Don’t you love it when people say things like, “I know this is hard, but it will be worth it”. I almost want to say yeah, yeah yeah…..I know. It’s easier to say that to someone when THEY are the one going through one of the worst situations of their life. Oh, how easily we forget what pain feels like in those most dire places.
It’s a lot like when you have a baby. Some of you mothers out there know exactly what I’m talking about. Everyone tells you how horrible the delivery will be. And by the time it happens, you are full of so much dread and anticipation that you are anxious throughout the entire pregnancy. And when the day finally comes, they were right….it is horrible and painful and you feel like you are dying. BUT…..not too many years later, you forget. You don’t forget that it hurt, but you can’t remember how BAD it hurt. Somehow the pain has been eclipsed by something else. All of the sudden, our baby’s laughter overshadows the memories of how BAD it hurt to bring them into this world. We can kind of remember, like looking at an old picture and vaguely remember things about that moment, but it’s not tangible anymore.
We can’t feel the horrendous cramping our body went through, how bad it hurt as our body was being ripped apart, or all of the other things that I shall not type here as they are a bit too much for some people. Needless to say, we forget how painful something is because its purpose has come to life. The painful birthing brought forth a beautiful baby that we come to dote on and kiss constantly.
It’s the same spiritually, isn’t it? If we could see the end from the beginning of a thing, we would know that truly, the pain we endure right now in these most dire situations we often face, won’t compare at all to the eternal weight of glory that God will reveal at just the right time. He is up to something. We are carrying something beautiful inside of us that He planted. And He never said it would be easy to carry this beautiful promise.
I’m thinking of Mary, the mother of Jesus and her adventure of carrying the Son of God. One would think that because of her role that things would be easier for her, right? I mean, she is carrying the Savior of the entire world. But what do we see?? We see her almost tossed into a pit of judgement because her fiancé wasn’t sure if he believed her not. He was going to leave her, but an angel intervened to stop him from doing it. We see her and Joseph fleeing for their life because Herod had ordered all baby boys under the age of 2 be murdered.
We see her giving birth to the Son of God in a filthy animal stable because they couldn’t even get a room at the Inn. Can you even imagine??
But what comes next? She gets to deliver the promised Savior of the world. The one that would change everything for everyone. Her willingness to carry this promise changed the world forever.
Was it easy, no.
Was it fun, no.
Did she probably want to give up, yes.
But did she regret it, no.
She knew her pain had purpose, for destiny was written beforehand for this to be her role to play. And even though it probably felt impossible, she was made for it. She relied on God, even though it felt undeniably overwhelming and impossible.
I don’t know what God has asked you to carry right now, but your pain has purpose. God will take whatever situation you are walking through, or whatever losses you are facing, and eventually reveal a higher purpose. Probably not one you ever asked for or could have imagined, but it will be most beautiful. And worth it.
You will look back someday at this moment and be glad you persevered, for your pain had purpose even before you knew it.
All glory to God, forever!
Check out my podcast this week, where I dive into this them even more! Click here: From Pain to Purpose
