Devotional for an Expecting Mom
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
It's hard to think of my body as wasting away when there is a baby growing inside of it. It's also difficult to think of a healthy young person or baby wasting away because his is only starting to gain strength. However, I know that eventually youth will fade and the stress on my body from childbirth will take its toll. Even my little baby will someday grow old and decline in health. This is why we are reminded not to worry about these temporary things such as our bodies.
I have been thinking a lot about my pregnant body. I have been thinking a lot about the pain I will go through and the lack of sleep I will soon experience. I have been thinking a lot about how I am going to meet my babies needs. I have only given secondary thought and concern for the spiritual and eternal needs of myself and my family. This passage says that inwardly we are being renewed day by day. I am being prepared for eternity through all of life's trials and temporary troubles.
Once a week I am at the softball fields with other moms and their kids watching our husbands play. Unfortunately, the park is not the most kid friendly environment as it consists of cement ground and metal bleachers. It seems there is at least one child per week without fail who ends up getting hurt by falling on the cement. The site of a child falling and the heart stopping cry is always painful to watch. However, I've been so impressed by these mothers who remain so calm as they pick up their child to hold him or her until the child no longer feels the sting. The child doesn't know in the moment how long the pain is going to last or even why they are hurting, but mom knows that the pain they feel will only last for a minute or so. So she just holds him until the crying is over.
This is such a beautiful example of the pain that we experience in life and how God holds us in the midst of it. We can take comfort in knowing that not only is our pain and trouble temporary, but that God is using it to renew us for eternity. It's in the pain that we are held close and our spirit is strengthened to persevere. I am reminded that my job as a future mom isn't to prevent my child from experiencing pain, but to simply be there to comfort him as his spirit is being strengthened and renewed each day.
Lord, may we find you in the midst of our troubles being held in your arms. May we see your eternal glory far outweighing the things of this world. Bring the unseen things to our attention as we journey ahead.
It's hard to think of my body as wasting away when there is a baby growing inside of it. It's also difficult to think of a healthy young person or baby wasting away because his is only starting to gain strength. However, I know that eventually youth will fade and the stress on my body from childbirth will take its toll. Even my little baby will someday grow old and decline in health. This is why we are reminded not to worry about these temporary things such as our bodies.
I have been thinking a lot about my pregnant body. I have been thinking a lot about the pain I will go through and the lack of sleep I will soon experience. I have been thinking a lot about how I am going to meet my babies needs. I have only given secondary thought and concern for the spiritual and eternal needs of myself and my family. This passage says that inwardly we are being renewed day by day. I am being prepared for eternity through all of life's trials and temporary troubles.
Once a week I am at the softball fields with other moms and their kids watching our husbands play. Unfortunately, the park is not the most kid friendly environment as it consists of cement ground and metal bleachers. It seems there is at least one child per week without fail who ends up getting hurt by falling on the cement. The site of a child falling and the heart stopping cry is always painful to watch. However, I've been so impressed by these mothers who remain so calm as they pick up their child to hold him or her until the child no longer feels the sting. The child doesn't know in the moment how long the pain is going to last or even why they are hurting, but mom knows that the pain they feel will only last for a minute or so. So she just holds him until the crying is over.
This is such a beautiful example of the pain that we experience in life and how God holds us in the midst of it. We can take comfort in knowing that not only is our pain and trouble temporary, but that God is using it to renew us for eternity. It's in the pain that we are held close and our spirit is strengthened to persevere. I am reminded that my job as a future mom isn't to prevent my child from experiencing pain, but to simply be there to comfort him as his spirit is being strengthened and renewed each day.
Lord, may we find you in the midst of our troubles being held in your arms. May we see your eternal glory far outweighing the things of this world. Bring the unseen things to our attention as we journey ahead.
Esther! What a beautiful picture of how Jesus holds us in our pain. How relieving to know it will never last forever. Love you!
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