This morning in my Bible reading, I came across this:
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
I Thess. 5:1-3
I’ve read this before, but this time it struck me a little differently – maybe because I’m less than 2 months from my duedate.
This is how the last two weeks of pregnancy are for me: every day I feel as though I could go into labor any minute. Is today the day? Maybe today is the day. I feel like today could be the day. I just can’t shake the feeling that labor is imminent.
But then – the feeling goes away. And then labor begins. Is it just me, or does it work that way for you too? I’ve mentioned it to other mothers and it seems to be nearly universal. And I can’t help but think that Paul is referring to that short period of time after the feeling of imminence and urgency has passed, but before the first real contractions begin – or rather, God is. Maybe Paul didn’t know all that much about the psychology and physiology behind labor, but God certainly does.
The application? I don’t know. Don’t be complacent, because just when you feel like relaxing is when you need to be most ready? Don’t ask this pregnant brain to think much beyond labor and delivery for the next 8 weeks. But maybe you can figure it out yourself.
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Wow, I never thought of that verse that way!
I think you hit the nail on the head with this post. I felt the exact same when expecting my latest blessing. I figured that I could no longer be anxious over it and the second I put it in God’s hands is the second I finally went into labor. God is good.
We’re all thinking of you and your family during this special time!
Interesting. I have always seen that time when I move on as the moment when I finally come to grips with God’s will and timing and not my own.
I am 5 weeks from my due date. For various reasons I have been praying that it might be God’s will that my dd would come just a few weeks early (not before 37 weeks or else I have to go to the hospital.) But I have also been praying for the ability to forget that labor is coming and simply go about my days as if it’s not imminent. I want to be totally surprised rather than constantly stuck trying to predict when it will start. When I get stuck in that mode, my family tends to take a back seat. Much like we shouldn’t get caught up in the “when” of Jesus’ return, I don’t want to get caught up in the when of this baby arriving. My focus should be on my Savior and how I serve Him on a daily basis. . .right up to the moment labor begins. That is has been my prayer from the beginning.
We are memorizing this as a family right now:
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 62:5-8
A psalm for the waiting I suppose.
I think it is a literal truism for you. You have had lots of experience birthing children. If you read the passage literally for your time coming, it is almost sorta encouraging. You can’t make it easier but it makes it that much sweeter when you have that new little one!
As Christians we don’t have to fear “the day of the Lord”. But, we do need to prepare for it. And expect it at any moment.
“The day of the Lord” will come and you (we) should welcome it, make sure you (we) are ready, keep your (our) eyes on Him and look forward to the new beginnings that will come with it!
Be encouraged!
Thanks so much for sharing this verse, Kim. I’m currently 3 days past my due date, and right in the thick of this emotional roller coaster. Everyday I have contractions, or other signs that labor is around the corner, and still no baby. But don’t we see signs of Christ’s return on a daily basis if we think about it? Maybe I need to be praying just as hard (if not harder) for His return as I am for the onset of my labor. Both events will be well worth the wait when they finally occur!
So true. With my last labor I prayed and sang the whole time. I really appreciated reading your words.
I’m glad I found your blog through the Mega-family blog roll. As a mother of seven children (the low end on that blog roll…it was interesting to be on that end of the spectrum) I’ve been so inspired to read your blog.
I’ll be back!
God’s blessings,
Rachel
My daughter is 7 weeks old. I delivered all of my babies at 35 or 36 weeks so when I hit 39 weeks I thought the Lord was trying to teach me long suffering. When I gave up my pleadings with Him to go into labor, I went into labor. It was 15 minutes, 3 contractions and a delivery in the backseat of hubbies car. You know I didn’t feel it coming on at all, it just came with no warning. But I know the Lord was there with us, whispering in my ear, orchestrating the whole birth. It was the best so far in my eyes. God is good.
Wish I had read that verse sooner.
Please pray for my little Julianna, she will have a major surgery April 20th for an imperforated anus. They have one chance to get this right.
Blessings
Joann
This is so interesting! My hubby and I just welcomed our very first blessing into the world on March 31st. So she’s a few days old now!!
Evangeline NellieMae was born weighing in at 7lbs 7oz and she is absolutely perfect.
When I read this verse and your thoughts it was exactly how labor seemed to come. For a couple of weeks I had that labor-is-imminent feeling and… of course it really wasn’t quite. But the morning I went into labor I woke up and suddenly the feeling of labor coming any minute was gone and I had contented myself to be pregnant for a while longer.
Little did I know that less than nine hours later I would be holding my sweet child!! God is so good! I can’t wait to see pictures of your newest little one.
Blessings on your labor and delivery!
I’ve been thinking a lot about all those “as labor pains upon a pregnant woman” verses since I’ve been doing The Bible in 90 Days. (There are quite a few verses that refer to that!)
I’ve thought about how many things are painful, but WELL worth the doing!
I think it’s all about being content with God’s timing. And Him being in control, not us.
I have been “late” with all 6 babies: ranging from 1 day – 3 weeks & 3 days past the due date (that was a LONG month!). With all of them (aside from the 1st, for she was a c-section at 8 days past), once I “let go” and submitted my-self to His timing ~ which means I stopped begging! ~ labor came.
I think that is what Paul is meaning here. Or rather, God is saying through Paul. We need to be content in all things.
Blessings today!
Jennifer
Interesting. The part that caught my eye was the bit about “they shall not escape.” I always long and pray for labor to come and then when it finally does (usually later than 40 weeks), I have that terrible sense of dread. It suddenly hits me that there’s no easy way out of this! I remember one time, on the way to the hospital to willingly have my water broken, looking over at my husband and saying, “What on earth am I thinking?!”
May God continue to strengthen your faith as you wait for the joy set before you!