Life Birthed Through Trials

I have had some very intense and difficult times in the recent past.  The kind of times that change you forever, perhaps like how an earthquake can change the landscape of the earth.  There was nothing I could do to change the circumstances.  I chose to cling to Jesus through it all, and take one day at a time.  There was a lot of pressure for about a year and a half.

In some ways it reminds me of child birth.

I would never want to go through those experiences again, however, I also wouldn't want to erase them.  Going through the pain of child birth, is worth the life that is produced.  All that pressure you feel as you go through contractions, has a purpose...bringing forth life.

"Joy sometimes needs pain to give it birth."  (Streams in the Desert)

I wrote this poem about a year ago.  I was in the end of this difficult season.

The birth of BluEyes

Trials   
So often we pray,
"Lord, take this trial away!"
We don't want to suffer,
Not in any way.
Your word says to expect trials,
And to count it all joy when we do.
You use them to produce steadfastness,
We need only keep our eyes on You.
Difficulties, suffering, any kind of pain,
We look at these things with such great distain.
If only we realized how You draw us near,
Through all these things,
You make Yourself more clear.
Your glory is revealed,
In good times and bad.
May we joyfully accept,
And in You be made glad.     (Rachel Ranae 1.3.11)


(Photo credit: Rachel Ranae)