LABOUR PAINS!

Natural Birth

To the woman He said:

"I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; 

In pain you shall bring forth children;

Your desire shall be for your husband, 

And he shall rule over you."  Genesis 3:16  

By disobeying GOD, Adam and Eve were removed from the blessing of walking in the Glorious Presence of the Almighty GOD. Labour pains are the consequence of this fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Sorrow in conception and pain in delivery are the result of man's broken relationship with GOD. 

While the mother goes through labour pains the baby also undergoes discomfort and danger while in the womb and during its journey down the birth canal! 

Spiritual Birth

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Most assuredly, I say to you, 

unless one is born again, 

he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:3

  Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;

He has put Him to grief. 

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, 

He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 

He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. 

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, 

For He shall bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53:10-11

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say,

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17

For godly sorrow produces repentance

leading to salvation,

not to be regretted;

but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

The LORD JESUS CHRIST needed to go through labour of His soul to birth mankind into His spiritual Kingdom. When we are convicted of our sinful nature, we must go through the sorrow of repentance to be born again into the Kingdom of GOD.

Most assuredly, I say to you

that you will weep and lament,

but the world will rejoice;

and you will be sorrowful,

but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow

because her hour has come;

but as soon as she has given birth to the child,

she no longer remembers the anguish,

for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow;

but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice,

and your joy no one will take from you. John 16:20-22

Labour that results in Joy is worth the pain!

Progress of Pregnancy

And behold,

you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son,

and shall call His name Jesus.

Luke 1:31 

Being born again by repenting of our sin and receiving the LORD JESUS into our life is also symbolic of conception.

Mary experienced this literally in her physical body. 

When the seed of the Word of GOD is planted in our heart,

A new life begins in us.

As we are birthed into the Kingdom of GOD,

the Kingdom of GOD is also conceived in us!

The seed of the Word of GOD, when planted in the good soil of a heart, has the potential to grow and bring forth fruit  - the fruit of the Spirit which is Love.

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

As I bring more of my 'self' under the control of GOD'S Spirit in me, I progress in my spiritual journey towards 'Bringing Forth' CHRIST in my life!

A flower is beautiful and pleasing to our eyes.

But when it is pollinated, the fruit begins to form at the base of the flower,

while the flower diminishes in size and beauty and shrivels.

The result is a fruit that is good for food that nourishes our body!

 Therefore we do not lose heart. 

Even though our outward man is perishing, 

yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 

is working for us a far more exceeding 

and eternal weight of glory, 

while we do not look at the things which are seen, 

but at the things which are not seen. 

For the things which are seen are temporary, 

but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

From the time of conception, it takes about 40 weeks for the baby to be completely formed in the womb and be ready to be delivered.

From the time the children of Israel were brought out of slavery in Egypt, it took 40 years to get the sin of Egypt out of them so that they could be prepared to enter the promised land!

 being confident of this very thing, 

that He who has begun a good work in you 

will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Philippians 1:6

Birthed into Glorious Heaven!

Set your mind on things above,

not on things on the earth.

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears,

then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:2-4

From the time of our spiritual birth, 

it takes the rest of our life on earth to be prepared 

to enter the Glorious Presence of GOD! 

But He, because He continues forever,

has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost

those who come to God through Him,

since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24-25

Until we are birthed into GOD'S glorious presence in Heaven, 

our Savior intercedes for us at the right hand of GOD!

This intercession if effected by the Holy Spirit through us, 

for us and for others.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.

For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,

but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts

knows what the mind of the Spirit is,

because He makes intercession for the saints

according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

Intercession in the Spirit, according to the heart of GOD,

could be as intense as labour.

Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?

It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?

It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen,

who is even at the right hand of God,

who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:33-34

The Holy Spirit Who indwells the believer is in connection with the LORD JESUS

Who is at the right hand of the power and glory of the Almighty GOD!

Labour in the Work of CHRIST:

Intercession, Evangelism and Discipling

My little children,

for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 

Galatians 4:19

Our intercession for the salvation of souls and their spiritual growth,

compares to labour that brings forth CHRIST in others.

 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. 

He who continually goes forth weeping, 

Bearing seed for sowing, 

Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, 

Bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 126:5-6

Restoration:

Birthing of the New Heavens and the New Earth!

 For we know that the whole creation

groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, 

even we ourselves groan within ourselves, 

eagerly waiting for the adoption,

the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:22-23

It was man's fall through his decision that brought the fall of all of creation.

Therefore it is man who has to be first restored

and then play his role as GOD restores all things to Himself.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God,

who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,

and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ

reconciling the world to Himself,

not imputing their trespasses to them,

and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God were pleading through us:

we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,

that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

And I have put My words in your mouth;

I have covered you with the shadow of My hand,

That I may plant the heavens,

Lay the foundations of the earth,

And say to Zion, 'You are My people.' " Isaiah 51:16

Do You Have CHRIST In You,

The Hope Of Glory?

To them God willed to make known what are the riches 

of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: 

which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27

 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, 

due to be delivered; 

and when she heard the news 

that the ark of God was captured, 

and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead,
she bowed herself and gave birth, 

for her labor pains came upon her.
 And about the time of her death 

the women who stood by her said to her,
"Do not fear, for you have borne a son."
But she did not answer, nor did she regard it.
 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying,
"The glory has departed from Israel!"
because the ark of God had been captured
and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

1 Samuel 4:19-21

Phinehas the son of Eli the priest did wickedly and did not honor GOD.

Therefore his seed that his wife conceived and bore, was

Ichabod, meaning, 'The glory has departed from Israel'!

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.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness,

so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

You are all sons of light and sons of the day.

We are not of the night nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as others do,

but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night,

and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober,

putting on the breastplate of faith and love,

and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath,

but to obtain salvation

through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,

that whether we wake or sleep,

we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another,

just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

ENGAGED!

ENGAGED!

When a boy and a girl are serious about their long-term relationship, they get 'Engaged'!

The ring is round, it has no end: So is my love, to you dear friend!

Imagine a baby in a pregnant woman's womb. While it is growing, it keeps moving around with the amniotic fluid in the womb. As the baby grows, the movements gradually get restricted. Then when the pregnancy is full term, the baby gets in position, moves towards the birth canal and the head gets partly into the top of the bony birth canal. Once in this position, the baby cannot move around other than moving its limbs. This positioning is referred to as 'Engaged'!

When the head of the baby in the womb is engaged, the signal is that labour can begin anytime! It is as though the baby says to itself, "Now I am going to be serious about the direction I am to take. I am plunging head down, down the narrow path, on a difficult journey, until I am released into space and liberty!

Therefore, 'Engaged' means, 'Committed and No turning back.'

For the baby about to be born, it is an upside down travel - head down, heart higher and feet up! It is truly a journey of faith. When the process of labour begins, the strong uterine muscles start contracting. There is progressive increase in frequency and strength of the contractions. It almost appears that the uterus becomes a hand, squeezing the baby and moulding it into shape while dilating the birth canal and pushing the little child out of its comfortable temporary home of nine months! 

The baby simply has to be relaxed and yielded to be delivered. It is important that it is not entangled by the umbilical cord. The very cord that sustained the baby's life can become the greatest danger during labour and delivery, entangling and ensnaring and hindering the baby's safe birth!

The very moment the child is born, its environment around and its respiratory system within, is dramatically changed!

We will imagine this same child grown and making a decision to accept the LORD JESUS. At that point his or her spiritual journey begins. The individual's spiritual growth is like the growth of the fetus in the womb. JESUS increases in his or her life. 

As the end of his or her life approaches, it becomes like the baby's difficult journey down the birth canal. There is accelerated moulding, squeezing and pushing towards refining and perfection. The earthly things that gave sustenance and comfort shouldn't be allowed to become snares. There has to be a letting go of earthly things and yielding to the Holy Spirit and resting in Him. We were born empty handed and we have to die empty handed. At the time of death or rapture, there is a sudden release into a completely new life, unimaginable, unrestricted, and immensely glorious!! If birth is beautiful, for a Christian, death is glorious!

 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

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. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:6-10  

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
2 Timothy 2:4 

 
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 

'In that day,' says the Lord of hosts, 'I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,' says the Lord, 'and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,' says the Lord of hosts."
Haggai 2:23

 You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke." 
Esther 8:8 

 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 

Isaiah 43:1

Labour

Labor following the curse

Painful labor in childbirth and the need to work hard towards bringing fruit from the earth are curses following the fall of man. 2 days ago I had the privilege of being with our daughter in the birthing suite, sharing in the intensely painful process of bringing forth the baby, our first grandchild! The excruciating pain culminating in extreme joy is an unforgettable experience!

Goodness in every aspect was a result of God’s blessing on all of His creation. As a consequence of the fall and separation from God, the earth is under a curse. Weeds grow naturally and more abundantly than herbs, grain and fruit plants. Even a man who is not a farmer, has to work hard to earn a wage to provide for his family. The nature of man is evil and the heart desperately wicked. In the spiritual sense too, man and woman need to labor in some way to  come under God’s favor which is a place of blessing and good fruit. we need to work hard in seeking the Lord, mourning for our sins and repenting of our wicked ways so that we may experience the fullness of God’s Spirit in us, bringing forth the lovely fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." Genesis 3:16  

Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:17-19

In fact, the whole world is laboring to come out of the curse and be birthed into God’s favor and blessing.

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Romans 8:22

Labor in vain

Imagine a woman conceiving in her womb, going through the difficulties of pregnancy for forty weeks and enduring the overwhelming pangs of labor and excruciating pain of delivery only to see a stillborn baby! All her labor is in vain! In vain!!
Observe a farmer laboring in his field, preparing it, carefully sowing good seed, spending time, energy and money to nurture the plants. He may need to get rid of weeds and eradicate pests. He makes sure there is enough water and fertilizer. He expects a bumper crop and his heart is filled with joy. Even as he prepares to harvest, there comes a flash flood, completely destroying the crop! What a waste! All his labor is in vain!!
The word of God says that such is the state of any of our works that are not done ‘In Christ.’

For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity. Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:22-26

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. Psalms 127:1-2

labor in-Christ

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

1) Sowing the seed

Mary received God’s word brought to her by the Angel, submitted to that word, conceived by the Holy Spirit and brought forth Jesus, The Son of God. This would have been a painful process for her.

And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35

We need to labor in sowing the precious seed of the word of God in our own hearts and in the hearts of others. When we receive God’s word and submit to that word, it is planted in our hearts.

Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. Psalms 126:5-6

2) Growing the seed - stretching!

God’s word grows in the heart like how a child grows in the womb of a pregnant woman. This stretching can be uncomfortable like the stretching we go through as we grow spiritually! Growth takes place as we feed on the word of God through diligent study of it and drink of His Spirit through prayer and close communion with God through the Lord Jesus. Jesus made it clear that we should value Him, Who is our spiritual food and life, and labor for Him , more diligently than for natural food and drink.

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." Therefore they said to Him, "What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:27-35

Like the patient stretching of the womb, we need to wait patiently to see the word grow and bear fruit in our own lives and in the lives of others. If there is no patience and stretching, the seed will die.

Jesus is The only Mediator between God and man Who labored on the cross to birth us into His kingdom. He was stretched beyond measure between heaven and earth as He hung on the cruel cross. He bridged the gap between The Most Holy God and the filthiest of sinners. He brought glory to earth and earth to glory through grace. The Son of GOD became the Son of Man to make the connection between God and man. He gave up His glory and subjected Himself to the law of gravity. He endured excruciating pain as His arms were stretched across and nailed so that He could embrace all of mankind of all the ages. He is well able to save all people from the legalistic end of the scale to the lawless end of the scale!
The vastness of God’s love is revealed through our Savior, JESUS!

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 

3) The labor of Christ

We are justified only by our Savior, JESUS CHRIST,  Who laboriously interceded for us. He continues to intercede for His own, being at the right hand of God. Therefore now we labor in and through His love.
Mary labored and endured birth pangs to bring forth the Savior into the world.
Our fallen nature brings forth only evil fruit. Therefore we need to labor in repentance, denying self and abiding in Christ so that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus walked on this earth doing His Heavenly Father’s works. When He carried the sin of the world on Himself on the cross, His soul was in great labor because:-
    While taking on Himself all the filth of all sin of all mankind of all times,
         He remained pure and holy.
             He did not condemn, but asked God to forgive mankind.
                 This intercession was the labor of His soul through which He birthed us into God’s kingdom. Now He Himself washes us with His own blood as He continues to intercede for us,  at the right hand of God.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:10-11

3) Birthing Christ

All our labor should be motivated by the love of Christ.

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Hebrews 6:10

remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Even as we continue to labor in love, let’s not let go, but let’s hold fast to our first love, Who is our Precious Lord JESUS! Make the first connection stronger and more secure as you stretch out!

I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:2-4

Those of us who have experienced the forgiveness of sins through the Blood of The Lamb of God and are connected to God through the His Holy Spirit, are to continue this work of intercession on the earth.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband." Galatians 4:27

The apostle Paul labored in intercession to bring believers to fullness in Christ.

My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, Galatians 4:19

But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. Galatians 4:9-11

4) Sabbath Rest

The process of labour, even though painful and long, ends abruptly the moment the baby is birthed out of the mother's body and two individuals are separated! GOD set the example of resting on the 7th day, after His work of creating everything over 6 days. As man was created only on the 6th day, the sabbath day was his first day on earth and he had to start with rest! This rest means GOD'S relationship with man and man's relationship with GOD. All our RElationships should STart with GOD and STop from going beyond GOD! He should be the boundary line for every individual person. All our labour over 6 days should be in Him and through Him.

There is an important commandment we need to remember. It is an experience of rest in our relationship with The Lord. It is also the experience of rest in our relationships with others. Therefore it is necessary for Christians to keep the Sabbath day holy and to keep ourselves free to gather together with fellow believers and worship God together.

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. Hebrews 4:1

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Hebrews 4:9-10

When we come to Christ, we come to the place of rest to our souls. We need to continue to abide in Him and be yoked to Him to do His will and His work. The Sabbath rest is His rest.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30


Are you stressed?
  Come to CHRIST.
    Wait on CHRIST.
      Enter into His rest!

Joy

True, deep joy is the sure end product of our labour in diligently seeking the LORD JESUS, taking up our cross and following Him. This joy lasts to eternity!

 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.  John 16:20-22 
 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6