The Joy of Expectancy!

People say the worst things to you at the end of your pregnancy - don't they? Let me give you a few examples from my VAST prenancy experience! You look miserable, you are getting SO big! Haven't you had that baby yet? Are you still around? Now why would someone say that to a 10 month pregnant woman? I wanted to threaten to sit on them. Or after my female OB doctor went on sabbatical, I had to see one of her MALE partners and he said as only a man could - You'll have no problem having a 10 pound baby - your body is made for having babies. This is why I wanted to see a woman doctor!

I also get irritated when woman's bible studies always relate everything to pregnancy and childbirth. But I was highly irritable this spring too. In our book we studied Romans 8:15-28 which is a passage I have read many times, but this time it was in The Message and it sounded a little different. Here's part of it:

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a prenant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

The last thing I want to be reminded of is being large and in pain. At then end we are fixed on our due date anxiously awaiting delivery. But one we're past all that and are holding a brand new little baby, we realize the joy of our expectancy.

The week I had Maren, a friend of our family died of cancer. She had been battling it for several years. And I was thinking that the same principle applies. No doubt there is groaning and pain when you are terminally ill, but after you pass into the presence of Christ there must be unbelievable joy!

So, I want to use these experineces in life to realize that I need to be anxiously awaiting the return of Christ and the joy that will come with our deliverance from this world. I think my life is too comfy and cushy to really feel like I am eager for that day.

But I can relate to being massively pregnant and having birth pains and how I yearned for deliverance and I can imagine being sick and in pain and yearning for deliveranc into glory. I guess that's what those Bible studies are after, using our life experinces to help us focus more on Christ and eternity.

I'm going to keep re-reading Romans 8:15-28 to keep my focus where it should be!