Our growing pregnant condition.

That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:18-28 The Message

Are you feeling it too? The growing anticipation? The ever-increasing desire to be with Him … in glory? I agree that the longer we have waited the more we look forward to … that DAY! Our ‘pregnant’ condition continues to ‘enlarge’ …often times to a severe ‘uncomfortableness’. And yes, I have been ‘sighing’ more, and groaning more from both physical and soul pains.  I can easily relate to this passage of scripture. I often ache in my soul for … the upcoming ‘reunion’ awaiting all of us who KNOW Him. Growing old here in this shadowland is not easy, especially knowing what …actually is to come! And daily surrender to Jesus and the Holy Spirit is now a necessity for me. Learning how to ‘pause’ and refocus on Him in the midst of the craziness of the day is now essential for me… numerous times each day. (especially driving now!) The Holy Spirit WANTS to empower and refresh us IF we will let Him. He IS our Source!

Creation is actually groaning too?! Oh… how great is our God! Something that is becoming very clear to me day by day… is that this current place is NOT our real ‘home’. This IS the temporary place. Heaven is where we actually belong. Are you feeling at all ‘homesick’? I’ll admit it. I am. I don’t know if it is unfortunate or fortunate, but the Lord has given me quite of few glimpses of heaven which has made me desire that place 100-fold. I’ve tried to share some of those glimpses and feelings in my novels. Heaven is SUCH a … fantastic and overwhelming place! Jesus and family!! Life abundance there in heaven is more than we have ever experienced before. The air, the grass, the mountains, the flowers, the river, the city, and the absolute love and JOY! All of our current struggles here will immediately seem SO worth it! The laughter rings everywhere. Music is EVERYWHERE in ways that is hard to describe.

So now in this ‘last mile’ of the marathon, let us run with perseverance and endurance, with the HOPE of the glory that awaits us, to be with our God forever and ever. To be with our REAL family, celebrating in joy and love together! Life everlasting!

Father… help us to invest this day wisely! Lord Jesus, show us clearly the divine appointments You have for us today. Holy Spirit we yield to YOU! Flow in us! Empower us to do what You are asking us to do. Fill our hearts with Your love and joy. Holy Spirit help us to be the ‘hands of Jesus’ to others today. Guide our steps.

In the Name above ALL names … Jesus OUR Savior!