Childbirth in today’s world has many faces. You see the first-time mom who is terrified of the expectant pain, but excited about her future as a mother. Sometimes, we find the woman who has successfully had 4 kids with no medications, and her last labor lasted an hour. More often than not, we see women who go into labor naturally, or with induction and end with a painless birth because an epidural blocked all evidence of distress. All births are beautiful and should be celebrated because guess what? You just brought life into this world! No matter how these women chose to go through labor, all of them, started the same way, peeing on a stick and the excitement of being pregnant. All moms, especially first-time mothers, tend to do research on everything from weird pregnancy aches and pains, to how to raise a child. In the midst of that, there will be labor. Of course, the painful labor and beautiful birth is whatever pregnant moms mind is inevitably on, but does anyone stop to consider the spiritual side of childbirth?
Most people don’t. Unfortunately, that is including our Christian brothers and sisters who attend church with us every Sunday. Why do we do this, and how can we change the way we see labor? Simple. Focus your eyes on Christ.
Firstly, let's address why we have strayed so far from Christ when it comes to labor and delivery. If you don’t know already, the Holy Spirit lives within us. (1 Cor. 3:16) It is connected to our bodies in the same way mental health is. In today's world, our mental, physical, and emotional health are all segregated into their own areas. If you are sick you see a doctor, if you are depressed you see a psychiatrist, if you lack understand with Christ, you seek out your pastor. Your physical, mental and emotional health shouldn’t be put into categories. You see it’s all connected, but not in the eyes of our sinful world. Because of this, our health industry has shifted its focus from the wellbeing of their patients to the prospect of making money. This is not just a practice they have used in our labor rooms, but in any aspect of the hospital. The Church needs to start reminding people that Christ is involved in all things of your life, not just the spiritual side. I hope for the day that churches will offer a class that teaches you what the bible says about labor, and how to manage your pain; whether you planned on a natural or medicated childbirth. I pray that some mother is reading this, and will teach her children to look at mental, physical, and spiritual health as a whole.
So how does labor relate to the Lord? Through these 4 main points. Wrath, mercy, salvation, and peace.
The wrath of the Lord can be a scary thing. It causes us to fear, respect, and to humble ourselves before him. In Genesis, we know that Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge. In doing so they sinned against God, and the punishment for sin is death. (Romans 6:23) When the Lord saw what they had done, it would have been just for him to end their life. However, he didn’t, he showed them mercy and only punished them. In Genesis 3:16 it says, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with the pain, you will give birth to children.” (NIV) Instead of killing Eve, he had mercy and punished her with a painful labor. When we as women experience the pain of labor we are, first hand, experiencing Gods wrath he poured out on Eve.
Don’t fear! Like I said before, the Lord also had mercy. He could have killed Adam and Eve, and justly so, but he didn’t. Instead, his love for Adam and Eve showed through with mercy.
Salvation is the joyous event that can only occur with the Lord, so naturally, he would use the most beautiful physical achievement to compare it too. On occasion, the Bible references salvations to childbirth. (Romans 8:22.) The bible even calls salvation as being ‘born again’. (John 3:5) Salvation is much like labor and birth. When you go into labor, naturally or induced, your contractions slowly start. After a few hours, they have grown, making the pain and suffering worse with every contraction. Just when you think you can’t take the pain anymore, it’s time to push and the baby is born, bringing sweet relief. You sit there holding the baby you love so much, incomplete, blissful, peace.
Salvation is much like this. Before you excepted Christ as your savior you had trouble. Sometimes, you could figure things out, but for the most part, you are fumbling in the dark, looking for some form of light. Eventually, you will come across a situation that is too much. Your life is turned upside down, and you don’t know what to do. Your grieving, anxious, and just plain scared. It seems like you have no way out, and this situation will overwhelm you. However, in that moment, in your weakest time, Christ found you. He called out to you, and you said yes to allowing him to take control of your life. Then, all of a sudden, you see that impossible situations take care themselves. You see hurtle after hurtle being knocked down because you pray. You find the love of the Lord, and get to rest in his perfect peace. Both labor and salvation go to a dark, painful place before you find the relief you need. (Not every Christian had to go through the dark times to find Christ, but I sure did.)
Finally, peace. The peace you get with Jesus is an overwhelming sensation of calm. It’s when the whole sea is twisting from a hurricane, your small boat is about to capsize, and everyone around you is freaking out. Yet, there you sit, on your knees, hands folded, praying to Christ. How would you think that an almost impossible peace could have anything to do with labor? Because only true peace comes from Christ. You could read 50 books, thumb through 100 blog posts, and watch 200 birthing videos, and still not find peace. True, unfiltered, unstoppable, unchangeable peace comes, only, from Jesus Christ. (2 Thes. 3:16. John 16:33. 1 Peter 5:7)
So now we see how labor and delivery show Christ in every way. When you and I prepare ourselves for the birth of a new life, remember where all of this pain and love comes from. For the Lord created everything, including your baby, and the beautiful experience you will have brought them into the world. (Col. 1:16.) When you give that final push and hear your baby’s first cry, take a second to thank the Lord for his mercy, love, and blessings he has given you. (Ps. 107:1)
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