Saturday, October 09, 2010

What Lasts Forever

The middle of the night is the hardest time to believe the truth. There's something about lying in bed in the darkness, being in pain and feeling alone--my sweet husband is right there beside me, but he sleeps, and I am awake and anxious.

Thankfully God has provided much grace over the last week or so, and I have been much less fearful and much more able to preach the Truth to myself, even at 2 AM. Last night, I was awake with some painful cramping, and He met me with some blessed thoughts:

Labor will not last forever. I don't know when it will start, or how long it will last, but I do know for absolutely certain that at some glorious point, Baby will be here and it will all be over.

Obvious, I know--yet somehow reassuring. And then I started thinking: "Labor and delivery will not last forever; they will come to an end. But some things *DO* last forever and ever, without end!" I didn't know the exact Scripture references, but the Spirit brought a few of these to mind as I lay in bed, and I looked up a few more this morning:
"His steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 136)

"...Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:6-7)

"the word of our God will stand forever" (Isaiah 40:8)

"My salvation will be forever" (Isaiah 51:6)

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever"
(John 6:51)

"He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever"
(John 14:16)

"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever"
(Revelation 11:15)
When I am struggling--whether in the pain of childbirth, or the demands of motherhood and dying to self, or whatever more dramatic trials may come--I want to remember this. The struggle, the trial, will not last forever. But my Father's love and mercy and faithfulness last forever! His Word will last forever. His perfect reign of righteousness and grace and peace will last forever. His Holy Spirit will be with me forever. And I will live forever with Him! How glad I am for such glorious truth on which to meditate and be encouraged.

1 comment:

emily said...

you have so beautifully captured truth here. and i relate so much, during this season, with the middle-of-the-night struggles. i've thought of this lately, and like you, have been speaking TRUTH - His Word, when the worry/fear/anxiety hits hardest.
(( i am just rounding the bend to my 2nd trimester ... a miracle pregnancy after a loss last year)). i constantly face the choice: do i obey or do i fear/worry? it is a decision i make in the moment; when faced w/the temptation for my thoughts to run far in the wrong direction.
i love the scripture you shared!
i love your blog and am cheering and praying from afar as you get closer to meeting your precious babe!! :)
emily