Birthing and Joy
I'm writing about these topics because I am currently experiencing them. We just transitioned from Florida to New York, thus the delay in blogging. It would take more than a blog to share God's amazing grace and provision during this whole process. All I can say... He is so good!!!
Quick recap: Transition is that difficult time where you need to stay focused on the main event that is just ahead. This time can be painful, seemingly out of control and lengthy at times. But keeping focused on what God has called you to do and keeping your eyes on Him and not your circumstances will help you find success during this process.
The Next Step
The birthing process is next. During this phase the baby is actually moving into the birth canal and the end result...birth...is just about to take place. This part of the process can also be difficult, but at the same time there is mounting anticipation of what is about to take place. Your focus becomes more intense and your work load increases. Your body moves into high gear to do what it needs to do...birth that baby. I have never understood why nurses and doctors yell at the mom to push during this phase. Your body can't help but push. It's automatic, well...unless you are heavily medicated. :)
As in the natural so it is in the spiritual...going through the birthing process of God's plan for your life takes focus. During this time you need to be in the Word more, you need to be in God's presence more. There is a building excitement of what God is doing in your life, an anticipation of things to come. Your vision is coming into focus and you know what your job is and you get busy doing it. There's still some molding and shaping going on during this process. Why? Because we still tend to want to do things our way. Once we get a vision from God, sometimes we say, "Thanks God, I'll take it from here." That's not the plan. That's not God's way of doing things. He wants to be in the whole process. Planners, like myself, we want the whole thing written down from start to finish so we can see what needs to be done and at what time. If you are on a journey with the Lord, know this quickly, your plans need to be extremely flexible. God loves road trips...lol. If you are willing to learn, He will take you places you've never dreamed of going. He loves molding and shaping us into His image. Why? Because it's wonderful. Just as the baby goes through the birth canal and is squeezed so that his/her respiratory system is free of all mucus so he/she will be able to breath real air when he/she is born, we too go through a squeezing process, where we are learning to let go of our way of thinking and letting God's way of thinking mold and shape who we are.
The Birth
Yeah!! It's finally here. The birth of the baby...the birth of God's plan for your life. But what a minute, when the baby is born, it is helpless and naked. It needs people to care for him/her. How does that relate to me spiritually? It is very similar. When you are birthing what God has put on your heart to do...you are helpless, without Him we can do nothing. We are naked. Really...what do we know about anything anyways? :) That nakedness is a sign of humility. Humility does not equate to humiliation. Babies are not humiliated when they are born. They don't scream in shame because they don't have any clothes on. Humility is knowing who you are in Christ and not being ashamed at all. Your life is naked before Him and you're okay with that. False humility tries to pretend that things are okay and people with false humility pretend that they are nice and sweet when inside they are seething with self hate. True humility doesn't worry about impressing people. Truly humble servants of Christ are fully confident in who they are as believers. They are not arrogant or greedy. They are grateful and compassionate. Their light truly shines. And as we stare in wonder at new born babies, so too can others revel in the work that the Lord has done in your reborn life.
So...now that transition is over and the birth process is over and to continue on this amazing journey we must rely completely on the Lord's care, comfort, provision and continued wisdom. It's time to grow!!! So dear saint....trust and grow!
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and who's hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but it's leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. "Jeremiah 17: 7-8
