A couple of months ago, a friend of mine went into labor. Wearing an armor of confidence, I decided to go with her. I have always been fascinated with the birthing process and I wanted to have a second-hand experience. Lemme tell you, Maina, I have never experienced something as scary as that. My armor served me well to a point. However, it got to a place where I started doubting myself as a woman and a mother to someone in the future. I found myself wondering, how can a human being survive all that pain? While the pain left me making some declarations of ‘never ever’, something else stood out for me. The state of my friend before and after giving birth. Before, my friend was in so much pain and that pain left us feeling quite helpless. This is the kind of pain that no one else can carry for you. Since she labored for quite a while, it got to a place where she was frustrated. All she wanted was to get the baby out, by any means necessary. However, something glorious happened after birth. My friend was smiling! After some rest, all she could think of was the healthy baby boy in her arms. She did not remember the pain. All she thought of was how incredible it felt to bring life into this world.

So, when today I went for the Tuesday fellowship, I was taken back to that time when Paps Mannu started talking about travailing.

Such a funny word: travail. Even Grammarly corrects it to travel. Somehow, I understand.

It’s such a simple word that carries such intense pain. Yet it is the same word that gives birth to something so glorious that it takes the pain away.

We read from 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? My curiosity peaked.

Travailing in the spirit carries the same weight as travailing in the physical: both processes are painful, and necessary, with glorious endings.

The teaching reminds me of a day I was having a conversation with a friend. I was quite frustrated 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.

In that labor room, it got to a place where my friend was tired of the discomfort and the pain she just wanted to get it over with. However, she understood that she could not just stop the labor process, she had to keep at it until she finally gave birth.

As a believer, I am sure you have found yourself in the same position I was in. Praying, believing but results don’t just seem to come your way. Just like Anna the prophetess who kept praying for the Savior, we must decide to keep pushing until we see results.

Paps reminded us that travail is a part of our journey as believers. We should not spend our lives worrying just about earthly things. We should also 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.

See, your destiny has already been established. The Bible says that before He formed you in your mother’s womb, he already knew and called you. So how do you fulfill this destiny?

Enter travail

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.

God gives us burdens; for the church, for our families, for the nations…for this generation. It is up to us to take up these burdens unto ourselves and travail until something is birthed.

And you know what is even better, we do not do this alone.

Romans 8:26 (NKJV)

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.

Child of God, travail is necessary. There are some results that we can only get in travailing. It might get intense. It might get uncomfortable. But as we partner with God, turning the kingdoms of this world into kingdoms of our God, the results will make it all worth it. Like a woman holding her baby in her arms, the pain and the discomfort will be a thing of the past.

This is an ongoing series, so next week I will tell you more about this fascinating concept. But until that time, allow me to pray for you:

Father, thank you for this reader. Even as we get to learn about travail, I pray that you will give them the grace and the strength to travail. Burden us Holy Spirit with the matters of the kingdom. Gives us the grace to push until delivery happens.

In the name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen.

Shalom