Travail

In the past few weeks I have been considering what it is to travail to bring forth a child. The pain endured during the birthing process is challenging and every mother and father who has been through it knows the preciousness of holding their child after it. There is a celebration of new life for the whole family. As parents we then begin the long journey of caring for and training our children to see them become adults.
As Jona and I were talking about this he reflected that this travail of parents happens long before we even meet the child. From the moment of conception the new life begins to make their impact. As parents we begin from that point to care and nurture this tiny one with the hope of meeting them. This is the way that the Lord looks at us. He is longing to see many sons and daughters in His house but there is a need to travail to see new life come to birth. He wants us to join Him in this work and I know for me that this begins in prayer. The Lord has known each one of us from when we were in our mother’s wombs and before. Just as I have travailed physically and in prayer to bring forth a new child so too is the Lord calling me to travail in prayer to see new life established in His house.

Psalm 139:13-14 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.