Have you ever been to a labor room? If the answer is no, at least you must have watched a movie or read a book about the labor process, right?
Labor pain is one of the most excruciating sensations known to humankind (thanks Eve). It is one of the top three most painful things in the world. What is surprising, however, the memory of that pain is quite short-lived. A woman can enjoy the worst pain on earth during labor, yet you will see her smiling the minute she holds her baby in her arms.
Figure 1: Woman in Labor
Where am I going with this? Stay with me.
We have embarked on an intriguing series titled, “The Travail” and I want to give you some insights from part one.
We have just come from celebrating one of the most important holidays in the history of the world, “the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.” One of the messages that have been passed around a lot during this season is that “it is finished,” and “Jesus paid it all” (but don’t tell your landlord that). However, while this is the truth, it should not be taken to mean that there is nothing for you and me to do.
Saying It is Finished does not negate our responsibility to push for our destiny.
As a son/daughter of the kingdom, your destiny has already been set. This means that we should move from asking, “Do I have or what is my purpose?” to, “What is my role in fulfilling God’s purpose for me?”
Jeremiah 29: 11(a) (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD.
What’s your role in fulfilling God’s purpose for you?
But before I get ahead of myself, what do we mean by travail?
Travail is defined as the painful and laborious effort that comes with childbirth.
When it comes to prayer, travail can be defined as expressing intense and painful sorrow as of a woman in labor, often characterized by the weight of a burden from the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 66:7-9 (NKJV)
7 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a male child.
8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.
9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.
This is one of the most mind-blowing verses I have ever come across. What do you mean that before she was in labor she gave birth? Or a nation being born at once?
Enter travail!
Travailing is one of the spiritual concepts that I find quite fascinating. It’s literally birthing spiritual possibilities!
And like physically giving birth, the travailing process can be quite painful and uncomfortable. But like a woman forgets that pain when she cradles the newborn in her arms, so does it feel when you travail and birth results in prayer.
One day, I was talking to a friend of mine and I was expressing my frustration because I was praying for something without seeing results and frankly, I was tired. My friend laughed at me and told me that when it comes to prayer, you do not quit when you grow tired or frustrated, rather, you only quit when you see the results of what you have been praying for.
A woman in labor does not just decide she is too tired that she can’t push. She only quits pushing when her baby comes (well not unless it becomes physically impossible for her and she requires CS).
As a believer, travailing is part of your journey.
We sing “My life is not my own, to You I belong” but this is not just a song. It is a truth that we profess.
And since this is the truth, then it means that we are part and parcel of the kingdom of God
We have privileges but we also have responsibilities. This is why the Holy Spirit will place a burden on you to travail until something changes.
You need to travail if you want to see a positive change in your family
You need to travail if you need to see this nation restored to God
You need to travail if you want to see this generation burning for God
It is okay to look to God for strength, for healing, for provision. But as you do that, remember that you have a responsibility to partner with God as we turn the kingdoms of this world into kingdoms of our God.