My expectant daughter’s symptoms signified it was almost time. And I got the phone call, “Mom, I am being admitted… It’s almost time!” With that said, my youngest daughter and I were excitedly off to the hospital. As we hurriedly walked through the hospital to my expectant daughter’s hospital room, we quickly slung open the door in anticipation of supporting through the labor pains. Instead, we were greeted with a big smile and friendly “Hello!” with the phone to her ear as she engaged in conversation; happily sharing she was in labor and would soon be delivering her first child.
My youngest daughter and I eagerly walked to the side of my daughter’s bed and she began to share her excitement and how smooth the labor experience was going… She was very optimistic and full of expectant energy. After ensuring with her doctor that all vitals were good, I shared that her sister had a dance practice to attend and that she and I would be back right after. As we left the hospital room and heard the door close behind us, my youngest daughter glanced over at me and asked, “Is she in labor?” I glanced and gently smiled as I said, “Yes, the onset of labor… And when the labor comes, she will definitely know it!” Then we both giggled as we walked down the corridor.
An hour later, upon our return to the hospital, we entered a room very different from the one we left an hour earlier. The signs of labor pains were much more intense, which increased substantially as time passed… Then, hours after, the pedal hit the metal and the labor pains were now almost unbearable as they came and lifted and then came and lasted longer before lifting… And then it was the bearing down pressure…! It was NOW, time for delivery… The birth of a gift from God!
Just as soon as my daughter said, “Mom, she’s coming. I have to push!” her pain stopped and my God, first it was my granddaughter’s head then her shoulders and then her full body made its introduction… The absolute joy that filled the hearts of each person in that room was absolutely life giving.
Wow…! What a conceptual introduction to the process we Believer’s experience through the process of renewing our minds which leads to our transformational process from the physical to the spiritual. At the onset of believing Jesus willfully gave His life for us, making abundant life available to us and ultimately having eternal life, we are absolutely filled with joy in our hearts and it’s an absolutely life giving moment. In that moment, we have absolutely no idea of the dying to self-process, and the resurrection process that teaches us how to stay on the cross and not respond or react in the physical… Learning how to walk (living out each day) in and by the Spirit.
Have we prepared ourselves for when the onset of real life issues happen and we experience bearing down pain that is supposed to lead to birthing and fulfillment of destinies, to withstand the strong undeniable desire to cave in and quit, the undeniable desire to resort back (return back to our vomit) to what we should leave behind, the undeniable desire to follow our soul (mind, will, emotions, intellect, imagination and heart) and the undeniable desire to allow our flesh to be satisfied?
The renewing of our minds and the transformation process is much like childbirth. Yet, in childbirth, there is no turning back… The baby will ultimately be born. And in the transformational process of a Believer, he or she can choose of his or her own free will to quit and to turn back to what is comfortable. To quit the stretching process and to abort destiny… Because when the rubber meets the road, there was not the degree of trust in Him that is required to be able to undertake the level of discomfort through the transformational process.
Don’t abort your destiny! Allow the process to build your muscles! Be comfortable with being uncomfortable! Understand that it is not easy! Know that the very people who you think will be with you at the end of the journey… Will most probably not be! Know to be aware of those who communicate their love for you early in the relationship… Before the relationship is established through the fire… Are most usually the one’s who, even if they had it, wouldn’t give you what they expect from you… Mostly, understanding.
The process to fulfill destiny is wide and deep. Learn how to navigate with your eyes, ears and heart yielded and focused on Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your midwife. When you fall down, get back up. Allow your Father to be the lifter of your head. Understand that the more you know, the more you should realize you don’t know.
The process can make us feel as though we can’t withstand the pressure… Just consider the gift at the end of labor… The most precious gift parents will ever know other than the first most precious gift of Jesus. Yes, it’s so very worth it! Think of the piece of sand that goes through the process of becoming a pearl. Then think of the fermentation process, all the pressing and smashing, that makes grapes into fine wine!
A key for surviving… BEFORE the pedal hits the metal… Delve into the Word of God and stay around like-minded Believers as this will help to enable you to finish the race and receive the prize… For the prize only goes to the one who finishes the race… Not to those who start out strong and putt, putt along the way to conk out and surrender to the carnality they once so desired to not be like… No, PLEASE KEEP GOING!
Author: Karla Smith
June 26, 2019
