The Pains of Childbirth

I love to talk to the Lord, and listen for His leading. Some days it's harder than others, though, because He not only lets me know how much He loves me, He also disciplines me and shows me where I need to improve upon my life for Him. Other times, He gives me an idea of something that He wants me to do for His glory. On those moments, it's as though I've been told, "Congratulations! You're having a baby!"

In the natural world, when I've seen those "blue lines" appear in that window of a pregnancy test, I'll admit -- I've always had a smidgen of fear mixed in with the joy and the excitement. I start thinking of all of the things to worry about with each child: will I love this child as much as my pet (hey, when you've been a mom to a cat for four years, you wonder the strangest things!), will I love this second child as much as my first, will I be able to show an equal amount of love to three children as to two, aren't I a little too old to have a fourth baby? What kind of parent will I make? Will I totally screw up these children? Oh, PLEASE -- don't let me screw up these children! Conversely, you start dreaming big dreams: I want to be the best mother to these children, these children may be major preachers/doctors/great talents someday, my sons and daughter will be better than I ever was, I cannot wait to feel tiny arms wrapped around my neck and to see toothless grins again!

The same can be said when God gives you a seed of a dream... a ministry, a goal to achieve for Him. A mix of fear and wonder hits you at the same time. You ask many questions: God, are You SURE you want ME to do THAT?! Isn't there someone else more qualified to do the job? Did I even hear right -- let me check that out again (I've taken more than one pregnancy test to make sure)! You may wish to put things off, until you're ready. In the same way that a woman's biological clock ticks and eventually the ability to have children ends, this world's biological clock is also ticking, and we must work while it is still day, and give birth to the ministry that the Lord has given us! Besides, as anyone who has children can tell you, you're never ready to have children, so just dive in!

Well, there have been some things that the Lord has really put upon my heart, things that He wants me to do. And to tell you the truth, I've been putting those things off for the longest time. I have all the pat excuses in place: I'm not spiritual enough, I'm not strong enough, I'm not qualified enough, did You forget all of those rotten things I've done... the list goes on. And then, the events started happening.

First, I was asked to lead a presentation at the local library. Now, this falls in conjunction with something that God wants me to do at and for the church, but I just have not done it, as I am "not qualified enough." I've never given a presentation of this sort, but the librarian has faith that I can pull it off. My storytelling mentor also has faith that I can become a "stellar storyteller" -- I just need the confidence. Some other opportunities are coming my way, and God gently told me yesterday that all of this is part of His plan. He wants me to be a storyteller in the church, and on our web-site. I started with the best of intentions in this endeavor, but wanted to take the "pregnancy test" over again, just to check.

Then, our family went to the church of our colleague/friend. He had a former minister of that church there to speak. His words touched me. I went up front, whereupon the minister was speaking Words of the Lord to those there that night. I asked of God, "Lord, you know I've been thinking that I can't keep pushing on in the ministry field -- it's so hard. I just want a word for Tim and me. Are we doing the right thing by You? Are we supposed to hang in there, or get out of the ministry? Are You pleased with us?"

This minister, who didn't know us from Adam, and who had NO idea what I was asking of the Lord in my heart of hearts, answered all of my questions down the line. I started crying. My God, who knows my innermost parts, heard my cries and gave words of encouragement to the likes of me --a simple handmaiden. He is happy with us, and we are not supposed to quit. In fact, He gave my husband and I a title that matches up with one he gave me 15 years ago: back then, He told me I was a "hurdle jumper." He called my husband and I "barrier breakers." Thank You, Lord!

Then, last night, I told my husband I wanted to go to a Camp Meeting held not far from our home. It was the last night, and the speaker, Reverend Jonathan Ziegler, was awesome. He again reiterated in his sermon what we were told by Reverend Dennis. Then, there was music and dancing before the Lord; I danced as I have not danced in what seemed like forever. Black, White, Hispanic, Asian people, all dancing before the Lord was so freeing and awesome, especially in our area, which seems to be the most segregated place on a Sunday morning. That's one of those visions that I've been dreaming of for our church --that it not be a "white church", "black church" or a "Hispanic church", but rather a "LOVING church filled with all types of people who exhibit the fullness of our Lord and Savior."

At any rate, as I was up front, the ministers started anointing people and praying over them. A feeling emerged from my feet, then whooshed up to my head, and I fell to the floor. An inner voice said, "Rest, just rest in the Spirit of the Lord." Then, absolutely no other leading from the Lord occurred, so I decided to take a nice, ole rest.

Suddenly, a woman larger than I hit the floor -- kinda. She actually landed on my face. I quickly sat up. No sooner had I got up, stood and started praying, Reverend Zeigler came up to me yet again, touched my forehead, and again -- that certain feeling which started at my feet, surged up my body, and whooshed up to my head. BAM! Down to the floor yet again! Only this time, I felt this inner word from the Lord: "You have been in child birth for a long time. You are pregnant -- not with a child of flesh and blood, but that of the Spirit. You are pregnant with a ministry that I have for you. You have been pushing and feel that you can push no more, but I say to you to push! Push! PUSH! If you do this, you will see it all come to fruition."

I got back up, sobbing; not tears of sorrow, but those tears which come when you know that you know that you KNOW that the thing which you have been waiting for is on its way. Am I excited? You bet! Am I frightened? Absolutely! Is God going to leave me or forsake me in this endeavor? NO WAY! When it was time to deliver my now-teenager, I remember being in labor for what seemed like forever. I was throwing up, I was miserable, and then it was time to push. OH, how difficult! And I thought the labor pains were bad! I remember feeling so weak, as though I couldn't push. But the doctor and nurses strongly urged me to do so, or the baby would have serious trouble. Then they showed his crowning head to me in a mirror, and I mustered up just the right amount of strength that I needed to help my beautiful boy into the world. My exhaustion gave way to sheer elation, and I had the strength to hold my newborn, to kiss him, to take that child in with utter joy.

This week, when I felt so weak, I was shown the crowning head of the ministry that God has in store for me. It may not happen overnight, but I have been given new strength to keep pushing on -- no matter how hard the task is, because I really want to see this ministry come to full term, and to see the light of day!

With what ministry have you been impregnated? You may have been waiting for YEARS for it to come to fruition, and you may have seen nothing, but I want to encourage you to hold on. I have not yet seen what God has in store for me to be born, yet, but I now see the crowing in the mirror. So I urge you to PUSH! PUSH! PUSH! We can DO it! If God gives it to us, we can do ALL things through Him!