Wednesday - Birth Pains and Peace

Mark 13:7-8 – “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.”

Headlines about wars, disasters and epidemics can fill us with fear, yet Jesus told His disciples not to be alarmed when they hear of “wars and rumours of wars.” These are “the beginnings of sorrows,” a phrase that means “birth pains.” Like labour contractions, these pains are real and intense – but they herald a new life. They tell us that God’s plan is unfolding and that a glorious birth is approaching.

When the world seems chaotic, remember that God is not surprised. He has told us in advance that such things “must needs be.” The believer’s peace rests in knowing that the end is not random chaos but the sovereign purpose of a faithful God. Let each tremor in creation remind you to pray, to serve, and to share Christ with others while there is still time.