The Kingdom of God is like . . .

The woman who is just now giving birth to her first child. She is excited but oh so fearful, reluctant but expectant, exposed but trusting. The pain is pushing every rational thought from her mind. She is telling all who will listen, “I don’t want to do this anymore.” And yet she hears in her heart a voice that says, “I love you and your child so much!”

And the child cries and the mother cries and the father cries . . .

How is childbirth like the advent of the Kingdom of God?

How does this verse inform you?

 John 16:20-22

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.