
~ Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. ~
Psalm 40:11
Hope & pray that this post finds you and yours well. It brings me great joy 🤩 every time I am able to connect with you, even when we are many miles away from one another. I’m reminded of the scripture in 1 Peter 5:9 that mentions how we (all over the world) as sisters/brothers share in similar sufferings (the cross we bear as co-laborers with Christ). Yet, we can take comfort in knowing that the next verse reminds us that after we have suffered we will be restored, secured, strengthened, and established.
I’m not sure about you but I have surely been in a season of travail. Travail in the Oxford dictionary is defined as painful and laborious effort. I have yet to have my own children but I recently read that when a woman is bringing forth a child her body experiences 10x’s the bodies normal pain 😖 capacity. With that being said if you happen to be reading this post as a super mom, I salute & celebrate you.
As the Apostle Paul stated the entire creation groans together in pains of childbirth, even we groan within ourselves awaiting the redemption of these earthen vessels (Romans 8:18-27). It’s a reminder that we as son’s and daughter’s have a much greater purpose than the daily “grind” that we have been petitioned to. It can be a real tug of war 🪢 seeking to manage both the downward and upward pull at the same time. I am so glad that Jesus defeated death, and called us out of the darkness/void/unknown, into the marvelous light!
One of my favorite scriptures is when the prophet Jeremiah is giving an account of great suffering and recalls in consolation that it is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed (Lamentations 3). When God put it on my heart ❤️ to finish out my study on hope and mercy for this month, it was as if the word came alive in me, sparking a new zeal and determination in me to finish strong. The word mercy above (psalm 40:11) translates racham (H7356) in the Hebrew meaning compassion, pity, by extension the womb, as cherishing the fetus.
In this passage David is petitioning God to be moved to compassion in his sufferings and short comings. If God was moved to pity on behalf of David, how much more will He move on our behalf after the dispensation of grace through Christ Jesus, and the receiving 🙌🏽 of His Holy Spirit. I reminded of when Jesus spoke to the hearts of His disciples that they would be not discouraged at His ascension, knowing that He was going to prepare a place for them (John 14). He was fully aware of every suffering they would experience as His chosen in a fallen world. And His response was I will not leave you comfortless.
I’ve heard stories of how once a baby is born the mother forgets all the pain and labor she went through to produce it. Her heart being filled with the pure love and joy of seeing her beautiful one face to face. My friend I just want to encourage you as I encourage myself. Fight 💪🏽the good fight, contend for the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ. For we know in part, and prophecy in part. But when that which is perfect come, then that which is in part shall be done away (1 corinthians 13:9-10).
Let our prayer always be as Jesus, that we would be one even as He is one. The more that I walk this walk i’m realizing even the more how our reward is soooooooo much more than something tangible/that meets the 👁️ eye. These things are but temporal and only those things of Him will last. Let us pray: Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us debts as we forgive or debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory FOREVER AMEN!









